The next time you’re on the fence about dining alone, think again.

A recent survey reveals that half of Torontonians are embracing solo dining in sit-down restaurants, surpassing the national average of 43 per cent.

The key drivers? Self-care (39 per cent), a desire to explore new spots (32 percent), and work lunches (28 per cent). Forget the bar scene — 41 per cent of these solo diners are claiming regular tables, turning their solo outings into a bold statement. They’re not just eating; they’re people-watching (42 per cent), catching up on texts and emails (34 per cent), or simply enjoying some peace and quiet (41 per cent).

Lightspeed’s latest survey, which gathered over 7,500 responses from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, provides an in-depth look at the dining habits of adults who’ve visited a sit-down restaurant in the past six months.

 

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“The rise in solo dining reflects a broader trend towards personal well-being and the importance of ‘me time,’” says Lightspeed CEO, Dax Dasilva. “At a time when restaurants are competing for hard-earned dollars, the solo diner is an untapped market with plenty of opportunities.”

Lightspeed’s data goes beyond dining habits—73 percent of Torontonians are feeling the pinch of higher food prices, with nearly half (49 per cent) observing smaller portion sizes. To manage these changes, they’re adapting by taking home leftovers (33 per cent), choosing value meals (35 per cent), capitalizing on happy hour deals (31 per cent), and skipping dessert (39 per cent).

Meanwhile, New York City’s Avant Garden has embraced the solo dining trend with its “Table for One,” offering a curated four-course menu tailored specifically for solo diners. In Toronto, the trend is also gaining traction. Yunnan Noodle Shack, which opened a year ago, is Toronto’s first solo dining restaurant. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Andy Su and Jane Yu, the restaurant is inspired by Su’s hometown of Kunming in China’s Yunnan province. The menu features Kunming’s signature rice noodles and chili peppers sourced directly from Yunnan’s mountains. Su and Yu developed blind boxes for each booth, designed to enrich the dining experience with guides explaining the symbolism and characters found throughout the restaurant.

So, the next time you’re second-guessing that table for one, remember—half of Toronto is doing it, and loving every bite.