Year ender 2024: Korean fever to ghee glam, tastiest food trends that took over our plates this year

Foodies, brace yourselves¡ª2024 was chef¡¯s kiss in the culinary world! Our taste buds traveled the globe, our diets got a glow-up, and yes, even ghee made a chic comeback. If your Insta feed wasn¡¯t already a masterclass in food porn, these trends surely turned up the heat. Let¡¯s spill the tea (and the ghee) on what was really cooking this year.

K-Food Went Mainstream

Annyeonghaseyo to the rise of all things Korean on your plate! Thanks to BTS and K-dramas dominating pop culture, our cravings for kimchi, tteokbokki, and Korean fried chicken hit an all-time high. Bibimbap bowls became a wellness staple, and let¡¯s not forget the TikTok-famous dalgona coffee making a comeback. Korean BBQ joints popped up faster than you could say ¡°samgyeopsal,¡± and suddenly, every foodie was a pro at grilling their meat to perfection.

Favourite things to order at KFry other thn their cheese chicken:

1. Seafood Ramyeon
2. Anchovies & Tuna Riceball
3. Bulgogi Fries
4. Mango Bingsoo pic.twitter.com/Qm1RY7bNVv

¡ª aidainjapan???? (@aidainjapan) June 18, 2019

Plant-based 2.0

Gone are the days when plant-based diets were all about sad salads. 2024 redefined the game with jackfruit biryanis, oat milk lattes, and pea-protein steaks that could fool even the meatiest meat lover. And no, this isn¡¯t just for vegans anymore. Flexitarians and hardcore carnivores alike jumped on the bandwagon, experimenting with plant-based alternatives that pack serious flavor. Beyond Meat who? The new-gen innovations are tastier, juicier, and far from basic.

Western plant-based diets can be so expensive yet boring. I turned to our Southeast Asian plant-based food bcs we have rich resources in history!

Nasi Lemak can be plant-based with vegan fish/anchovies. Then we have Mushroom Rendang, Kung Pao Tofu, Nasi Kerabu just to name some. https://t.co/Z5j6KlyZNj pic.twitter.com/e0CqEGNHQR

¡ª fortun?, Astro-researcher (@heyfortunae) March 30, 2023

Ghee is the new gold

Remember when ghee was just your dadi¡¯s go-to cure for everything? Well, it¡¯s 2024, and ghee is officially the Beyonc¨¦ of the food world. This ancient superfood is now the star ingredient in everything from fusion cocktails (yes, ghee martinis exist!) to cookies and cakes. Fitness influencers are hyping it up as the ultimate keto-friendly fat, and foodies are drizzling it on literally everything. Forget butter boards¡ªghee boards are where it¡¯s at!

How to identify pure ghee

According to ayurveda, ghee itself is a medicine and medicated ghee are widely used as medicine

Ghee is a essential good fat and helpful in
- Laser sharp cognition
- Good Bone health
- Proper Digestion pic.twitter.com/NoJyJ5jADx

¡ª Ayur Arogyam (@aayurarogyam) September 19, 2024

Street food goes gourmet

Who said chaat can¡¯t be fancy? This year, your favorite roadside snacks got a Michelin-starred makeover. Think truffle-infused pani puri, sushi-style kathi rolls, and gold-leaf-topped golgappas. Chefs across the globe embraced street food flavors, proving that what¡¯s served in roadside stalls deserves a spot at the gourmet table. It¡¯s food with soul¡ªand a side of sass.

10 delicious Street Foods in Uttar Pradesh that you cannot afford to miss

1. Kachori Sabzi pic.twitter.com/oT9EwLW8nk

¡ª Vertigo_Warrior (@VertigoWarrior) July 11, 2023

Fusion flavours rocked the scene

Ever tried biryani tacos or butter chicken pizza? Fusion was the flavor anthem of 2024, bringing together unlikely ingredients to create mind-blowing dishes. Millennials and Gen Z led the charge, demanding culinary chaos that actually works. Sushi burritos, croissant dosas, and wasabi pani puri were just some of the wild creations that became instant hits.

I finally got a butter chicken pizza from this indain/Italian restaurant up the street. I'm talkin heaven! pic.twitter.com/lNZ1ABK9It

¡ª Doobie Scoo? (@sleazycheezyB) November 22, 2023

Food on the gram

Of course, no food trend roundup is complete without mentioning the influence of Instagram and TikTok. From aesthetic charcuterie boards to the viral cloud bread 2.0, social media set the stage for food innovation. Home cooks turned content creators, showcasing everything from rainbow pasta to edible glitter cocktails. If it wasn¡¯t photogenic, did you even eat it?

Not everytime boring bread & egg,

sometimes try another style with this recipe?

Easy & creative! pic.twitter.com/ycttUAaIsB

¡ª Tspices Kitchen (@Tspiceskitchen) June 3, 2023

Whether you were binging on K-snacks or swapping butter for ghee, 2024 served a plateful of surprises. And the best part? These trends weren¡¯t just about taste¡ªthey were a whole vibe. So, which of these foodie moments had you salivating? Either way, 2025 better come hungry because the bar is high.