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Not long ago, Sunday in Trinidad & Tobago was a quiet day for restaurants. Many closed early. Some didn’t open at all. Families cooked at home, spent time together, and prepared for the week ahead.


That rhythm has changed.


Across both islands, Sundays are now one of the busiest dining days of the week. From high-energy brunch spots to quiet buffet rooms and cozy cafés, Trinbagonians are filling dining spaces in numbers that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago. It’s become a new cultural habit, one that reflects how our lifestyle, work patterns, and relationship with food are shifting.


A trend that started with young adults


The shift first appeared among young adults. They wanted a break from the routine of fast food during the week and found Sunday to be the perfect day to slow down and treat themselves. Brunch culture was rising globally, and local spots picked up on it quickly.


What began as a social trend spread fast. Parents who were overwhelmed from the Monday to Friday rush, school traffic, lunch kits, homework, late meetings, began embracing the idea too. After a packed week, Sunday lunch became less of a chore and more of a reward.


A lifestyle change driven by exhaustion and convenience


One of the most consistent pieces of feedback from diners is simple:

“I don’t want to cook on Sundays anymore.”


Weekday life in Trinidad & Tobago has become more demanding.


Traffic is heavier.

Work hours feel longer.

Kids have more after-school activities.

Families spend more time commuting than cooking.


By the time Sunday arrives, many households want rest, not pots and pans. Dining out offers a stress-free alternative, no prepping, no cooking, no cleaning.


More options, more creativity, more reasons to go out


Restaurants have recognized the shift and responded with stronger Sunday offerings. Today, diners have more choices than ever.


Woodford Café — a lively brunch atmosphere with music and a social vibe.


Arazzi — refined weekend dining focused on quality and presentation.


Hyatt Waterfront Restaurant — a well-loved buffet with views and variety.


Magnolia Café — a casual, family-friendly option that fills up early.


Across T&T, other venues now offer:


Sunday-only menus


Caribbean-inspired buffets


Brunch cocktails


Live music


Family meal deals


Kids-eat-free promotions



For restaurants that struggled during quieter periods, these Sunday services have become essential revenue pillars.


Social media’s influence on the Sunday boom


There’s no denying the role of social media.


Instagram and TikTok are filled with videos of:


Mimosas pouring


Plates being served


Buffet spreads


Cute café corners


Family outings


Couples on brunch dates



Younger diners create the demand. Older diners follow the discovery trail.

Posts turn into reservations. Reservations turn into full dining rooms.

And just like that, Sunday becomes a day for gathering out rather than staying in.


A reflection of improving food culture in T&T


Trinidad & Tobago’s food scene has matured. Diners expect better quality, better service, and more creative menus. Local restaurants, from fine dining to small cafés, are delivering.


As a result, people feel more confident spending their money on dining experiences, especially on weekends when they want to unwind.


Where TTRW 365 fits into this change


This new Sunday dining culture is exactly why TTRW is expanding.


Dining in Trinidad & Tobago isn’t something that happens once a year anymore. The demand is year-round, and people want discovery, reviews, and recommendations all the time.


TTRW 365 aims to highlight:


The best brunch and buffet options


Family-friendly Sunday spots


Local chefs doing innovative weekend menus


New restaurants entering the culture


Hidden gems outside of Port of Spain


Dining experiences that bring people together



Sunday dining is no longer just a meal. It’s a lifestyle, and it deserves a place in the national food conversation.


The bottom line


Trinbagonians are eating out more on Sundays because life has changed. Workweeks are heavier. Free time feels shorter. Convenience matters more. And restaurants have adapted with creativity, variety, and experiences that people want to share.


Sunday has become the new dining day, a weekly ritual shaped by modern life, social media, and a growing food culture.



Where do you dine on Sundays? And what makes a Sunday meal out worth it for you?


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Walk into any new café or Asian-fusion spot in Trinidad & Tobago today and you’ll probably see it, steaming bowls of ramen lined with soft-boiled eggs, spicy broth, and chopsticks balanced on top.


Ramen has quietly gone from niche to mainstream across the islands, with Gen Z and millennials leading the charge. But how did a humble Japanese noodle soup become one of the most talked-about comfort foods here?


A culture shift built on anime and social media?


For many young Trinbagonians, their first introduction to ramen wasn’t from a restaurant, it was from anime.

Series like Naruto Shippuden, One Piece, and many others made ramen an emotional symbol of friendship, comfort, and late-night conversation.

Anime clubs, cosplay events, and local conventions turned that fascination into a lifestyle, creating a steady appetite for all things Japanese, food included.


The K-pop connection


Around the same time, the K-pop explosion brought a new wave of interest in Asian food culture. From music videos to TikTok content, the idea of “noodles and pop” felt stylish, social, and modern. Younger audiences started seeking out ramen shops to recreate that same experience they saw online, bright bowls, big flavors, and shared moments.


Samyang and the instant noodle influence


Instant ramen had always been part of our grocery culture, but Samyang gave it flair. Their viral “fire noodle challenge” made ramen fun again, especially among teens.

Parents started buying it because their kids asked. It became an entry point into exploring other noodle types, from convenience to craft.


Affordable, familiar, and flexible


Top Ramen has long been a staple in Trinidad & Tobago. For many, it’s the first dish they learned to cook, quick, affordable, and filling.

That early connection made it easy for locals to embrace restaurant ramen. Whether it’s a $40 comfort bowl or a $120 tonkotsu experience, the concept feels familiar yet elevated.


The rise of ramen culture


Ramen isn’t just food anymore; it’s become part of pop culture in T&T.

Asian-inspired events, anime screenings, and themed dining experiences are drawing new audiences every month.

Local chefs are adapting it too — using scotch bonnet, curry crab, and local herbs to give traditional recipes a Trini heartbeat.


Where to find it


If you want to experience the ramen wave for yourself, check out:


Samurai Japanese Restaurant (Port of Spain)

Authentic Japanese cuisine


Kyu Ramen Trinidad (Chaguanas) — rich broths and bold spice.


12 by Rishi Ramen (Port of Spain) — a fine-dining twist on casual comfort.


Tag your favorite ramen spot and share your go-to order — mild, spicy, or fire level?


Final thought


Ramen’s rise in Trinidad & Tobago isn’t random. It’s a reflection of global culture blending with local taste.

Anime sparked the craving, K-pop fueled the energy, and chefs turned it into something we can proudly call ours.



What’s your ramen story — instant, homemade, or restaurant-grade?


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There was a time when one food post could make a restaurant famous overnight. A quick reel, a witty caption, a well-timed “10/10” and the crowds followed. Today, that magic feels dimmer. The same faces. The same dishes. The same overly sweet reviews that no longer taste believable.

People aren’t tuning out because they’re tired of food. They’re tuning out because they’re tired of the sales pitch.

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A Global Trend Hits Home

Influencer marketing is still massive worldwide, worth billions every year. But trust is falling fast. A recent study shows that more than half of consumers now believe influencers feel “less authentic than before.” Big accounts are losing engagement, while smaller creators with loyal audiences are holding steady.

That trend has reached Trinidad & Tobago. Our food scene is small, everyone knows everyone and when followers start doubting what they see, the fallout is immediate. A few too many “best I ever had” captions can turn enthusiasm into skepticism.

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The Aquarium Effect

Here, the walls are clear. Every influencer, chef, and restaurant swim in the same small tank. Everyone knows who’s working with whom. That visibility, what we call the “aquarium effect,” makes credibility fragile.

When followers realize most “reviews” are paid or bartered, trust drops. Local engagement data shows a steep 28 percent decline in sponsored food-post interactions since 2022, while organic posts, unfiltered, unpaid are quietly outperforming them.

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When Influence Turns Into Noise

The problem isn’t partnership. It’s pretense. Too many paid reviews read like scripts. The lighting is perfect, the captions recycled, the reactions exaggerated. Once every post feels like an ad, audiences stop believing any of them.

Restaurants lose, too. They pay for exposure that doesn’t translate into foot traffic. Diners scroll past, unsure who’s being genuine. The culture that built our food scene, curiosity, honesty, and love of flavor, starts to feel staged.

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The Questions We Need to Ask

• If you’re paid to post a “review,” is it still a review or an ad?

• Should restaurants demand disclosure for transparency, or stay silent to protect the illusion?

• Does a single paid reel actually influence where people eat anymore?

• In a small market like ours, is objectivity even possible?

These questions aren’t accusations. They’re an open challenge, to influencers, to restaurants, and to diners, to rebuild something that feels real again.

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Where the Food Scene Goes From Here

Audiences are craving honesty more than hype. They want stories, not slogans. Restaurants that show real people enjoying real meals will win back attention. Creators who balance collaboration with truth will earn trust again.

Trinidad & Tobago’s food scene deserves that. Our flavors don’t need filters, they just need authenticity.

Join the Conversation

Do you think influencer fatigue is real in T&T?

Do you still trust food reviews online?

Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk about how we keep food culture honest, local, and alive.


Rachel J

© 2025 Trinidad & Tobago Restaurant Week. All rights reserved.

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