During a recent lunch break, Jill Sennett, a 37-year-old nurse in Denver, came across AI-generated menu images from a Jamaican barbecue pop-up restaurant that left her unsettled. The images showed meats that looked like leather belts crawling with tiny beetles, prompting her to share them with her 26,000 X followers. Her post was reshared by over 500 people, many of whom expressed similar disgust. Sennett, who ordered chicken and macaroni and cheese from the restaurant, said she found the images misleading and unappetizing. “Eating is such an essential human experience,” she said. “I think it’s a bad cultural thing that restaurants are converting to these horrific, uncanny food images that are unappetizing.” AI-generated food images are becoming increasingly common in restaurant menus and marketing materials, even as some consumers find them unappealing. Restaurants, on the other hand, argue that they are using AI to cut costs amid rising food and labor prices. A 2026 report from the National Restaurant Association found that 26% of restaurant operators use AI for marketing, inventory management, scheduling, and optimizing menus. However, backlash can be swift, especially in tech hubs like the Bay Area. In San Francisco, a cafe called Grind & Unwind faced criticism after using AI-generated menu images. Locals quickly identified the images as AI-made, and the store was vandalized with graffiti that the owner, Lyndsey Lozano, interpreted as “seriously.” Lozano and her husband later spent around $700 to repaint the storefront after the incident. Some critics argue that AI struggles to accurately depict food, particularly in terms of texture and lighting. Professional food photographer Jamie Soja, based in the Bay Area, noted that AI-generated images often look unnatural. “The color and texture and the ingredients look kind of off in the way that they’re arranged,” he said. Tech companies like DoorDash are also integrating AI into their platforms, offering tools to enhance menu images. However, the company emphasizes that it prohibits the use of misleading images and reviews them for compliance. Despite these efforts, it can be difficult to determine whether an image is AI-generated or simply overedited. Researchers are beginning to explore how AI-generated food images affect consumer behavior. A 2024 study by Oxford professor Charles Spence found that people generally prefer AI-generated images when they don’t know they’re machine-made. However, once the origin is revealed, the images become less appealing. Spence also warned that AI might subtly influence portion sizes and food choices, as the technology often enhances fat content to make dishes look more appetizing. While some diners and industry professionals are skeptical of AI-generated images, others, like Nila Norero Salvatore, owner of Bella Cafe in San Francisco, see value in the technology. She said AI helps her save money and creates effective advertising, even if some people find the images unappealing. “I think it’s a great way of advertising our products,” she said.