Inside Gen Z’s new obsession: Dining with complete strangers

Tired of ghosting group chats, doom-scrolling dating apps, and “What You Doing” texts? Well, Gen Z is tired as well, and they have found their own sweet ways to end the digital fatigue. The latest dining trend among Gen Z is community dining with strangers.

And no, it’s not a prank or a new form of speed dating. It’s exactly what it sounds like — showing up solo to a dinner table filled with people you’ve never met and simply sharing a meal.

What is the new dining trend?

Community dinners with complete strangers are catching on fast, from Delhi to Mumbai and beyond. But what is different about this trend? This trend is purely about sharing a meal with people you’ve never met, no strings attached.

In an age of swiping fatigue and soulless group chats, breaking bread with strangers feels unexpectedly refreshing. Apps like StepOut and Bunchh are leading the charge, curating intimate dinner tables of 6–8 people. They are matched not by algorithms of love, but simply by the joy of meeting someone new. And the only common ground is food.

StepOut sorts out users into tables based on a personality quiz that dives into social energy, interests, and even fun psych prompts. The team hosts dinners on Saturday, and tickets are priced at ₹599 with guests paying separately for their food. There is also no awkward splitting of bills, as everyone gets their own checks.

Bunchh is doing a similar thing in Mumbai. Their ₹749 ticket includes “Table Talk” cards to kickstart the convo amid a small, curated group. They look at age, gender, personality types... and try to create a group that feels balanced.

Unlike speed dating or networking mixers, these dinners are not about finding a partner or pushing your LinkedIn. It’s about human connections.

So what’s behind this trend’s sudden rise?

Be it the loss of connections as we age, or swipe fatigue or the loneliness epidemic, or the craving for offline interactions, dining with strangers is the new way to connect. Gen Z may be digital natives, but they’re increasingly seeking IRL community. Also, let’s be honest: showing up to a dinner where nobody knows your meme history or your last relationship drama? Kinda freeing.

Would you dine with someone you do not know?