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If you’ve ever tried to coordinate dinner for a group of friends, organize a team lunch, or plan a family outing where everyone actually wants to eat, you know the struggle is real. Someone’s vegetarian, another person only wants sushi, your budget-conscious colleague is watching their wallet, and your adventurous foodie friend refuses anything “too basic.” The endless group text debates, the vetoed restaurant suggestions, the inevitable compromise that leaves nobody truly satisfied—it’s exhausting.
Here’s the good news: there’s a dining concept that’s rapidly expanding across the country, and it might just solve your group dining headaches for good. Food halls are emerging as the ultimate solution for social dining coordinators who are tired of the “where should we eat?” dilemma.
What Makes Food Halls Different From Food Courts?
You might be thinking, “Isn’t this just a fancy food court?” Not quite. Per FoodHalls.org, “Unlike traditional food courts, which primarily feature fast-food chains in commercial spaces like malls and airports, food halls offer a curated and diverse selection of chef-driven, locally sourced, and artisanal food and beverage vendors, creating a unique and immersive dining experience.”
This distinction matters when you’re planning group outings. Food halls combine multiple independent food vendors under one roof, letting diners pick from diverse cuisines in one visit. Think of it as a curated collection of small restaurants, each bringing their specialty to the table—literally. Your picky eater can grab something familiar while your adventurous friend explores that new fusion concept they’ve been curious about.
The Variety Factor: Everyone Gets What They Want
This variety appeals to groups with different tastes, making it easier for friends, family members, or coworkers to eat together without compromise.
Consider your typical group outing scenario. When you choose a single restaurant, you’re essentially forcing everyone to work within one menu’s parameters. The person who doesn’t eat gluten has limited options. The one who’s craving Thai food settles for something else. The budget-conscious member of your group might feel awkward about ordering at a pricier establishment.
Food halls flip this dynamic entirely. Each person can satisfy their specific craving, dietary requirement, or budget preference while still sharing the experience together.
Communal Seating: Keeping Your Group Together
Here’s where food halls really shine for group organizers: shared seating and communal spaces encourage interaction, turning meals into true social outings.
Unlike grabbing food from different restaurants and trying to coordinate where to meet up afterward, food halls typically feature large communal tables and shared seating areas designed specifically for groups. You claim a table, everyone disperses to grab their preferred cuisine, and you all reconvene in the same spot. The logistics are simple, the atmosphere is social, and the experience feels cohesive even though everyone’s eating something different.
This communal setup transforms what could be a fragmented dining experience into something that actually brings people together. You’re not just eating near each other—you’re sharing a meal, sampling each other’s dishes, and enjoying the kind of relaxed social atmosphere that makes group outings memorable.
Beyond the Food: Entertainment and Programming
Many food halls also integrate entertainment and flexible programming, which keeps guests engaged beyond just eating. This is particularly valuable when you’re organizing outings that need to accommodate different energy levels and interests within your group.
Some food halls feature live music, rotating events, trivia nights, or seasonal programming that extends the experience well beyond a typical meal. For the social dining coordinator, this means your outing has built-in entertainment value. You’re not just planning dinner—you’re planning an experience.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Food Halls Are Booming
If you’re wondering whether this trend has staying power, the data suggests it absolutely does. According to Colicchio Consulting’s “State of Food Halls 2026” report, the segment grew nearly 25% between 2023 and 2025. Developers have more than 100 new food hall projects in the pipeline nationwide, with a mix of urban and suburban locations underway, per the same report.
Phil Colicchio, Principal at Colicchio Consulting, explained the driving forces behind this growth: “Our State of Food Halls 2026 report shows how the forces which drive long-term F&B success have predictably shifted, with a focus on maintaining a discernible and distinct ‘point of view’ through design, programming and carefully curated food and beverage options. While there have certainly been some high-profile disappointments, food halls on the whole have clearly established themselves as community gathering points, which is why entertainment, variation and cultural relevance are so integral to their success.”
Coming to a Suburb Near You
Perhaps the most exciting development for those who don’t live in major metropolitan areas: the trend isn’t limited to major cities. 15 new food halls are set to open in suburban or peripheral markets within the next six months with 70 more in the pipeline for the rest of the year, per the Colicchio Consulting report.
This suburban expansion means you may soon have food hall options closer to home, eliminating the need to trek downtown for this kind of flexible group dining experience. For coordinators who regularly organize outings for office teams, family gatherings, or friend groups spread across suburban areas, this development could be a game-changer.
Colicchio emphasized what makes these venues successful long-term: “The growth over the last two years was beyond solid, and 2026 looks even healthier. Operating a successful food hall installation today requires building strong bonds with your local community and fostering connections through purposeful design, authentic food and beverage offerings and ‘call and response’ programming.”
Your New Go-To Solution
As food halls grow, they offer a compelling alternative for diners who want diverse menus, social environments, and simple group dining solutions.
Next time you’re staring at that group text full of conflicting restaurant suggestions, consider suggesting a food hall instead. Everyone gets exactly what they want, you all eat together, and you might just become the hero of your social circle’s dining decisions.
