DoorDash Released Its Annual Deep Dish Report and You Can Probably Guess What the Most Popular Late-Night Snack Is

published Dec 15, 2021

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As 2021 saw some COVID-related trends and restrictions disappear, it seems many of the new habits the world adopted last year are here to stay. At the top of that list is the convenience of ordering in. Over the past 18 months, we’ve seen companies like DoorDash not only expand consumers’ options, but also make a concerted effort to make delivery options more affordable for small neighborhood businesses.

With the release of its third annual Deep Dish Report this week, DoorDash offers a glimpse into how their hyper-local focus and increased offerings impacted consumer behavior. Of course, at the center of the report is food, but this year — for the first time — the delivery service is also able to offer data about how people are stocking up their pantries, spoiling their pets, and even covering their beds.

Among its non-dining findings, the Deep Dish Report found Saturday night to be the most common time for grocery orders in addition to a general rise in grocery orders (Uber Eats also made the claim that grocery deliveries would see a stark rise earlier this year). The report also seems to suggest that convenience was a big driver in non-restaurant orders: grocery orders often came around dinner time, with pantry items like sour cream, eggs, and berries topping the list.

Since the start of the pandemic, DoorDash has increased its marketplace to include liquor deliveries as well as deliveries for your pets and home. In 2021, that led to an increase in spoiled fur friends, a lot of navy comforters, and plenty of Casamigos and Hennessy-based cocktails at home, the company reports.

The addition of a Gifting feature also allowed the company to document the occasions during which people seem more likely to send the gift of food and treats. The busiest day for the new feature was National Friendship Day (August 1), followed by Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. But the app came in handy for every celebration from anniversaries to kindergarten graduations.

On the food front, DoorDash found that the more things change, the more things stay the same. The top late night snack? Ice cream. While the most-ordered food happened to be french fries, this year’s faves include fancy options like cilantro lime fries. The report also claims that users took a lot of creative liberties with their food as well, customizing salads, pizzas, and even desserts.

In addition to the specific tastes of diners in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia, DoorDash’s Deep Dish Report also shouts out local restaurants like Chicago’s Krazy Hog BBQ and Forbici Modern Italian in Tampa. The 20 restaurant suggestions are based on customer reviews and how those eateries competed with others offering similar foods.

While DoorDash’s report doesn’t forecast food trends like Yelp’s end of year roundup, it can certainly give you a few ideas and recommendations to try in 2022.