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In 2025, food in India became far more than a response to hunger—it evolved into a daily ritual, a reward, a celebration and a connector. According to the 10th edition of How India Swiggy’d, the year captured how Indians leaned into convenience, familiarity and indulgence, turning food ordering into an instinctive part of everyday life.
From packed workdays and late-night scrolling to festivals and family gatherings, ordering food slipped seamlessly into routines. Indians chose what they trusted—familiar flavours, dependable favourites and meals that arrived right on time.
At the heart of India’s food story stood an undisputed champion. Biryani retained its crown as the country’s most-loved dish, with 93 million orders placed in 2025—roughly 194 orders every minute. Chicken Biryani led the category with 57.7 million orders and the highest repeat consumption, proving that while trends shift, India’s love for biryani remains timeless.
Burgers emerged as the second-most ordered food item with 44.2 million orders, followed closely by pizzas at 40.1 million. Veg dosa continued to hold its ground as a classic favourite with 26.2 million orders, reinforcing the enduring appeal of traditional comfort food.
Snack time between 3 pm and 7 pm remained a defining mood. Burgers dominated the slot, with chicken burgers leading at 6.3 million orders. Veg burgers, chicken rolls, veg pizzas and chicken nuggets followed closely. The iconic chai-samosa pairing showed no signs of slowing down, with 3.42 million samosas and 2.9 million cups of adrak chai ordered during snack hours alone.
Desserts told a story of both indulgence and nostalgia. White chocolate cake topped the dessert charts with 6.9 million orders, while chocolate cake and gulab jamun completed the top three. Traditional Indian sweets such as kaju barfi and besan ladoo also featured prominently. Chocolate emerged as the flavour of the year in ice creams, with dark chocolate ice creams and chocolate sundaes leading demand.
Global flavours continued to find favour with Indian consumers. Mexican cuisine crossed 16 million orders, Tibetan cuisine saw over 12 million orders, and Korean food gained steady popularity. Matcha stood out as the most searched global food trend of the year. At the same time, hyperlocal cuisines saw strong growth, with Pahari cuisine expanding nine-fold and regional favourites like Malabari, Rajasthani and Malvani cuisines nearly doubling in demand.
Dinner firmly established itself as the most dominant mealtime, recording nearly 32 per cent more orders than lunch. Late-night ordering between midnight and 2 am also surged, with chicken burgers, biryani, veg pizzas and chocolate-based desserts driving midnight cravings.
Festivals amplified India’s love for food. Ganesh Chaturthi saw 2.28 lakh modaks delivered nationwide, while Navratri witnessed heavy demand for sabudana khichdi, vrat thalis and sabudana vadas. On Ashtami night, Swiggy clocked 2.2 lakh orders within just 60 minutes. Independence Day brought an unusual highlight when Kannur grabbed attention with a single order of 50 special faloodas. Raksha Bandhan recorded 4,650 dinner orders per minute, while Diwali week saw India order 1.7 million kilograms of sweets, dry fruits and desserts.
Quick food delivery gained momentum through Swiggy Bolt, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai leading usage. Emerging markets such as Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Vizag and Kochi also showed strong adoption. On Swiggy’s 99Store, Bengaluru topped order volumes, followed by Hyderabad and Mumbai, while cities like Indore and Vizag showed rising traction. Delivery partners collectively clocked an extraordinary 1.24 billion kilometres during the year, underscoring the scale of India’s on-demand food ecosystem.
Dining out also transformed in 2025, evolving into a lifestyle experience rather than an occasional indulgence. Swiggy Dineout seated 23.7 million diners, with Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad leading the charts. Premium dining bookings grew sharply, buffet dining jumped 78 per cent, and group bookings surged across metros and emerging cities alike. Consumers saved a total of ₹774 crore through Dineout, with the Great India Restaurant Festival alone contributing ₹324.6 crore in savings.
Special occasions further boosted dining trends. Valentine’s Day bookings rose over 130 per cent year-on-year, while Mother’s Day and Father’s Day saw strong growth in both group outings and premium dining experiences.
As the report concludes, India’s food habits in 2025 reflected a deeper shift—from simple sustenance to shared experiences shaped by convenience, culture and connection. Whether at home, on the move or dining out, food remained central to how India celebrated everyday life.
