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The solo diner ranks tops in U.S. restaurant visits

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March 3, 2020

When it comes to who's dining out the single diner is tops when it comes to U.S. restaurant visits.

In 2019 solo diners represented 35% of visits compared to parties of two (27%), parties of three (14%), parties of four (12%) and parties of five or more (13%), according to data from The NPD Group.

Solo diners made 15.4 billion restaurant visits in the year, an increase of 1% compared to year ago, and with the exception of parties of four, visits from all other party sizes declined, according to NPD’s ongoing foodservice market research, CREST.

When it comes to where solo diners are dining, the QSR ranks first with 89% of solo diner visits and 10% eating at full service restaurants, according to a press release.

The share of solo diners'QSR meals eaten at home is 9%, stated the release, and solo diners eat at the restaurant 8% of their visits, in a car 8% of visits, and 5% of solo diner’s restaurant purchases are eaten at work.

"Not surprisingly, solo diners eat most of their meals at full service restaurants. As far as meal times, 48% of their visits are for lunch, 29% for breakfast and morning snack, and 22% of solo diner visits are at dinner," stated the release.

One factor driving more solo diner visits is technology — including digital ordering for delivery and pick-up, as well as self-service kiosks, noted the release. Another factor is that more people are living alone — 11% more than a decade ago.

"My best advice for restaurants is to acknowledge that they have more solo diners as customers and accommodate them," David Portalatin, NPD food industry advisor and author of Eating Patterns in America, said in the release. "They are looking for convenient and quick meal options and if eating on premise, they may want single seating areas. In other words, solo diners are a large customer group so make them feel welcome."