More people are treating themselves to a solo meal
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Solo dining orders have soared since 2021, according to a report by one of the world's largest restaurant companies.
Why it matters: Eating alone doesn't necessarily mean you're lonely. In many cases, it's about self-care.
The big picture: More people are skipping group meals to treat themselves instead, per Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill.
By the numbers: Nearly 70% of solo diners decline to use discounts, despite higher food prices and recession fears. Roughly a quarter say they're satisfying a specific craving, often snacks or drinks, per the report.
- Solo orders now make up 47% of fast-food trips — compared to 31% in 2021.
And at full-service restaurants, reservations for one jumped 22% in the third quarter of 2025 from the same time a year earlier, Toast data shows.
The latest: Food traditionally meant for sharing, like pizza and wings, is "being redesigned for one," according to Yum Brands' report.
- Personal-size pizzas tested especially well among Gen Z and millennials in 2025.
Reality check: Eating out solo may be on the rise, but single diners represented less than 1% of total booked reservations in Q3, Toast researchers found.
- People are still sharing meals, which research links to happiness.
What we're watching: Even group dining in 2026 will lean into personalization and "choice therapy," according to Yum Brands. (Think: build-your-own-tacos and sauces galore.)
- "In an unpredictable world, consumers are looking for small moments of control," Ken Muench, chief marketing officer of Yum Brands, tells Axios. "Food has become one of the easiest places to get that back."
