10 Hipster Food Trends That We’ve Finally Warmed Up To

Let’s just ask the question: what’s the deal with hipster food? The past couple of years have been nothing short of a total hipster evolution, with things like second-hand clothes, organic produce, and old school vinyl records coming into mainstream culture. While we often admire the quirky trends set forth by our *ahem* forward-thinking friends, we also are prone to skepticism and hesitance, preferring to stick to our time-tested food favorites. But we’ve found 10 hipster fan-favorites that we think you’ll love the moment you try them. Here are 10 hipster food trends that we’ve finally warmed up to.

1. Avocado Toast

While one of our favorite (and priciest) fruits on a piece of sourdough isn’t exactly a cutting-edge concept, recent years have seen the addition of some pretty creative toppings on the food, such as smoked salmon, pickled beets, and gorgonzola. While you might want to stick to your everyday toast, we promise that no matter what, taking this foodie risk is worth it. Our favorite combo? Avocado slices, goat cheese, honey, and pomegranate. Delicious!

2. Charcoal Ice Cream

With all of the charcoal trends we’ve seen recently, we’re surprised we haven’t somehow traveled back to the industrial revolution. An edible form of the substance has made its way into our medicine cabinets and even a few of our favorite foods. Let’s be honest. A swirl of pitch black soft serve makes a cool instagram post, but most are a bit iffy about ordering it over a nice scoop of cookies & cream. But we can assure you, despite its ominous look, that the charcoal in this treat doesn’t even have a taste, and instead you’re left enjoying a rich, vanilla-like flavor should you choose to purchase the sweet treat. Heck, maybe if the charcoal industry is under enough pressure we’ll start seeing edible diamonds products in the future!

3. Sushi-Rito

One of our favorite foods out there has experienced some out-of-the-box creations lately (such as the sushi donut), making the experience of sitting down to a spicy tuna roll even more fun that it was. One of our favorite sushi transformations is the sushi burrito, which contains all of the elements of a great sushi roll in burrito form. We love this burrito because it’s perfect to grab on a school or work day, and has the same basic elements of a traditional burrito (protein, carbs, vegetables, condiments) just with Japanese ingredients. Our tip: if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a sushi-rito, make sure it’s wrapped in plenty of paper to make for minimal mess.

4. “Outrageous” Lattes

Some say that $6 on a beautiful latte is a waste of money. But we say those people haven’t seen a work of art like the one below! Baristas have been taking the art of latte making to the next level, replacing the traditional swirls and hearts with bright colors or intricate stencil designs like the one below. This totally fits the hipster mentality of slowing down and enjoying the finer things in life, even if it costs a few extra bucks to do so. So if you’ve got some extra cash and your local coffee shop offers them, we totally recommend that you get a specialized, artistic latte.

5. Chicken & Waffles

Crispy fried chicken and sweet waffles have been a southern staple for years, but unless you’re a Louisiana native or a Waffle House regular, you probably haven’t had a ton of opportunities to try out the duo for yourself. Fortunately, chicken & waffles has been getting quite popular, and many modern restaurants will offer it as a menu option. Our favorite trend? Flavorful fried chicken in a homemade waffle cone. Sweet and salty never fails!

6. Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Many of us have fond memories of warm, crispy grilled cheese on rainy days. But just because we’ve grown up doesn’t mean we’ve grown past our affinity for grilled cheese! Many contemporary places have put grown-up spins on the childhood favorite with combinations such as rosemary sourdough bread, pepper jack cheese, arugula, and even figs. Just check out the options next time you’re at a modern American grill. We’re sure there’ll be one to fit your fancy.

7. Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

If you’ve been paying attention to coffee trends (or if you have coffee-obsessed friends who won’t stop talking about them), you’re likely aware of the nitro cold brew trend. This drink is made by infusing cold brew with nitrogen gas through a pressurized valve, giving it a smooth finish. While this isn’t exactly an affordable daily brew, we love the process of watching our nitro brew being made and placed on the counter in a big glass. Nitro brew’s sophisticated nature and unbeatable taste make it a perfect choice for you and your friend to treat yourselves to after a hard week of classes. You’re worth it!

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8. Candied Flowers

The Victorian age must be making a comeback… hipsters seem to be obsessed with going low-tech, writing poetry, and enjoying age-old food trends like candied roses and violets on their cupcakes! While they may seem outlandish, candied edible flowers add a fresh, somewhat fruity flavor to tasty treats, and you’ll feel like the Queen of England if you try them for yourself. Want to ease yourself into the floral craze before making a commitment? Try floral teas like hibiscus and rose, and when you grow accustomed to them, venture into the world of edible candied flowers.

9. Cold-Pressed Juice

Admittedly, we’ve been slow to jump on the cold-pressed juice bandwagon simply because there are much cheaper ways of getting juice. But cold-pressed juice is ultra-nutritious and naturally energizing, without any of the additives or preservative of store-bought juices. Plus, if you go to a custom juice shop, you can totally customize your drink to include ingredients like immune-boosting ginger. It may not be an everyday thing, but we say go for a green juice blend with your buds should the excuse come up.

10. Deluxe, Indulgent Bagels

Panera, you saw this trend coming for years now: gourmet, flavorful bagels that incorporate amazing ingredients and fillings like steak, watercress, and chive cream cheese. We’ve seen tons of zany spins on the New York classic, including rainbow bagels, giant bagels, and even edible glitter bagels. But personally, we’re fans of the Montreál- style bagels, which have a slightly sweet taste and are a bit longer and leaner that their Brooklyn counterpart. If you’re ever in L.A., check out Courage Bagels in Silver Lake and get an everything bagel with cream cheese, cucumbers, and parsley. Yum!