From feta pasta to Dalgona coffee, TikTok users have cycled through plenty of food trends and fads in the app’s short life. While some may scoff, every generation has its own inexplicable crazes, whether it’s pet rocks or Beanie Babies. In the Victorian age, “fern fever” (dubbed pteridomania) took over, with some parents expressing concern that their children were too obsessed with ferns, while botanists advocated for laws protecting the plant from over-harvesting.

Whether you call them fads or trends, these brief manias can still be fun and engaging as consumers share ideas and try something new. And underneath it all, there may be a kernel of a true need: When pandemic restrictions prevented consumers from visiting their favorite coffee shops, Dalgona coffee allowed them to create a gourmet beverage at home. And thanks to technological advances, these trends move faster and farther than ever, opening a new world of opportunities. By leveraging the latest TikTok sensations, chefs can develop new menu items, reach younger consumers on their terms, keep a concept relevant or even introduce a new F&B social media darling.

Here are five of the latest TikTok food trends to inspire your next limited-time offering or new menu item:

1

Caviar on Everything

When it comes to premium ingredients, caviar is the new truffle. Earlier this year, industry consultancy Menu Matters asked consumers which premium or fancy food they had always wanted to try, and caviar was by far the most-mentioned ingredient. That’s partly driven by its popularity on TikTok, where the pricey ingredient has racked up millions of views, with creators featuring it on more approachable formats like tater tots, deviled eggs and brand-name chips.

Consider how you can make this luxurious ingredient an approachable option for diners; some operators are offering inexpensive caviar “bumps” or sourcing less expensive roe varieties. In Detroit, Chefs Nik Cole and Chi Walker have made a name for themselves with their Fried Chicken & Caviar pop-ups, serving options like fried chicken with caviar over scrambled eggs.

2

Fat’s Back

Beef tallow is hot in foodservice, as identified by Flavor & The Menu in its Top 10 Trends of 2024, but TikTok is teaching at-home cooks that fats like tallow and butter can be fun sources of culinary innovation. Heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, TikTok influencers demonstrated how to recreate the edible beef-tallow-and-butter candles that had been trending at restaurants. These videos not only inspired home cooks to make the showstopping appetizer but also drummed up interest in restaurants that served it.

At Echo & Rig, a steakhouse concept with locations in Las Vegas and Sacramento, Calif., deli quarts of beef tallow have been hot sellers in the retail case, embraced by at-home grill masters and steak aficionados who recognize its flavor impact. That newfound love means chefs shouldn’t shy away from calling out tallow and butter on the menu, while also looking for new platforms (tallow-based sauces, anyone?) and developing TikTok-friendly showcases. For example, a tableside butter bath practically demands diners get their phones out to film it.

3

Olive Oil… Ice Cream?

Chefs have long known that olive oil can be a potent source of flavor and a textural upgrade in baked goods; plus, diners are far more open to sweet-and-savory profiles than they used to be. Nevertheless, many TikTok users are still surprised by the combination of olive oil and ice cream. Popularized by musician Dua Lipa on the app, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt over vanilla ice cream has been described by users as “elite” and “addicting.”

Restaurants can offer diners a chance to try this trend with ingredients they likely already have on hand. Another option is to use the combination as a jumping-off point for dessert innovation, such as a sea salt-caramel gelato with olive oil pearls.

4

Burn It Down

Burn-away cakes are perhaps the newest food fad taking over TikTok, attracting hundreds of millions of views. The cakes work by topping a traditionally frosted cake with a thin piece of printed rice paper that floats just above on an edge of piped frosting. The paper is lit on fire and burns away, revealing a second image underneath. The cakes are now being used for everything from birthdays to gender reveal parties, with numerous celebrities and brands commissioning their own versions. More intriguing and interactive than the typical candle topper, housemade burn-away cakes up the ante on celebratory desserts, but operators should also consider using them in other applications, like cocktails.

5

Sleep Tight

To end the night, consider the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail,” a viral TikTok beverage that combines cherry juice with magnesium, which are both said to be sleep aids. Operators have long helped consumers wake up each morning or get through the day with caffeinated coffee and energy drinks, but getting them to sleep hasn’t been on most chefs’ radars. Yet the rise of melatonin and trends like the Sleepy Girl Mocktail showcase that sleep assistance is one more function consumers are seeking.

Consider how ingredients like cherry juice, lavender and chamomile can be incorporated into a relaxing or stress-busting menu. Or, develop sleep-inducing menu items for late-night deliveries. After all, you don’t want diners driving home after downing a few sleep-centric drinks.

TikTok is nothing if not teeming with content, much of which has a short shelf life. But even when a particular food or beverage is no longer at the top of users’ feeds, it can still curry favor with Gen Zers and social-savvy consumers, whose memories of trends outlast the trends themselves. Plus, by serving TikTok-inspired items, restaurants are inviting all guests to experience these innovative creations—even if they missed the in-app craze.