From Trend to Transformation: Off-Premises Dining Now Essential for Restaurant Consumers, Operators

​2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report shows how takeout, drive-thru and delivery are driving growth, innovation, and consumer loyalty

New data from the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report highlights how off-premises dining has become both a consumer preference and business essential, with the convenience and availability of takeout, delivery, and drive-thru now deeply embedded in everyday life. In fact, nearly 75% of all restaurant traffic now happens off-premises—meaning that almost 3 out of 4 restaurant orders are taken to go.

The off-premises market has grown significantly in recent years, but there’s still room for expansion. Although consumers are satisfied with their current off-premises options, a solid majority wish they had even more choices. And most say they’d order more often if they had the money to pay for it, meaning there’s pent-up demand.

Restaurant operators looking to boost their off-premises business need to know who these consumers are, how they decide where to eat, and what motivates them to come back day after day.

Key Findings:
Know your customers and how they order food to go
47% of adults say they pick up takeout from restaurants, coffee shops, snack places or delis at least once a week, while 42% report they use the drive-thru each week. 37% of adults order delivery once a week. But these numbers often skew higher for millennials and GenZs. More than 6 in 10 of younger adults say they use takeout, drive-thru and delivery more often now than they did a year ago.

The 5 off-premises must-haves
Speedy service, good customer service, intuitive tech for ordering and paying, value offers, and loyalty programs are table stakes for repeat business.

Value deals motivate off-premises customers
Value deals including limited-time offers, buy-one-get-one, and discounts for ordering on off-peak days and times resonate with 8 in 10 delivery, takeout and drive-thru customers.

Expand beyond traditional menu offerings to drive off-prem traffic
Off-premises consumers are interested in items that expand on regular menu options including snack items, meal bundles, and alcohol to-go.

The 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report delves into consumers’ habits, preferences and what they’d like to see improved when it comes to ordering food to go. Click here for more info. 

The report is free for Wisconsin Restaurant Association members, $99 for non-members. WRA members wishing to access the report, need to log into the National Restaurant Association Store before downloading the report. There’s a login link in the bar at the top. If you experience difficulties accessing the report for free, email [email protected] to request to be linked to your company's membership record.

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