The world lives in the age of AI right today.
The most recent QSR report of DoorDash, the 2026 Restaurant Industry Trends Report, has been released.
It uncovers the biggest trends shaping the complete restaurant guest pathway, from the moment a customer looks for a place to eat, to their first order or first visit, and into becoming loyal to the restaurant.
And it leads to one thing: that AI is shaping how consumers find their restaurants. The study shows how AI is currently being used to look for restaurants, instead of finding them on Google, from the order delivery to booking a table, and coming back again another day. True, AI sometimes makes mistakes, but these food consumers don’t care.
There is a 64 percent of consumers who say they would prefer an app for managing deliveries, pick-ups, and reservations, which is a signal that convenience, preferences, and consistency are becoming part of the experience.
“For restaurant operators, every channel is a chance to make a guest feel known – and give them a reason to come back,” QSR Magazine indicated. “AI is changing how consumers decide where to eat, and restaurants’ digital footprints are helping shape what gets recommended.”
Here are the most interesting findings. Instead of searching Google, customers are using AI prompts for dinner. The study also shows that 22 percent of diners have used an AI tool like ChatGPT or Google Gemini – well, they’re still practically relying on Google, except that it is Google’s AI – to help them choose a restaurant, making AI a fresh discover signal to track as consumers use these tools to find restaurants based upon their prompt, such as nearby diners, restaurants according to cuisine, restaurants according to occasion, or restaurants that are cheap.
Plus, there are also brand-new rules for restaurant searches. According to the research, DoorDash, along with other apps of this kind, accounts for more than 41 percent of the sources that AI tools cite when recommending the best restaurants according to their prompts.
In exchange, restaurants are responding by strengthening the basics, such as updating menu information, managing reviews, and improving the quality of images. Still, AI is part of these. Specifically, 39 percent, 34 percent, and 32 percent, respectively.
What’s more, the opportunities do not end with search. Three-quarters of consumers say they are very comfortable using artificial intelligence for restaurant reservations. Yet, only 28 percent of restaurant businesses are using AI to manage calls and customer service. With an estimated 40 percent of reservation calls going unanswered industry-wide, the technology gives restaurants a leeway to capture demand and keep reception teams focused on the guests in front of them.
And, guess what? Ridesharing Forum will be telling you more about the outcomes of this study in the following week, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, pitch your stories here by taking part in the discussions. You may also share this story around with your family and friends. Happy, happy weekend!