Picture courtesy of Thai PBS WORLD

Thai food businesses in the United States are poised for growth in 2026, fuelled by an increasing trend of dining out. Director-General Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, of the Commerce Ministry's Department of International Trade Promotion, cited recent consumer behaviour surveys as proof of this surge.

A report from the department’s Chicago office highlights an 8% rise in the number of American consumers opting for dining out in 2025, with this trend expected to grow further in 2026. On average, consumers dined out 10 times monthly, with Millennials reaching up to 14 times.

Sunanta emphasised the potential revenue boost for Thai food and beverage businesses and stressed the importance of aligning with consumers' preferences. She noted that American diners favour convenience and value, preferring venues with special promotions and unique atmospheres.

Experts advise that Thai food outlets could attract more customers by adopting greener menus and eco-friendly interiors to align with these emerging consumer expectations. Looking forward, this trend points to a promising future for Thai food businesses in the US as they adapt to meet increasing demands, reported Thai PBS WORLD.

Key Takeaways

• Dining-out trends in the US are expected to benefit Thai food businesses.

• Reports show American consumers are increasingly preferring to dine out.

• Adjustments such as eco-friendly options could enhance business appeal.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS WORLD 2026-01-05

 

 

Thai food businesses in the United States are poised for growth in 2026, fuelled by an increasing trend of dining out.

Talking to many Americans, the cost of dining out is rising sharply, many who would dine out frequently now only go out for special occasions, or limited times per month.

The working class are feeling the pinch on their salaries, the first thing that suffers is the spending.

On 1/5/2026 at 3:45 AM, webfact said:

Experts advise that Thai food outlets could attract more customers by adopting greener menus and eco-friendly interiors to align with these emerging consumer expectations.

Can't say I've ever thought of greener or eco-friendly when I'm out eating.

Sounds like going broke to me ............

On 1/5/2026 at 3:45 AM, webfact said:

Thai food businesses in the United States are poised for growth in 2026, fuelled by an increasing trend of dining out.

Are there 2 US of A's now in the world?

American Workers Dumping Dining Out, Opting for More Economic Home-Cooked Meals  

The survey found that many Americans are not eating out due to higher prices.  Eighty-two percent of diners say restaurant prices have increased over the past year. And among lower- income  households, the number rises to 44 percent.  The share of middle class Americans avoiding a restaurant visit hits 33 percent and among higher income groups, 27 percent say they dine out less frequently.  

https://www.workerscompensation.com/daily-headlines/american-workers-dumping-dining-out-opting-for-more-economic-home-cooked-meals/

Nope, most US people don't like most Thai food. The chili pepper heat is nothing like typical US spicy food - that usual southwest chili pepper heat flavor. A habanero or jalapeno has nothing on a Jinda or Birdseye. Large groceries (Costco, in this example) may try to introduce some Thai cuisine in the frozen section, take-home/cook-n-serve, but if you come back 2 months later and they no longer carry it because it doesn't sell. Or, just go try to find and buy Thai basil or Holy basil even more scarce.

Restaurants serving Thai food can't stay in business without having a menu with more than Thai food. Most likely, they RELY more on sushi, or some other Asian food for most of the business.

This is in average cities, not large places like NY, LA, DC, Dallas or Miami with many Thai living there.

"THRIVE", More like SURVIVE.

This reads like something written by someone at TAT.

The article seems to be based on fantasy rather than fact.

How high are Thai imports tariffed? That will sure affect the price of a meal, whether from grocery or restaurant.

An OP commented that Yanks don't like Thai-spicy™. I disagree. They're learning to like it, just as they did Sichuan, Hunan, Tex-Mex, ceviche, wasabi.

However, to tone down spicy, cooks add way too much sweet, not only there but here. This has changed Thais tastes as well. All are addicted to sugar.

I was taught every Thai meal requires five flavours: Sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter, to which I'd add umami.