Seafood trending on US restaurant menus this summer, led by shrimp offerings

Americans have been seeking seafood, especially shrimp offerings, when choosing where to dine out this summer, according to foodservice research and consulting firm Datassential. 

In response, restaurants across the country have added new seafood dishes, mainly including shrimp appetizers and entrees.

“Seafood dishes – along with premium meats – are among the highest-scoring options for draw, meaning consumers would visit the restaurant just for that item,” Mike Kostyo, author of Datassential’s “Midyear Trends Report,” told SeafoodSource.

Datassential Associate Director of Publications Claire Conaghan told SeafoodSource three of the five “top draw” items in restaurants so far in 2023 include seafood. And Datassential’s Concept Testing database over the past six months found 56 percent of people who said they would go to a restaurant specifically to try a particular protein item named lobster as their top option, tied with ribeye steak. Other popular seafood items listed in the database included ...

Photo courtesy of Rubio’s