Revealing the Off-premise Takeover Across Larger Restaurant Experiences

National Restaurant Association has officially the results from its 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report, which reveals that well over 75% of all restaurant traffic now happens off-premises, Assuming the given data is accurate, this means that almost 3 out of 4 restaurant orders are taken to go, thus highlighting how the convenience and availability of takeout, delivery, and drive-thru is now deeply embedded in everyday life. Markedly enough, the report discovered that Gen Z and millennials are leading the charge on this transition, as nearly two-thirds of them said takeout is essential to their lifestyle. Beyond that, nearly 6 in 10 were found to use takeout or drive-thru at least weekly. More than 60% also said they're ordering off-premises more often than they did a year ago. Next up, we must get into some geographical dynamics. Most urban consumers came back with a response which said takeout or drive-thru is essential, whereas on the other hand, 67% of rural consumers were found wishing for more options in the context of takeout. Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the way preferences were found to vary across different age brackets and formats. This showcases how mobile ordering is mainstream, used by 57% of adults recently, including 74% of millennials and 65% of Gen Z adults. However, the older contingent said they still prefer in-person ordering. As for the format, takeout would be the most frequent off-premises method, followed by drive-thru and delivery. The report also discovered a shift in restaurants' ideology. We get to say so because an estimated 65% of limited-service operators now offer delivery, Now, even though only a small group of full-service restaurants currently offer off-premises services, they see some strength in this trend. You see, 43% expect curbside pickup to grow, 31% anticipate more dedicated takeout counters, and 12% foresee more drive-thru lanes. Beyond that, many see these options not just as operational updates, but as strategic growth opportunities in a changing market. NRA also took this opportunity to relay certain opportunities that consumers feel restaurants can tap into for better sales. These opportunities include packaging. Here, 90% of consumers said say they'd order a greater variety of items if the food maintained on-premises quality during delivery. Over half would pay more for premium packaging that supported quality during transport. The next opportunities in line relates to real-time deals. In essence, 9 in every 10 consumers were found to use limited-time app-only offers. Apart from that, restaurants are also advised to experiment with new formats. Expanding upon the same is how 67% of consumers are interested in bundled meals, 70% in meal kits, and 62% in subscriptions. Finally, our last opportunity stems from greater use of new-age technology, considering half of Gen Z adults (50%) and millennials (52%) say they'd consider ordering from an AI-generated video assistant. Off-premises dining has become a key revenue driver and an essential way to engage consumers, said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association. It now accounts for a larger share of sales for 58% of limited-service and 41% of full-service operators compared with 2019—providing a critical path to restaurant resilience and growth despite ongoing economic pressures.

• By Editorial Panel
• 04 Mar 2026