Key Insights From Our Street Food 2026 Menuwatching Report

As one of the most exciting, creative and fast-moving categories within foodservice, Street Food is where cuisines meld, ideas are shared and viral formats are born.

With our 2026 Street Food menuwatching deep-dive now live on the trendhub, here are three key trends and takeouts from the report:

1. 90s Rewind – From the return of baggy jeans and bucket hats to the renaissance of Britpop, the 90s are definitely back! And the retro revival is making its mark in the Street Food space, too. Think, jalapeño poppers, loaded fries, reinvented Pop Tarts, s'mores and banana pudding (sure, it's a vintage dessert but it reached superstar status when Magnolia Bakery opened in '96). It's all about formats that give all the nostalgic feels – but reimagined through a new wave, modern and global lens.
2. Say "Cheese!" – Decadence comes in dairy form as cheeses of all types are used to dial up the indulgence factor. Burgers and sandos sit in pools of molten cheese sauce, hot dogs and burritos are served with thick, crispy cheese 'skirts', bite-sized nuggets of cheddar, mozzarella and more are crisp-coated and served as standalone snacks or garnishes to other formats… and let's not forget that all-important cheese pull. For formats that please, just add cheese!
3. Spice Up Your Fries – Born in a Dublin takeaway in the mid-2000s, the 'spice bag' is a stalwart of Irish street food culture that's now finding fame much further afield. A mixture of French fries, chicken strips, peppers and onions with a Chinese spice seasoning, the dish can be found as far away as Sydney and San Francisco, satisfying consumer curiosity around a dish that is enjoying renewed, viral status across social media. Pure deadly… and delicious!