The old recession playbook said consumers under financial pressure would trade down to the cheapest meal they could find. That's not what's happening these days. Instead, Americans are eating out less often, scrutinizing every restaurant purchase, and concentrating their spending among a shrinking group of perceived winners. And increasingly, those winners look a lot like Chipotle and Cava. A year ago, fast-casual chains built around customizable bowls and salads were among the restaurant industry's biggest casualties thanks to stretched consumers. Diners balked at lunch tabs creeping past $20, traffic slowed, and executives spent much of 2025 talking about value. Now, those same chains are pulling away from the rest of the pack. Read about what's fueling the slop bowl's comeback at the link in our bio. Story by Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert (Credit: Getty Images) #Cava #Chipotle #foodtrends #fastcasual #valuemeals