Since 2018, casual dining has been increasing while quick service and fine dining have been going down. All categories experienced a decrease at the beginning of 2020, but the trends are now the same as before the pandemic. Casual dining, once the third most common category after quick service and fine dining, is now the most popular category.
The Controller’s office defines “fast casual" as restaurants where orders are placed at the counter and entrees are in the $10 range. “Quick service” restaurants are defined as those where meals cost $6 or under.