Personalized culinary experiences: how AI is transforming foodservice

The Evolution of the Dining Experience 

In recent years, the restaurant industry has taken a whole new direction. It's no longer just about dishes to enjoy, but experiences to live. Artificial intelligence is now leading a deep transformation: it observes, interprets, suggests. And so, every customer feels unique, welcomed, and at the center of special attention. This is the new frontier of experiential food. 

According to a 2025 analysis by Bizplanr.ai on a sample of U.S. consumers and industry operators, 64% of full-service restaurant customers and 47% of those in limited-service venues prioritize the overall experience over the price of meals (Bizplanr.ai, 2025). The same report reveals that 51% of activities in quick-service restaurants (QSRs) will be automated by 2025, while full-service restaurants aim to automate about 27% of their operations, highlighting the growing impact of smart technologies in restaurant management. 

Another significant figure comes from a 2025 Deloitte survey conducted among 375 executives in 11 Asian countries, including India, China, and Singapore. According to the report, 70% of QSR and casual dining chains in Asia are using or testing AI-based solutions, and 82% of them plan to increase investment in this technology within the next fiscal year (Deloitte, 2025). 

At the heart of this shift, experiential restaurants are taking the spotlight. They offer immersive atmospheres, tell stories through food, and update menus in real time. Because today, more than ever, to serve means to amaze. 

AI in Foodservice: How Personalization Works 

Thanks to artificial intelligence, foodservice makes a qualitative leap: it moves from generic offerings to custom-fit proposals. The system collects and analyzes data from various sources — order history, dietary preferences, online behaviors, loyalty data, and even voice interactions. Every piece of data is a clue, every interaction tells a story. Algorithms combine them to build highly accurate profiles that can anticipate customer desires. It’s as if the menu already knows what you want to order.

For restaurant operators, this opens up new possibilities. The menu adjusts to individual tastes, accounts for allergies and preferences, and proposes thoughtful, never-random alternatives. Offers are timely, changing with the time of day, the weather, or purchasing behavior. It’s a service that surprises, because it arrives at exactly the right moment. 

Practical Applications in Restaurants 

Artificial intelligence is transforming foodservice with solutions already adopted by large chains and usable even by independent operators. 

McDonald’s – Voice Ordering AI in Drive-Thrus 

McDonald’s has implemented AI systems to optimize voice-based ordering in drive-thrus. The goal is to reduce wait times and improve order accuracy. The technology recognizes the customer’s voice, interprets requests, and forwards them directly to the internal system, enhancing efficiency and overall customer satisfaction (Dataforest, 2024). 

Panera Bread – Loyalty Program and AI-Driven Recommendations 

Panera Bread, a U.S.-based fast casual bakery-café chain founded in 1987, has used a real-time customer data platform to collect and segment customer data. This allowed for the launch of personalized campaigns, such as the “Unlimited Sip Club” — a subscription plan that lets customers enjoy unlimited beverages for a monthly fee (blog.adobe.com). 

Yum! Brands – Voice Interfaces and Conversational AI 

Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, has embraced artificial intelligence with hands-free systems in drive-thrus and kitchens, aiming to make operations faster and less error-prone. The system uses AI voice assistants to manage orders without physical contact, allowing staff to focus on other tasks. Voice commands are recognized and processed in real time, improving service flow and reducing wait times — especially during peak hours (Omnitalk, 2025). 

Benefits for Foodservice Operators 

The adoption of artificial intelligence in personalized experiences brings significant advantages for foodservice professionals. 

• Customer loyalty and lifetime value increase: customers feel understood, heard, and valued — making them return more often, and spend more. 
• Average ticket size grows: targeted suggestions naturally encourage complementary purchases. 
• Food waste is reduced: better knowledge of preferences enables more accurate planning of purchases and inventory. 
• Operations are optimized: hands-free technologies streamline execution and reduce human error. 

Future Prospects 

As AI and generative AI technologies continue to evolve, personalization will become even more refined. Predictive interfaces will anticipate desires and behaviors even before they are expressed. Augmented reality, along with biometric sensors, could heighten the immersive effect, creating truly memorable moments. 

The restaurant of the future? A responsive environment, adapting in real time to every guest. Lighting shifts, music follows the mood, the air is scented to match the dish. And each course becomes a story designed to leave a lasting impression.