Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

As 2025 comes to a close, talabat UAE has lifted the lid on the country’s most surprising food and grocery obsessions—revealing what residents really craved, ordered, and re-ordered throughout the year. While burgers have long been a staple in the UAE’s food delivery culture, this year saw the nation take its love affair to another level. According to talabat, customers ordered more than 47 million burgers in 2025, cementing the sandwich’s status as the UAE’s ultimate comfort food. But the biggest surprise of the year was not a gourmet dish or viral trend—it was the Mini Cheese Pizza. Simple, small, and nostalgic, the humble pizza emerged as the most-ordered food item of 2025, clocking in over 1.3 million orders on the talabat app. Its rise highlights a growing preference for familiar, no-frills comfort food amid busy urban lifestyles. When it comes to beverages, UAE customers showed a clear preference for chilled caffeine fixes. The Iced Americano topped the list as the most-ordered coffee, narrowly beating the ever-popular matcha latte, reflecting the country’s evolving coffee culture and growing appetite for specialty drinks. Grocery trends also revealed a distinctly regional favorite. Laban, a staple in many Middle Eastern households, ranked among the most-ordered grocery items on talabat mart, with more than 620,000 orders recorded this year—proof that traditional tastes remain deeply rooted even as dining habits modernize. Together, these trends paint a picture of a nation balancing indulgence with familiarity, global flavors with local staples, and convenience with comfort. ICA/Expat Media
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