EXPRESS: 50+ Years of Restaurant Tipping Research - Part II: A Critical Analysis of Subthemes, Implications, and Suggestions for Future Research

Tipping reflects a complex interplay of cultural norms, economic incentives, and operational challenges, especially within the US foodservice industry. Building on the systematic literature review and themes presented in Part I (Norris et al., 2026), this study examines the subthemes identified across 319 peer-reviewed articles published between 1974 and 2024. Findings reveal saturation points, underexplored topics and intersections, as well as debates surrounding regulations and policies of tipping practices and alternative compensation models. This review integrates a fragmented body of research, provides an overview of key findings, highlights critical gaps, and offers a roadmap for future scholarship and practical reforms in service compensation systems.