Operations

7 ways diners are cutting the check — from skipping drinks to choosing carryout

Photo: Adobe

October 1, 2026

Summarize with

U.S. restaurant-goers are spending an average of $100 per week on dining out, an increase from earlier this year, but still down $15 compared to June 2025, as budget-conscious consumers adopt creative strategies to manage check totals, according to new research from Popmenu.

The restaurant technology provider's report, based on nationwide surveys of 3,000 U.S. consumers conducted between February and July 2026, reveals that two-thirds (67%) of consumers are spending less on dining out than they did a year ago. Rather than eliminating restaurant visits entirely, guests are increasingly opting for quick-service, fast-casual, and casual concepts while modifying their ordering behavior to stretch their dollars.

Strategic cost-cutting at the table

According to the study, consumer tactics to keep meal costs manageable include:

Drinking water over paid beverages: 52%
Choosing pickup over delivery: 50%
Utilizing coupons or loyalty rewards: 48%
Selecting less expensive restaurants: 47
Ordering appetizers instead of entrees: 29
Reducing alcohol purchases: 28%
Ordering adult portions from children's menus: 16%

Dinner has experienced the sharpest decline in frequency, with 46% of respondents reporting cutbacks, followed by lunch (37%), breakfast (28%), and late-night visits (24%).

"Around 30% of monthly food budgets go to restaurants today, down from a high of 40% in 2022,"Brendan Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of Popmenu, said in a company press release. "What that tells us is consumers are spending intentionally, not reluctantly. Restaurants have pushed menu prices about as far as they can go. Consumers are looking for value and incentives to come back."

Tipping pullback

Tightening budgets are also impacting restaurant staff. The study found that 40% of consumers are tipping less this year, with 78% of those individuals specifically reducing tips at restaurants and bars.

At fast-casual concepts, 19% of diners report tipping less than 10%, while 14% tip 10%, 11% tip 15%, 6% tip 20%, and 2% tip 25% or higher.

Implications for fast-casual operators

The report emphasizes that digital visibility and frictionless ordering are critical drivers for attracting cost-conscious guests:

Search Engine Visibility: 80% of consumers use search engines like Google to locate restaurants, while 27% turn to AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Direct Digital Ordering: 94% of respondents prefer ordering directly through a restaurant's website rather than third-party platforms to avoid added fees.
Menu Visuals and Value Incentives: 80% are more likely to select menus featuring photos, videos, and reviews, while 62% favor concepts offering clear value options and promotions.
AI Adoption: 60% of consumers approve of restaurants leveraging AI to streamline operations, including answering phone calls, taking orders, and preparing food.

Popmenu's findings draw from three anonymous national surveys of 1,000 U.S. adults each, conducted in February, May, and July 2026.

Join restaurant leaders at the Fast Casual Executive Summit, October 4-6 in Arlington, Texas. Hear from Scott Deviney of Chicken Salad Chick, Geoff Alexander of Wow Bao and many others on what it takes to grow and lead a fast casual brand. Register now:

Join restaurant leaders at the Fast Casual Executive Summit, October 4–6 in Arlington, TX. Hear from Scott Deviney of Chicken Salad Chick, Geoff Alexander of Wow Bao and many others on what it takes to grow and lead a fast casual brand. Register now: https://fastcasualsummit.com/