You’d think our taste buds would be trend-proof, that our appetites are immune to the passing whims of experimental chefs. Foods aren’t fads. Except… some of the tastiest plates from recent years definitely started out that way. Gourmet burgers, Korean BBQ, small-plates everything – they all mushroomed from trendy restaurants in trendy quarters of trendy cities.

Which begs the question: what are the taste-makers cooking up next? These are the finger-licking food trends whetting our appetite this year.

Filipino Food

While Filipino food is extremely popular in some places – most notably the USA and, well, the Philippines – it’s taken the UK a surprising amount of time to wake up to this interesting hybrid of Spanish, South American and Asian flavours. As such, it’s ripe to become “the next big thing”: familiar ingredients (and a heavy dose of crispily cooked pork) and familiar flavours, just in combinations most people probably hadn’t contemplated before.

BBQ Dreamz

BBQ Dreamz, which rose to fame on the BBC’s Million Pound Menu, can be found at John Lewis Oxford Street throughout the summer of 2019, while Sarap, under the guidance of chef Budgie Montoya, has recently spun its acclaimed Soho pop-up into a longer summer gig in Brixton Village. Kain tayo!

Sarap

Vegan Menus

While the debate rages on whether vegetarianism and veganism will save the planet (short answer: no it won’t but at least it’s got people talking) many are switching to a more plant-based diet. Even if it’s only for #MeatlessMonday.

And it doesn’t have to be all leafy greens, either. Temple of Seitan, with Hackney and Camden locations, do mouth-watering fried “chicken” without the guilt (ie fried plant-based junk food). Add chips and gravy, it becomes the perfect end-of-night food for vegans on the town.

The Vurger Co.’s plant-based burgers are packed full of your five-a-day, made from 100% vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains and legumes, and believe us when we say they don’t compromise on flavour.