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The creation of this article included the use of AI and was edited by human content creators. Read more on our AI policy\u00a0<\/i>here.<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The next time you\u2019re debating dinner plans with friends who can\u2019t agree on a restaurant, the answer might already be waiting in your neighborhood. Food halls\u2014those sprawling, multi-vendor spaces where a sushi craving and a taco obsession can coexist peacefully\u2014are expanding across the country at a pace that suggests this isn\u2019t just a passing fad.<\/span><\/p>\n According to <\/span>Colicchio Consulting<\/span><\/a>\u2019s \u201cState of Food Halls 2026\u201d report, the segment grew nearly 25% between 2023 and 2025. Additionally, developers have more than 100 new food hall projects in the pipeline nationwide, with a mix of urban and suburban locations underway.<\/span><\/p>\n If your mental image involves mall food courts with fluorescent lighting and chain restaurants, think again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Per <\/span>FoodHalls.org<\/span><\/a>, \u201cUnlike traditional food courts, which primarily feature fast-food chains in commercial spaces like malls and airports, food halls offer a curated and diverse selection of chef-driven, locally sourced, and artisanal food and beverage vendors, creating a unique and immersive dining experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The word \u201ccurated\u201d is key; Food halls typically bring together independent operators, many of whom are testing concepts or building followings before committing to standalone locations. The result is a concentration of culinary ambition not usually found in traditional food courts.<\/span><\/p>\n The appeal goes beyond just having options. Food halls solve a specific social friction point that anyone who\u2019s tried to coordinate group dining recognizes: the tyranny of the single menu.<\/span><\/p>\n When one person wants Thai, another craves barbecue, and a third is vegetarian, traditional restaurants force compromise. Food halls eliminate that negotiation entirely. Everyone orders what they actually want, then reconvenes at a shared table. The meal becomes about the company rather than the cuisine consensus.<\/span><\/p>\n Shared seating and communal spaces encourage interaction, turning meals into social outings rather than just transactions. Many food halls also integrate entertainment and flexible programming, which keeps guests engaged beyond just eating.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur State of Food Halls 2026 report shows how the forces which drive long-term F&B success have predictably shifted, with a focus on maintaining a discernible and distinct \u2018point of view\u2019 through design, programming and carefully curated food and beverage options,\u201d said Phil Colicchio<\/strong>, Principal at Colicchio Consulting. \u201cWhile there have certainly been some high-profile disappointments, food halls on the whole have clearly established themselves as community gathering points, which is why entertainment, variation and cultural relevance are so integral to their success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s where the trend gets interesting for those outside major metropolitan areas. Food halls are no longer just an urban phenomenon.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the Colicchio Consulting report, 15 new food halls are set to open in suburban or peripheral markets within the next six months, with 70 more in the pipeline for the rest of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n This suburban push suggests developers see demand beyond the dense downtown cores where food halls first proliferated. For residents in these areas, it represents access to dining variety that previously required a trip into the city.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe growth over the last two years was beyond solid, and 2026 looks even healthier,\u201d Colicchio continued. \u201cOperating a successful food hall installation today requires building strong bonds with your local community and fostering connections through purposeful design, authentic food and beverage offerings and \u2018call and response\u2019 programming.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nWhat makes a food hall different from a food court<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why this format resonates now<\/b><\/h2>\n
The suburban expansion you might not have noticed<\/b><\/h2>\n
What to look for when visiting<\/b><\/h2>\n