Social media trends often shape customer expectations, and the latest viral sensation—the 5 Senses Trend on TikTok—is no exception. Originally used for gift-giving and date ideas for Valentines, this trend focuses on engaging all five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell) to create a memorable experience. Restaurants can leverage this concept to craft immersive dining experiences that captivate guests and keep them coming back for more.
Serve this article as inspiration for one of the Senses or all of them.
The Five Senses: Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste, Sound.
Sight 👀
“You eat with your eyes first”—a common saying in the restaurant industry. Watching other people’s food arrive can stir up excitement or even disappointment if your dish doesn’t look as impressive as others on the table. Sight can be approached in two ways: enhancing visual appeal or removing sight altogether for a unique sensory experience.
Making a meal visually engaging means considering colour combinations, geometric shapes, and striking architecture on the plate. A dish should feel as exciting to look at as it is to eat. Using colourful plates that complement the main offerings on the menu or designing intricate presentations can create a strong reaction from diners.
It’s no secret that “Blind Dining” is a major trend worldwide, with entire restaurants dedicated to the experience. Whether it’s blindfolding guests or dimming the lights, removing the ability to see food completely alters perception—sometimes even making people enjoy flavours they wouldn’t normally choose. A dish could be presented with a blindfolded tasting element, where guests experience the food purely through texture and flavour. Encouraging diners to pick up food with their hands can also heighten the sensory experience, making each bite more immersive.
Try: Offering a dish a blindfold, creating dishes with vibrant colours, geometric shapes or striking architecture.
Smell 👃
Aromas play a huge role in cooking, setting the atmosphere in a restaurant and influencing how food is perceived before the first bite. Infusing the space with the scent of aromatic spices and herbs can instantly transport diners to different places. A dish could feature smoky or steamy elements, such as a charcoal-infused creation served under a glass dome, only lifted at the table to release its enticing scent.
Try: Using Aromatic Spices, presenting dishes with smoke or steam.
Touch 👏
Touch is a natural part of dining, whether it’s picking up a rack of ribs or indulging in a cheeseboard. Texture can transform a dish, offering sensations that are crunchy, silky, creamy, or crisp. A restaurant could introduce a “hands-only” dish to encourage playful interaction with food. Edible spoons, delicate honeycomb textures, or sponge-like elements add an extra layer of interest, making the meal feel more engaging. Providing gloves for certain messy or tactile dishes can also enhance the sensory experience in a unique way.
Try: Encouraging hands on dining, including edible spoons or interactive elements like sponge textures
Taste 👅
The five fundamental tastes—sweet, salty, bitter, spicy, and umami—can be balanced or contrasted to create excitement on the palate. A dish could combine all five in harmony or play with unexpected flavour pairings like chocolate and chilli, or balsamic glaze on a caprese salad. These combinations challenge the taste buds, leaving a lasting impression on diners.
Try: Crafting a dish that incorporates all five tastes in harmony, playing with unexpected flavour pairings.
Sound 👂
Sound is often overlooked in dining experiences, yet it can be a key factor in engagement. The ambience of live music, the natural sounds of a crackling fire, or even the swish of trees in an outdoor setting can enhance a meal just as much as any other sense. A dish could feature an audible element, like a sizzling hot plate, a crunchy tempura, or a cocktail that pops and fizzes. Background soundscapes, such as ocean waves, birdsong, or soft jazz, can also create a distinct mood that complements the dining experience.
By tapping into the 5 Senses Trend, restaurants can create unforgettable dining experiences that excite customers and encourage social media buzz. Whether incorporating one sense or all five, the possibilities are endless!
