Google Maps Highlights Top Food Trends and Popular Restaurants from 10 Global Cities

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Google Maps analyzed a year of data to identify trending foods like frozen yogurt and matcha, plus favorite eateries across 10 cities including New York, Tokyo, and London.

Google Maps has released an extensive analysis of dining trends across ten major cities worldwide, drawing on a year’s worth of user reviews, ratings, and directions data. This "Fan-Favorite Dining List" reveals which foods and eateries captured the public’s palate from Atlanta and Chicago to Tokyo and Melbourne.

The study identifies three key trends shaping worldwide dining preferences. First, classic treats are enjoying a resurgence: frozen yogurt mentions soared 320% year over year in New York, marking a strong comeback anchored by spots like Birdie’s and Mimi’s. In Montréal, cinnamon buns grew 84% in reviews, driven by bakeries such as Daddy Roll. Meanwhile, Tokyo saw a 168% jump in mochi mentions, fueled by both locals and record tourism.

Secondly, the popularity of matcha and other earthy tea flavors has spread globally. Matcha references rose by over 80% in Chicago and Santiago, with notable cafes like Match | A and Sakumu contributing to the trend. London experienced a 114% surge in mentions of hojicha, a roasted green tea variant, while Melbourne embraced ube (purple yam) with a 75% increase in related reviews.

The third trend highlights a growing appetite for crispy textures and golden comfort foods. Beef tallow mentions climbed 82% in Chicago eateries like Bistro Monadnock, while Seattle diners increased their search for dosas by 136%, frequenting restaurants such as Shri Ananda Bhavan. Atlanta’s brunch scene witnessed a 77% rise in interest for beignets at places like Breakfast On Luckie Street & Grill.

Beyond trends, the analysis identifies the most navigated-to dining locations in each city, featuring classics such as Katz’s Delicatessen in New York, La Taqueria in San Francisco, and Seafood Buffet Dining Ginza Happo in Tokyo. It also spotlights top-reviewed budget-friendly restaurants offering generous portions, including BACHI BOX in Atlanta and Shanghai Inn Restaurant in Chicago.

Food enthusiasts can explore the detailed lists and save their favorites directly within Google Maps by visiting mapsfanfavorites.withgoogle.com. This initiative aims to aid users in discovering local flavors and trending foods wherever their travels take them.

This comprehensive dataset from Google Maps provides valuable insights into evolving culinary tastes and the venues leading the way across diverse cultures and cities as of 2026.