If you thought frozen yogurt had been left behind in the 2000s, New Yorkers apparently have other ideas. The once-ubiquitous frozen dessert is staging a surprising comeback, with Google Maps reviews mentioning it surging 320% in just one year. And that is only one of the findings in a new report from Google, which offers a glimpse into the foods, drinks and restaurants attracting attention in major cities around the world.
Google has released its first Fan-Favorite Dining List, based on an analysis of Google Maps data from the past year. The company examined user reviews and ratings, along with requests for directions to restaurants, in 10 cities: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, London, Tokyo, Melbourne, Montreal and Santiago. Unlike traditional restaurant guides, the list is based on user activity rather than evaluations by professional food critics.
Traditional Japanese mochi filled with a sweet filling
(Photo: aonip / Shutterstock)
The result is a snapshot of the flavors and dining experiences generating the most interest, from nostalgic desserts making a comeback to traditional dishes finding new audiences and Japanese drinks challenging matcha’s popularity.
There is, however, an important distinction: An increase in mentions in Google Maps reviews does not necessarily indicate a corresponding rise in sales or actual consumption. Instead, the figures reflect growing interest as expressed through user activity on the platform.
One of the clearest trends in Google’s report is the renewed interest in familiar desserts, alongside traditional sweets from cuisines around the world. Some are making unexpected comebacks after years out of the spotlight, while others are gaining attention from tourists and food enthusiasts seeking local flavors.
In New York, the biggest surprise is frozen yogurt, commonly known as froyo. After years when enthusiasm for the frozen treat appeared to be fading, it is finding its way back into the city’s dessert scene. According to Google, reviews mentioning frozen yogurt jumped 320% year over year, partly driven by more elaborate versions featuring gourmet toppings and new flavor combinations. Among the establishments highlighted in the report are Birdie’s, Mimi’s and Culture in Brooklyn.
In Montreal, Canada, another familiar treat is enjoying renewed attention: the cinnamon bun. Mentions of the sweet pastry in Google Maps reviews increased 84% over the past year. Popular locations include Daddy Roll and Bernice, along with Guayabito, a Venezuelan bakery.
On the other side of the world, Tokyo is experiencing a surge in interest in a traditional Japanese dessert rather than a nostalgic comeback. Mochi, a soft, chewy confection made from glutinous rice, is often filled with sweet pastes or served with ice cream. Google Maps reviews mentioning mochi increased 168% over the past year.
Google suggests that the increase may be linked in part to record levels of inbound tourism to Japan. Visitors seeking authentic local food experiences appear to be showing growing interest in traditional Japanese sweets. Among the establishments drawing attention are Mochijin and Tsubameya.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, in the southern United States, a pastry bearing some resemblance to the Israeli sufganiya is attracting growing interest. Beignets are French-style fried pastries, typically served as pillows of dough covered in a generous layer of powdered sugar.
Although the pastry is particularly associated with New Orleans, it is gaining attention in Atlanta, where mentions in Google Maps reviews rose 77%. Among the establishments highlighted are Breakfast On Luckie Street & Grill and Le Petit Marche.
If there is one drink that has become almost impossible to escape in recent years, it is matcha. The Japanese green tea powder, which has become a fixture in coffee shops, TikTok videos and Instagram posts, continues to gain popularity according to Google’s latest data.
In fact, matcha was among the most widespread trends identified in the report. Google found double-digit growth in reviews mentioning the drink in nearly all 10 cities examined. Chicago recorded an 82% increase, while Santiago, Chile, saw an 84% rise. Seattle, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta all recorded increases of more than 50%.
Visitors line up outside Katz’s Delicatessen in New York
(Photo: Shutterstock / Leonard Zhukovsky)
But while matcha continues to dominate, another Japanese tea is gaining attention in London: hojicha. Unlike matcha, known for its vivid green color and grassy flavor, hojicha is green tea that has been roasted, giving it a brown color and a toasted, nutty taste.
The drink may be less familiar to many consumers, but Londoners are taking notice. Over the past year, Google Maps reviews mentioning hojicha surged 114% in the British capital. Among the cafes featured in the report are TOKKIA in Covent Garden and Toconoco, which serve the tea in various forms. Hojicha can be enjoyed hot or prepared as a latte with dairy or plant-based milk.
Hojicha latte, made with roasted Japanese green tea
(Photo: Shutterstock / Toshiko Toshiko)
Japanese tea is not the only colorful trend emerging in the report. In Melbourne, Australia, growing attention is focused on an ingredient from the Philippines: ube.
The purple yam has become increasingly popular in desserts, ice cream, cakes and drinks, thanks in part to its striking color and naturally sweet flavor. Mentions of ube in Melbourne’s Google Maps reviews increased 75%, with establishments such as Halaya and Kariton Sorbetes offering desserts built around the vibrant purple ingredient.
Purple ube ice cream
(Photo: Shutterstock / Klemenceau)
Not all the trends identified by Google are sweet or colorful. Alongside desserts and fashionable drinks, the report reveals growing interest in traditional cooking ingredients and savory dishes, some of which have been used for generations but are now attracting renewed attention.
One of the more surprising examples comes from Chicago, where beef tallow has emerged as a talking point. The rendered animal fat, once widely used in home cooking and fast-food restaurants, has recently attracted renewed interest among some chefs and diners.
Beef tallow, which is used for frying and cooking, recorded an 82% increase in Google Maps review mentions. Among the restaurants highlighted in this category are Bistro Monadnock and Butcher and the Bear.
At a time when much of the culinary conversation revolves around plant-based alternatives, renewed interest in a traditional animal-derived cooking fat stands out as one of the report’s more unexpected findings.
In Seattle, meanwhile, the rising star comes from southern India. Dosa is a thin, crispy crepe typically made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils. It is served with a variety of fillings, chutneys and dipping sauces and is one of the best-known dishes of South Indian cuisine.
Traditional Indian dosa served with three dipping sauces
(Photo: shutterstock / Rajesh Narayanan)
The dish is now attracting attention thousands of miles from its place of origin. Google Maps reviews mentioning dosa in Seattle increased 136% in one year. Restaurants highlighted in the report include Shri Ananda Bhavan and Chennai Express, both of which serve Indian cuisine.
Beyond tracking foods and drinks gaining popularity, Google also examined which restaurants users most frequently requested directions to over the past year. The findings offer a somewhat different picture: While unfamiliar flavors and emerging food trends attract curiosity, established culinary institutions continue to draw considerable attention.
In New York, Katz’s Delicatessen stands out. Founded in 1888, the legendary deli is best known for its enormous pastrami sandwiches. Long established as both a local institution and a tourist attraction, Katz’s continues to attract visitors from around the world.
Cinnamon buns
(Photo: Shutterstock / Yulia Furman)
Chicago and San Francisco also have longstanding favorites on the list. In Chicago, Pequod’s Pizza stands out for its thick pizzas and distinctive caramelized crust. In San Francisco, La Taqueria, a celebrated Mexican restaurant, remains a popular destination for tacos and burritos.
Montreal’s representative is another culinary institution: Schwartz’s Deli, the historic delicatessen famous for its smoked meat sandwiches. In Seattle, The Pink Door, a longstanding Italian restaurant, continues to attract attention from diners looking for directions.
Traditional beignets covered in powdered sugar
(Photo: Shutterstock / Brent Hofacker)
It is important to emphasize that these are not necessarily the restaurants judged to serve the best food. Rather, they are establishments for which Google Maps users requested directions most frequently. The data therefore also reflect the enduring appeal of familiar institutions and restaurants that have become tourist attractions in their own right. A request for directions does not, by itself, confirm that someone actually visited a restaurant.
Perhaps that is the most interesting conclusion from Google’s report. Alongside excitement over new drinks, unfamiliar flavors and desserts making unexpected comebacks, food enthusiasts continue to seek out dishes and establishments that have stood the test of time.
The culinary world may be changing constantly, but Google’s data suggest that sometimes the most familiar things are still the ones people are eager to discover.