LINE MAN, Thailand's No.1 and only food delivery platform, serving all 77 provinces and reaching 1 in 4 districts nationwide, has summarized Thai dining trends for 2024. Drawing from data based on over 10 million users and more than 500,000 restaurants, the platform has dubbed 2024 the "Year of the Eat-fluencer", where influencers have revived old favorites and elevated ordinary dishes to viral fame. Top viral dishes include Cheese Tea, Banana Cake, Braised Eggs, Thai Egg Cakes, Pork Leg with Rice, and Chicken Rice, which saw order volumes skyrocket throughout the year.
Viral Menus of the Year! Eat-fluencers Spark New Hits and Revive Classics
Thai people love following trends, and this year, social media and influencers have played a key role in creating food phenomena. One of the standout trends was "Cheese Tea," which skyrocketed in popularity with orders on LINE MAN increasing sevenfold. The number of cheese tea vendors on the platform has grown by over 4,000 nationwide. Top-performing shops include BEARHOUSE, and 2 LINE MAN Only tea shops like OWL CHA and Nose Tea.
Another viral sensation was banana cake, sparked by the LINE MAN only shop Bonnana, owned by popular food influencer Bew Varaporn. This trend inspired over 2,000 restaurants to add banana cake to their menus, driving a 115% increase in orders across the country.
Thai Egg cake, a nostalgic childhood treat, made a comeback with its butter-stuffed variation originating in Songkhla province. Orders for this dessert grew by 50%, with shops like Roon khanom khai offering it on LINE MAN.
Pork Leg with rice also enjoyed a surge in popularity, fueled by a Moo Deng (Pygmy Hippopotamus) that led Thai fans to associate a famous celebrity moment with the dish. This connection resulted in a 50% spike in searches on LINE MAN, surpassing even consistently popular items like shabu and sushi.
Chicken rice, a classic staple, found new fame and a premium twist thanks to the innovative efforts of restaurant entrepreneurs like Pla Atchara Burarak from iberry Group, who opened Toh-Kim Thainanese Chicken Rice. Other premium chicken rice spots, such as Mug Mun Kai, Boontong Kiat, and FEI JI, also contributed to a 23% growth in chicken rice orders nationwide.
Lastly, sweet Braised Eggs, a humble home-cooked dish, were revitalized by the influence of A Supachai, whose promotion of curry shops nationwide led to doubled orders within just one month (August-September 2024). As of September 2024, dishes championed by A Supachai have generated over 24 million engagements on social media, solidifying his status as a major trendsetter in the food scene.
Fried Chicken Tops the Charts, Outpacing Som Tam
Fried chicken took the crown as the most-ordered dish on LINE MAN in 2024, with over 21 million pieces delivered?enough to serve 1 in 3 people across the country. It was followed by Som Tam spicy papaya salad with pickled crab, stir-fried basil rice (Minced pork/Crispy pork), chicken rice, and jungle-style papaya salad. American-style fried chicken from chains like KFC and McDonald's saw the highest growth at 90%, followed by Japanese fried chicken like Yamachan fried chicken wings from Sekai no Yamachan and Korean fried chicken.
"Black Coffee" Takes the Crown for Most Popular Drink, "Milk Green Tea" Leading the Tea Category
In beverages, Black Coffee took the top spot for 2024, followed by Matcha Milk Tea, Espresso, Milk Tea, and Thai Tea. Thai Tea, in particular, emerged as the fastest-growing drink, with shops innovating offerings like Thai Tea Bubble, Thai Tea Latte, and Thai Tea with Coconut Blossom Syrup. The increased use of locally grown Thai tea leaves hints at its potential to become next year's beverage of the year.
Tom Yum Sets and Pet Products Top LINE MAN MART's Best-Sellers
Popular items like spring onions, coriander, chili, and Tom Yum sets topped LINE MAN MART's best-sellers, reflecting the growing trend of cooking Thai food at home. Meanwhile, the rise of the Pet Parent trend drove significant growth in pet-related products. Cat litter ranked as the top-selling item, followed by cat food, dog food, rodent food, and hedgehog food, highlighting a clear surge in pet ownership in Thailand.
LINE MAN continues to dominate the food delivery sector with its extensive restaurant database and diverse services, catering to every need of Thai consumers. Committed to quality, value-packed promotions, and understanding user behavior, LINE MAN delivers the best and most affordable experience every day.