Mispar surveyed Orthodox and Chassidish Jewish Americans to examine how frequently they eat meals outside the home, including takeout. The analysis compares eating-out frequency between Tri-State and out-of-town residents.Methodology
Methodology
We polled 145 members of Mispar’s panel of Orthodox and Chassidish Jewish Americans. All respondents were over the age of 18 and English-speaking. Participants were asked: “How often do you eat meals out (including take-out)?” The response options were measured on a 7-point ordinal scale ranging from “Daily/Almost daily” to “Never/Almost never”. Participants were recruited from Mispar’s proprietary panel, which is composed exclusively of Orthodox and Chassidish American Jews. Respondents received panel points redeemable for a Visa gift card as compensation for their time.
Findings
- “A few times a month” was the most commonly reported frequency of eating out.
- Tri-State area residents were more than twice as likely to report never or almost never eating out compared to respondents living outside the Tri-State area (12% vs. 5%).
Conclusion
Despite the greater availability of kosher restaurants in the Tri-State area, Tri-State respondents were significantly more likely to report never eating out. This counterintuitive pattern suggests that availability alone does not drive eating-out behavior. While additional research is needed to fully explain this difference, one possible explanation is that lower overall cost of living in out-of-town communities may leave households with more discretionary income, making eating out more accessible despite fewer kosher dining options.