Food trends come and go faster than most of us realise, often exploding across social media before quietly fading into memory. The mid-2010s delivered some especially eye-catching creations that dominated menus, Instagram feeds, and café queues almost overnight.
While some sparked genuine creativity, others became fascinating reminders of how quickly food culture evolves.
Food trends and consumer popularity are influenced by cultural shifts, social media, and industry marketing, which can vary by region and time period. This content reflects general observations and historical patterns rather than definitive rankings.
1. Rainbow Bagels
Bright, bold, and impossible to ignore, rainbow bagels took social media by storm in 2016. These vibrant breakfast treats featured swirls of pink, blue, yellow, and green dough that looked more like art than food.
Everyone wanted to get their hands on one, but the novelty wore off quickly. Turns out, food colouring doesn't actually improve the taste of a bagel, and people soon realised they preferred their breakfast without artificial dyes.
2. Freakshakes
These weren't your ordinary milkshakes. Freakshakes were massive, over-the-top creations piled high with doughnuts, brownies, sweets, and enough whipped cream to feed a small village.
Cafés charged premium prices for these Instagram-worthy monsters. But after the photos were taken, most people couldn't actually finish them.
The sugar rush wasn't worth the tummy ache, and the trend quickly melted away like ice cream on a summer day.
3. Raindrop Cake
Imagine eating a giant, wobbly water droplet. That's basically what raindrop cake was - a clear, jiggly dessert made from mineral water and agar that looked absolutely magical.
Food bloggers went wild for this Japanese-inspired treat. However, the reality was disappointing.
It tasted like absolutely nothing, and the texture was strange. Once people realised they were paying good money for flavourless jelly, the trend evaporated faster than actual raindrops.
4. Galaxy-Themed Foods
Purple, blue, and pink swirls made everything look like it came straight from outer space. Galaxy doughnuts, bagels, and smoothie bowls dominated Instagram feeds, making breakfast look like a trip through the cosmos.
The sparkly, space-inspired aesthetic was undeniably gorgeous. But again, food colouring can't replace actual flavour.
People grew tired of eating purple pancakes that tasted exactly like regular ones, and this trend crashed back down to Earth pretty quickly.
5. Activated Charcoal Foods And Drinks
Jet-black foods suddenly appeared everywhere, turning ice creams, coffees, and pastries into striking visual statements. The dramatic colour made these creations hugely popular on social media, where bold visuals often grabbed attention quickly.
Many people were curious about the ingredient and eager to try something that looked completely different from traditional treats. Over time, interest slowed as diners focused more on flavour and familiar ingredients rather than appearance alone.
The trend remains an interesting example of how visual presentation can briefly dominate food culture.
6. Sushi Burritos
Why choose between sushi and burritos when you can have both? That was the thinking behind sushi burritos - massive nori-wrapped rolls stuffed with rice, raw fish, and vegetables that you could eat with your hands.
Speciality shops popped up everywhere selling these fusion creations. But they were messy, expensive, and honestly quite awkward to eat.
Traditional sushi and regular burritos both do their jobs perfectly well on their own, thank you very much.
7. Cereal Cafés
Dedicated cafés serving nothing but breakfast cereal seemed like pure genius in 2016. You could mix different cereals, add fancy toppings, and choose from various types of milk - all whilst sitting in a trendy space designed for Instagram photos.
Nostalgia brought people through the door initially. But paying restaurant prices for something you can easily make at home for pennies didn't make much sense.
The novelty wore thin, and these cafés closed faster than you can say "snap, crackle, pop."
8. Rolled Ice Cream Craze
Watching ice cream being made right before your eyes was mesmerizing. Vendors poured liquid cream onto freezing cold plates, chopped in mix-ins, then scraped it into beautiful rolls that stood upright in cups like little frozen flowers.
The preparation process was pure theatre, and queues stretched around blocks. However, it took ages to make each portion, and honestly, it didn't taste any better than regular ice cream.
People eventually decided convenience mattered more than presentation.
9. Unicorn-Themed Foods And Drinks
Pastel colours, edible glitter, and bright rainbow designs transformed ordinary treats into playful, eye-catching creations. Cafés and bakeries embraced the magical theme, creating colourful drinks, desserts, and snacks that felt designed for celebration and social sharing.
The vibrant look made these items especially popular for special events and novelty experiences. As tastes shifted, diners gradually returned to desserts that focused more on flavour balance and ingredient quality.
The colourful craze remains a memorable moment that showed how strongly visual trends can influence food popularity.
