From a “lunchbox staple to starring role in upscale desserts, cocktails, and even coffee drinks,” bananas are having their moment in DFW.
According to data from menu research company Technomic, banana-flavored specials have surged by 70 percent in 2026, and online searches have surpassed those of pumpkin spice over the last two years.
Chef Casey La Rue, co-founder of La Rue Doughnuts in Dallas and Frisco, told CultureMap Dallas that using “better” bananas is a “big factor” in its growing popularity.
“Banana used to be a difficult flavor because people associated it with artificial candy, overly sweet syrups, and that fake-banana taste," he says. "Now chefs and coffee shops are using real banana, roasted banana, and more balanced combinations with coffee, caramel, chocolate, and spice.
“It still feels nostalgic and familiar, but the flavor is finally being treated with more restraint and sophistication," he added. "People didn’t suddenly start liking banana — they started getting better versions of it.”
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