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6 Min
15/12/2025
Much like all that glitters is not gold, all that goes viral is not worth the hype. And this adage has never been truer than in 2025, when everything, from a random dialogue (*cough, Shampi, cough*) to a new dish, has gone viral, raking in millions of views, thousands of interpretations, and redefining the meaning of ‘famous’. But what happens when these food trends are actually put to the test? Do they fare well, or crumble like an undercooked cake? Let’s dive in.
When it comes to food, innovation has always been the name of the game. Some dishes came into existence because someone swapped the chef's hat for the mad scientist coat a few thousand years ago. Others were born when home cooks, faced with dwindling supplies and fussy eaters, turned scarcity into ingenuity. And in 2025? Dishes are born because a food blogger discovers them on a trip. Or an influencer conducts an experiment that may or may not be driven by aesthetics. Or because food was never meant for sustenance alone. It was always meant to be shared and enjoyed, and social media is just one more way to do so. But it’s always better to take things with a pinch of salt. Thus, here’s decoding the top viral social media food trends of 2025 to find out the actual hits and misses.
Social media is a space that evolves and changes in a matter of a day; at times, even minutes. And yet, some food trends sustained the short fuse of viral fame and are going strong even now.
For starters, plant-based diets or plant-alternatives to meat are not just a trend but a new movement. And if those jackfruit tacos and tomato “tuna” sushi are anything to go by, this movement isn’t ending anytime soon.
Must like glocal treats, or rather fusion flavours that blend local treats with international techniques (or vice versa). Imagine the likes of idli shakshuka, crab thecha, etc. Fusion has dominated desserts for a while, with dishes like gulab jamun cheesecake, chaas popsicles, chocolate barfi, and more gracing the dessert menus at high-end restaurants. But now, with fast food chains serving fiery burgers to appease Korean lovers, and avocados popping up everywhere, from grocery stores to quick commerce sites, “glocal treats” are no longer restricted to restaurants. They’re everywhere.
Now, while the novelty might be wearing off fusion cuisine, there’s another trend ready to take over — newstalgia. As the name indicates, it’s a combination of new and nostalgia. Essentially, blending nostalgic treats and familiar flavours with modern, creative twists. It’s the one trend chefs are banking on for 2026. The idea is to offer the same flavours in a new plate. Thus, get ready to sample banta in your dessert, Parle-G crumble on your chai-spiced cheesecake, or dal makhani seeping into risottos. There’s no limit to imagination in the kitchen!
Another new trend on the rise is the introduction of “swicy” (sweet and spicy) flavours in desserts. The "swicy" trend includes items like cayenne dark chocolate bars and jalapeno mango fruit salsas. Essentially, treats that blend two diverse flavours to create a more complicated or new flavour profile. It requires a precarious balance of flavours.
While trends keep evolving, a few dishes had everyone’s taste buds doing the happy dance in 2025. Here are the viral food dishes that worked well in 2025:
Unless you were living under a rock, these chocolate bars would have made it to your timeline, no matter how far removed or in-tune you are with viral food trends. That’s just the level of virality that these bars enjoyed. As the name suggests, it’s a gourmet chocolate bar made by combining a crunchy kunafa (a Middle Eastern dessert) layer with a creamy pistachio filling inside a milk chocolate shell.
Potatoes are the star of the carb world - loved by a vast majority in all forms they appear in. No wonder crispy smashed potatoes made it to the list, too. Boiled potatoes are smashed and roasted (usually in an air fryer or oven) to achieve a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. The potatoes are typically seasoned and can be served as a side dish or appetiser. The roasting, instead of frying, makes them a healthier treat. And the act of “smashing” makes this a popular snack to make and enjoy with little ones.
This one should come as no surprise to anyone, considering everyone knows someone who has tried to recreate this recipe at home! Smashed or sliced avocado is placed on lightly toasted bread (usually sourdough) to create a simple dish that is easily customisable. Adding toppings like a poached egg or crumbled cottage cheese on top can boost the protein content. Or simply mix it with onions, tomatoes, and your favourite seasonings and spread on toasted bread. It’s the simplicity and health benefits that led to its popularity.
A simple enough dish to prepare, pasta chips are crispy snacks made from cooked pasta, seasoned with spices and often served with a dip. Various types of pasta can be used and baked or fried until crisp. Popular flavourings include garlic, parmesan, and other herbs. Though popular enough on the gram, it’s best to experiment with a small batch, especially if using a different pasta shape than the one mentioned in the recipe.
Both Match and Boba, separately, took over as the “healthy” drink for the working millennials and Gen Zs. Matcha is powdered green tea, added as a flavouring agent in coffees, cookies, and even breads. And boba is a milk tea (or latte) made from tapioca pearls. In fact, the two have also come together in Matcha-flavoured boba tea.
From DMs to the saved folder no one visits, these dishes were everywhere. And gone just as soon as they arrived. Because the taste didn’t live up to the expectations.
Activated charcoal buns, or rainbow coloured food, looked amazing, but unfortunately added nothing to the overall flavour or nutrition. Moreover, these ingredients were often difficult and expensive to source. At the end of the day, the public consensus was clear: aesthetics don’t belong on the ingredient list!
On paper, it sounds like a healthier alternative to cake. But in reality, everyone could do with a little sugar, cream, and frosting, aka cake. Watermelon cake is made by carving watermelon into cake-like blocks and stacking them together. The stacked watermelon blocks are coated with frosted cream and topped with fresh fruits. However, the watermelon’s texture just does not hold up well under the cream, and the result is a miss more times than it’s a hit.
If you need a spoon, a plate, and a straw together to consume a milkshake, a lot is going on! Loaded milkshakes are indulgences precariously arranged over a glass. Everything, from chocolate syrups and gems to mini doughnuts, wafers, whipped cream, and even pretzels and cones, is arranged on top of a glass of milkshake. But, there’s a reason why the saying, “too much of anything is good for nothing", exists. At the end of the day, a loaded milkshake ends up being neither a dessert nor a shake. Just a mishmash of sweetness that sticks to your gums and revolts your taste buds.
Yet another trend that went viral for its apparent ease, only to end up in a mess. Butter boards were an inspired take on the typical charcuterie board. Here, butter (softened and usually mixed with herbs, chilli flakes, and other seasonings and toppings) was lathered onto a wooden cutting board and served as is, with crackers and bread. The idea was an elevated bread-and-butter presentation. But in reality, it was a messy and unhygienic way to consume food, especially at parties. It also made it impossible to store leftovers.
If there’s one thing Gujarat, especially Ahmedabad, has become famous for in recent years, it has to be the extreme street food adventures. From Fanta maggi (maggi cooked in Fanta, an orange-flavoured soft drink) to ice cream chaat and Oreo fritters, there was nothing the street food vendors didn’t experiment with. Unfortunately, most of these experiments failed because they focused less on blending unique flavours and more on serving shock value.
While the gram can introduce us to new tastes and flavours, it also comes with hidden costs. Not all food has discernible nutritional value, and a few things only look good with a filter. Thus, scroll away, save recipes, and savour new dishes — but with a pinch of awareness. And always remember, just because something looks pretty, it doesn’t mean it will taste great
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