Whether you love or hate the girl dinner trend, it seems to be sticking around. The TikTok/Instagram sensation is still going strong on social media, and as Food & Wine reports, girl dinner now has branched out to the restaurant world. How does something so basic and simple translate to a restaurant? Pretty darn well, say chefs and restaurateurs.

Marinated Manchego from The Complete Small Plates Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen

Part of the appeal of girl dinner is that the portions are small. As food, labor, and energy costs continue their upward climb, finding ways to offer value for patrons is vital to restaurants. Small, ala carte items have a dual role: saving the customer money because a couple of small plates cost less than a large meal with entree and sides, and allowing the restaurant a slightly higher margin because of the portion size.

There's another reason girl dinner makes sense for restaurants - the rise in people on GLP-1 medications. These medications have changed how much food a diner wants to consume at one time. Offering small plates or shareables can appeal to a segment of the population that is increasing rapidly. As of March, 2026, about 12% of Americans reported using a GLP-1 drug.