This Is the Hottest Menu Item In America Right Now

Forget quinoa. America has a new favorite food. And, yes, it's fried.

Tempura, a stalwart menu item at Japanese restaurants, is the hottest appetizer at America's so-called fast-casual restaurants, according to a recent report by food industry researcher Datassential. The dish -- which traditionally consists of lightly-battered and fried seafood or vegetables -- beat out other trendy items like quinoa and Brussels sprouts in terms of menu growth last year.