Top 10 Food & Restaurant Stories of July 2025

Discover the Top 10 Global Food and Restaurant Stories from July 2025
July 2025 has been a pivotal month in the restaurant industry and global food trends. From high-profile chef collaborations in New York City to the wave of restaurant closures in Los Angeles, these stories highlight both the challenges and opportunities shaping the dining world. Diners are adapting to rising costs, reflected in lower tipping rates and increased interest in fast-casual meal deals, while established chains like Bravo Brio face financial restructuring.

Meanwhile, the culinary scene continues to innovate with fusion menus, pop-up restaurants, and global collaborations, culminating in major events like Noma’s Los Angeles pop-up residency in 2026. For chefs, restaurateurs, and food enthusiasts, these stories showcase the latest restaurant news July 2025, emerging global dining trends, and the creative approaches defining the future of eating out.

Stay informed with these top stories to understand how the food industry 2025 is evolving, from fine dining innovations to casual and fast-casual experiences, and everything in between.

1. Global Culinary Collaborations Heat Up in NYC
   New York City has become a hotspot for international chef collaborations, with restaurants increasingly inviting top talent from Japan, Thailand, and the UK to host limited menus and pop-ups. These partnerships give diners a chance to taste rare global flavors without traveling abroad. For chefs, it’s a way to experiment with cross-cultural menus and build international prestige. Celebrity chef Scott Conant also announced he’s bringing his Mediterranean flair to the Bahamas with his new restaurant Leola.

🔗 Read more

2. Major Restaurant Closures in Los Angeles
   July marked a wave of closures in Los Angeles, shaking the city’s dining scene. Monterrey-inspired MXO, wine bar Melody, and upscale Mother Tongue all shut their doors, alongside longtime staples like Chin Chin. Even Michelin-starred Shibumi couldn’t weather rising rents and shrinking margins. These closures reflect post-pandemic pressures, with many restaurants unable to balance high operating costs with cautious consumer spending.

🔗 Read more

3. Chefs Get Scrappy to Launch Amid Rising Costs
   Opening a new restaurant now costs 30–40% more than pre-pandemic, forcing chefs to find creative workarounds. Some are turning to ghost kitchens, pop-up supper clubs, and rotating residency concepts that require less capital investment. This “scrappy” approach is redefining how ambitious chefs enter the market—focusing more on experience-driven dining instead of expensive permanent locations.

🔗 Read more

4. Fast-Casual Deals Rally Value-Seeking Diners
   With inflation squeezing household budgets, fast-food and casual dining chains are competing fiercely on value meals. McDonald’s revived its $5 Meal Deal, Taco Bell launched its “Cravings Value Box”, and sit-down chains like Applebee’s introduced “2-for-$25” dinner bundles. These promotions are crucial to maintaining traffic as consumers become more selective about where and how often they dine out.

🔗 Read more

5. Tipping Rates at U.S. Restaurants Drop
   The average U.S. tip in full-service restaurants dropped to 19.1% in Q2 2025, the lowest level in seven years. Rising menu prices and digital tipping fatigue are reshaping how customers approach gratuities. Some diners now view 15% as acceptable again, especially in casual settings. This decline raises concerns for servers, whose livelihoods still depend heavily on tips in most U.S. states.

🔗 Read more

6. Bravo Brio Faces Bankruptcy

Bravo Brio Restaurants, the parent company of Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July. With 56 locations across the U.S., the chain cited declining sales, rising food costs, and debt obligations as key drivers. While some restaurants may close, restructuring efforts could keep parts of the brand alive under new ownership.

🔗 Read more

7. Connecticut Health Violations Raise Concerns

In Trumbull, Connecticut, health inspections flagged multiple violations at local restaurants. Teriyaki Way was cited for broken refrigeration units, while Antonio’s Italian Kitchen & Bar faced warnings for cross-contamination risks. These findings underscore the ongoing importance of strict food safety standards, especially as customers grow more health-conscious post-pandemic.

🔗 Read more

8. Killer Mike Eyes Reopening of Bankhead Seafood (Atlanta)
   Atlanta rap legend Killer Mike, with support from T.I., is working to reopen Bankhead Seafood, a historic restaurant that closed in 2018 after 50 years. The revival aims to preserve its community roots while adding a modern Southern seafood menu. This move reflects a broader trend of celebrity-driven restaurant revivals that blend nostalgia with new dining experiences.

🔗 Read more

9. International Fusion Trends in Steakhouses
   Houston’s Nuri Steakhouse is reimagining the steakhouse experience by blending classic cuts with global influences like Korean bibimbap and Japanese wagyu-style presentations. This signals a growing demand for fusion dining, where customers seek familiar dishes elevated with international twists—especially in multicultural cities.

🔗 Read more

10. Noma Announces Los Angeles Pop-Up Residency
    René Redzepi’s iconic restaurant Noma, voted multiple times as the world’s best, announced a Los Angeles residency for spring 2026. The pop-up will merge Noma’s Nordic innovation with LA’s diverse produce and cultural influences. Seats are expected to sell out quickly, as this will likely be one of Noma’s final major international projects before its permanent Copenhagen closure in 2025.

🔗 Read more

Bonus Feature: Major Openings & Closures Across the U.S. (Rotating City Spotlight)

This month, our Rotating City Spotlight takes us to two culinary hotspots: Los Angeles and Miami. From innovative new concepts to iconic establishments closing their doors, these stories showcase the ever-changing and vibrant U.S. dining scene.

Major Restaurant Openings in Los Angeles – July 2025

Los Angeles continues to assert itself as a hub of culinary creativity and innovation, with July bringing an exciting wave of new restaurant debuts:

• Blue Magpie (Arcadia) – Elevates Taiwanese cuisine with modern techniques and a cozy, stylish setting.
• Only The Wild Ones & Force of Nature (Venice) – A multi-experience venue combining a plant-based eatery, vinyl bar, and cocktail speakeasy.
• Local Kitchens (Studio City) – Brings together online chef concepts under one vibrant food-hall roof.
• Gladstones (Malibu) – Reopens its fire-restored seafood deck, blending seaside nostalgia with fresh coastal flavors.
• Katsuya (Century City) – Expands its high-end sushi empire with another luxe lounge.
• • Muelle 8 (East LA) – Revives regional Mexican seafood traditions in an inventive food-trailer format.
  • Tesla Diner (Hollywood) – Merges EV-charging with retro-futuristic dining for tech-savvy foodies.
  • Cafe Tondo (Chinatown) – Offers an authentic taste of Mexico City-inspired café fare.
  • Bar 109 (Melrose Hill) – Previews the upcoming Corridor 109 with artisanal cocktails and sleek ambiance.

  These openings demonstrate LA’s dedication to pushing culinary boundaries, blending global influences with local flavors, and offering unique dining experiences that draw both locals and visitors alike.

  Source: Eater LA

Miami Sees Farewell to Several Iconic Spots – July 2025

While new concepts emerge, some of Miami’s beloved eateries are bidding farewell this month:

• Torno Subito (Massimo Bottura) – Takes a seasonal hiatus, teasing a possible return.
• Ms. Cheezious – Closes its MiMo location; owners plan a new chapter elsewhere.
• Byblos Miami – Pauses operations for renovations ahead of its 10-year anniversary.
• J28 Sandwich Bar – Shuts doors due to redevelopment.
• Fiola – Will make way for the new Daniel’s Steakhouse.
• Sardinia – After two decades, this local institution closes permanently.
• Red Farm (Coconut Grove) – Unexpectedly shuts down, though a potential comeback is hinted.

These closures mark the end of eras for some of Miami’s cherished dining spots, but they also pave the way for fresh concepts and new flavors, keeping the city’s culinary landscape dynamic and exciting.

Source: Eater Miami

🍴 Final Bite

July 2025 showcased both the turbulence and resilience of the global food industry. On one hand, we saw notable restaurant closures, bankruptcies, and operational challenges that reflect ongoing pressures from rising costs, staffing shortages, and shifting consumer habits. On the other hand, the month also highlighted bold new concepts, international chef collaborations, inventive pop-ups, and fusion dining trends, signaling that creativity and adaptability are thriving despite difficulties.

From the streets of New York to Los Angeles hotspots and international pop-ups, restaurateurs are exploring value-driven menus, experiential dining, and innovative service models to engage modern diners. With the growth of global culinary influences, sustainable practices, and digital dining trends, the future of eating out looks increasingly innovative, diverse, and internationally connected.

For food enthusiasts, chefs, and industry insiders alike, these stories provide a glimpse into how the restaurant landscape is evolving, combining tradition, innovation, and global inspiration in ways that will define the next era of dining.

👉 Stay tuned for August’s roundup on WorldFoodDirectory.com.