'Fast-casual' the next dining trend of 2017

It's the food trend sweeping Sydney and Melbourne: "fast-casual", where you can enjoy the speediness of fast-food with the quality of a restaurant meal.

It's good news for eaters. Some of the biggest players in the game are jumping on the trend, delivering restaurant food for those who don't want to sit down.

Japan has been a pioneer for decades. It's the entire premise of ramen bars, where you sit, slurp and get back to work.

Australians are eating out more than ever, and our restaurant industry has exploded in the lower, faster tier to meet demand for fast-food options that aren't junk.

This is the next step in restaurant expansion. It's different to David Chang's Fuku in New York (the Momofuku group's new fried chicken burger bar), or Neil Perry's Burger Project, both of which are tapping into the traditional fast-food market only with better raw produce. This is more a side step for restaurants: same food as the restaurant proper, just faster and cheaper.