Might a restaurant intentionally make some dishes harder to order?
Ease of choice is also a design choice.
Most people assume menus simply describe what is available. In practice, menus often influence what becomes popular.
The hidden mechanism is demand steering. Restaurants may highlight dishes that fit ingredient availability, kitchen efficiency, or long-term business goals.
Imagine a menu where certain dishes receive prominent placement while others appear in less visible sections. Customers are more likely to notice and order what is easiest to find.
A second-order effect develops because ordering habits become self-reinforcing. Popular dishes gain familiarity, which makes them even more popular over time.
People often think menus record customer preferences. Many menus quietly help create them.
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