5 Food Trends That Went Viral: Where Are They Now?

Food has always been about taste and tradition, but in recent years it has also become about visibility, virality, and timing. Some trends exploded on Instagram, others promised to change the future of food, and many reshaped menus for a season or two before fading away. What happens when the buzz is gone? Here’s a look at five trends that once defined the conversation and where they stand today.

1. 3D-Printed Food

Not long ago, 3D-printed food was making headlines as the futuristic dining revolution. Startups showcased printed pizzas, pasta, and chocolate, with bold promises of reshaping how we eat. Today, most of those players have vanished from the spotlight. The technology hasn’t disappeared, but its use is confined to highly specific contexts, such as serving the elderly or patients with eating difficulties who require soft, easily chewable foods. As a consumer trend, it never broke through: production costs remain prohibitive, and the concept itself lacked a convincing purpose beyond novelty.

Lesson for businesses: without clear utility, even the flashiest innovation struggles to survive.

2. The Baking & Sourdough Craze

During lockdown, flour and yeast were suddenly scarce commodities. Everyone seemed to be baking: sourdough loaves, banana bread, focaccia art. As life returned to normal, the craze faded. A few artisanal bakers and hobbyists kept the passion alive, but for most, it was a passing phase of a very unusual time.

Lesson for businesses: extraordinary circumstances can create extraordinary demand — but don’t mistake it for a permanent shift.

3. Natural Wines

A few years ago, natural wine was everywhere: the darling of hipster wine bars, the badge of authenticity for trendy restaurants, and the subject of endless debates. Unfiltered, low-intervention, sometimes cloudy — it promised a return to “purity” and a rebellion against conventional winemaking. The hype has since softened. Natural wines didn’t disappear, but they lost their aura of revolution as consumers became more discerning. Many discovered that not every natural bottle is drinkable, and not every restaurant needs to feature them. Another real problem is consistency: natural wines tend to be unpredictable in taste and behaviour, meaning that some bottles go bad, some may explode, making the life of sommeliers particularly difficult. What remains is a stable niche, no longer a fad but one more option in a broad wine culture.

Lesson for businesses: authenticity sells, but without consistency in quality, no movement can sustain hype forever.

4. Rainbow & Unicorn Food

Remember rainbow bagels, galaxy lattes, and glittery cupcakes? These were perhaps the purest form of social-media cuisine: designed to be photographed more than eaten. Their reign was short. Once the novelty faded, so did customer interest. Today, you rarely see them outside of nostalgic posts.

Lesson for businesses: trends that exist only for the photo rarely build long-term value.

5. Avocado Everywhere

From brunch cafés to supermarket shelves, avocado was once unavoidable. Toast, smoothies, salads, even desserts — the “green gold” became a global obsession. Today, its shine is fading: soaring prices, supply issues, and awareness of its environmental footprint are curbing demand. Avocado remains present, but it no longer carries the aura of novelty or status it once had.

Lesson for businesses: building a menu around a single superstar ingredient is risky when cost and sustainability catch up.

Dulcis in fundo

Trends come and go, but the way they evolve tells us a lot about consumer behavior. Some fade without a trace, others reinvent themselves, and a few quietly settle into everyday life. For restaurants and food brands, the real question isn’t just “What’s trending now?” but “Which trends have the potential to outlast the hype?”

At We Are Food, we believe in looking beyond the noise to identify the movements that align with your brand, your values, and your customers — so your menu remains relevant long after the trend cycle moves on.