From the doorstep to the dining room: New DoorDash survey data reveals the full picture of the modern restaurant guest
Lifestyle
Audio By Carbonatix
9:05 AM on Tuesday, May 26
By Alanna Shipley for DoorDash, Stacker
From the doorstep to the dining room: New DoorDash survey data reveals the full picture of the modern restaurant guest
When it comes to restaurants, 64% of consumers say they would prefer one app for managing delivery, pickup, and reservations, a sign that convenience, choice, and consistency are becoming part of the same guest expectation.
That’s one of the findings from the 2026 Restaurant Industry Trends Report, a new report by DoorDash, uncovers the trends shaping the full restaurant guest journey — from the moment someone searches for a place to eat, to the habits that turn a first order or first visit into lasting loyalty. This year's insights are based on a nationally representative survey of more than 3,000 U.S. consumers and over 500 restaurant operators.
The clearest signal from the data: The modern restaurant guest moves fluidly across channels. A guest might discover a restaurant through AI, order delivery after a long week, book a table for date night, and come back because the experience felt personal — and increasingly, guests expect those moments to connect. For restaurant operators, every channel is a chance to make a guest feel known — and give them a reason to come back.
Take a seat and dig into the data:
AI Is Already at the Table
AI is changing how consumers decide where to eat, and restaurants’ digital footprints are helping shape what gets recommended.
- The AI dinner prompt is here: 22% of consumers have used an AI tool like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to help choose a restaurant, making AI a new discovery signal to watch as consumers use these tools to find something new, compare nearby options, and search by cuisine, occasion, or value.
- The new rules of restaurant search: According to Yext research, restaurant listing sites like DoorDash account for more than 41% of the sources AI tools cite when recommending restaurants. Operators are already responding by strengthening the basics, like updating menu information (39%), managing reviews (34%), and improving photo quality (32%).
- The opportunity doesn't stop at search: Three-quarters of consumers say they're comfortable using AI for reservations, but only 28% of operators are using AI to manage calls and customer service. With an estimated 40% of reservation calls going unanswered industry-wide, AI gives restaurants another way to capture demand and keep front-of-house teams focused on the guests in front of them.
Delivery and Dine-In Are Building the Same Guest Relationship
Every great restaurant experience — whether it happens at the doorstep or in the dining room — is an opportunity to deepen a customer relationship that drives repeat business across channels.
- One channel leads to another: 74% of consumers say a dine-in visit led them to later order delivery from that same restaurant, while 62% say a delivery order led them to later dine in.
- Occasion drives the decision: Consumers choose channels based on the moment. Birthdays, date nights, and celebrations bring them to the dining room, with 86% of consumers saying dine-in is their channel of choice for a special occasion. A long week or busy weekday sends them to delivery or pickup.
- Familiarity keeps guests coming back: Consumers engage across multiple channels, switching between each and returning to places they already know and trust. 80% of dine-in visits and 79% of orders are with restaurants that consumers have tried before.
Personal Touches Drive Return Visits
Across the guest journey, one theme comes through clearly: People come back to restaurants that make them feel recognized.
- Attention to detail drives return visits: 65% of consumers say a restaurant remembering their preferences — dietary restrictions, favorite dishes, seating choices — would directly affect how often they choose that restaurant, and 63% say a personalized recommendation or follow-up prompted them to return at least once in the past six months.
- Personalization starts at the menu: 59% of consumers actively seek out allergen and dietary information when ordering, or consider it a welcome addition when it's there. For guests with food allergies, intolerances, sensitivities, or dietary preferences, that level of detail can make a restaurant feel like the right choice before an order is ever placed.
The right gesture at the right moment matters: 87% of consumers say a credit, discount, or perk influenced them to reorder — a sign that guests are responsive when outreach feels timely and relevant rather than generic.
DoorDash
The 2026 Restaurant Industry Trends Report was based on two surveys conducted by Dynata on behalf of DoorDash in March 2026. The 3,001 US consumer respondents spanned a variety of ages, careers, and income levels. The 509 U.S. restaurant operator respondents spanned a variety of business sizes and locations. Participants were not compensated or incentivized by DoorDash. Unless otherwise specified, the data in this story is based on these survey results.
This story was produced by DoorDash and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
