10 Most Popular Types of Food Around the World to Inspire Your Restaurant Menu

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Maja Jankowska

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Planning your menu for 2025? Then it’s a great idea to look at the most loved foods from around the world.

Types of Food Around the World to Inspire Your Restaurant Menu
Credit: TasteAtlas

At resOS, we help restaurants grow by making it easier to take bookings, show menus in different languages, and keep guests happy with simple, helpful tools. But your menu is still the most important part of your restaurant—it’s what brings people through the door.

In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 most popular cuisines in the world (based on real reviews from TasteAtlas) and show you how adding these dishes to your menu can make your guests happier, help you get more bookings, and make your restaurant easier to find online.

🌍 Most Popular Cuisines in the World (TasteAtlas 2024‑25 Ranking)

According to TasteAtlas’s 2024–25 report, which aggregates 477,287 valid ratings across 15,478 dishes, the following cuisines are the top-rated on average globally:

RankCuisineAvg. Score
1Greek4.60
2Italian4.59
3Mexican4.52
4Spanish4.50
5Portuguese4.50
6Turkish4.50
7Indonesian4.48
8French4.48
9Japanese4.47
10Chinese4.45
📈 Data source: TasteAtlas – 100 Best Cuisines in the World 2024/25, based on 477,287 valid ratings for 15,478 foods 

These cuisines represent the most searched, most loved, and most booked types of food globally—perfect for updating your restaurant’s menu and tapping into wider audiences.

🇬🇷 1. Greek Cuisine

Greek cuisine earned first place for its balance of rustic comfort and premium ingredients. Think olive oil, seafood, and Mediterranean herbs—no wonder it’s trending.

Signature Dish: Moussaka – Layers of eggplant, minced meat, and creamy béchamel. It’s hearty yet elegant.

💡 resOS Tip: Promote your Greek specials using the Instagram and Facebook Reserve buttons, so diners can book directly from your social profiles.

🇮🇹 2. Italian Cuisine 

Italian is more than pizza—it’s regional, artisanal, and beloved worldwide. Ideal for casual trattorias or upscale bistros.

Signature Dish: Pizza Napoletana – High-gluten crust, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, and buffalo mozzarella.

💡 resOS Tip: During busy weekend pizza nights, activate the waitlist feature, so walk-ins don’t walk away. Enable multi-language bookings to capture tourists in your area.

🇲🇽 3. Mexican Cuisine

Coming in third, Mexican cuisine is celebrated for its street-food vibrancy and versatile formats.

Signature Dish: Quesabirria – Juicy tacos filled with melting cheese and braised beef.

Use in menu: Introduce as a hand-held food special or late-night offering.

🇪🇸 4. Spanish Cuisine

Spain offers communal dining at its best—shareable plates, cured meats, and seafood—ideal for social menus.

Signature Dish: Jamón Ibérico de Bellota – Cured ham from acorn-fed pigs, a decadent starter.

📈 resOS Tip:
Host “Tapas & Wine Night” with prepayments required. Let guests book from your Google Business listing via Reserve with Google, fully integrated with resOS.

🇵🇹 5. Portuguese Cuisine

Portuguese cuisine features seafood, pastries, and hearty flavors—perfect for coastal or comfort-based menus.

Signature Dish: Pastéis de Belém – Flaky custard tarts with a caramelized top.

Use in menu: Pair with coffee during brunch, or offer as a dessert highlight.

Automate bookings while serving the world’s best food

Automate bookings while serving the world’s best food

Whether you offer Italian classics or Asian street food, resOS helps you manage bookings, waitlists, and no-shows with ease.

🇹🇷 6. Turkish Cuisine

Turkish food thrives on appetizer culture, grilled meats, and zhuzhed flavours.

Signature Dish: Kahvaltı – A full Turkish breakfast spread with cheese, olives, breads, and eggs.

Use in menu: Launch weekend brunch themes with mezze platters and Turkish tea.

🇮🇩 7. Indonesian Cuisine

Bold spices, coconut, and regional layers make Indonesian a rich addition to any menu.

Signature Dish: Nasi Padang – Mixed plate with multiple curries, vegetables, and sambal.

💡 resOS Tip:

Highlight “Indonesian Night” in your multi-language booking page, and let tourists reserve in their native language.

🇫🇷 8. French Cuisine

French food blends culinary artistry with comfort, ideal for special evenings.

Signature Dish: Châteaubriand – Tenderloin beef steak served with rich sauce.

Use in menu: Feature in a tasting menu or as a highlight main course.

🇯🇵 9. Japanese Cuisine

Japan places ninth, with its reputation for precision, aesthetics, and seasonality.

Signature Dish: Wagyu – High-grade beef known for marbling and luxury.

Use in menu: Add as a premium main or omakase item; highlight via resOS multi-language menu descriptions.

🇨🇳 10. Chinese Cuisine

China’s cuisine is tenth, celebrated for regional style and communal dishes.

Signature Dish: Guotie – Crisp pan-fried dumplings with juicy filling.

Use in menu: Serve as dim sum appetizer or pair with tea for brunch.

🔑 resOS Features That Help You Maximise These Cuisines

FeatureBenefit for Global Cuisine Themes
Facebook & Instagram BookingTurn your social media traffic into confirmed bookings
Reserve with GoogleCapture diners searching for Best Greek/Mexican food near me
Multi-language Booking SystemAttract international tourists and non-native speakers
Waitlist SupportReduce walkout rates during peak hours
PrepaymentsSecure income and reduce no-shows for special events

With these top 10 globally loved cuisines, your restaurant can offer famous foods, traditional dishes, and cultural foods that attract both locals and tourists. Pair this menu strategy with resOS’s reservation capabilities and watch your bookings—and brand—grow.