What Does ‘Reheating Nachos’ Reveal About K-Pop’s Generational Shifts? – Trends – In-Depth K-Pop & K-Culture Insights

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In the ever-evolving world of K-Pop, where trends come and go faster than a TikTok dance challenge, a new meme has taken hold of the fandom: “reheating nachos.” At first glance, it might sound like a quirky food reference, reminiscent of several food trends that have taken over the K-Pop industry in the past, including dalgona, tanghulu, or even tiramisu cake.

However, once we dig a little deeper, we come across a metaphor that perfectly captures the current industry trends. It is a time when generational shifts and nostalgic tensions are running parallel with the K-Pop charts featuring artists’ drastically different musical styles next to each other. Let’s explore this meme further to get an understanding of current industry trends.

What’s the “Reheating Nachos” Meme?

the “abracadabra nachos” in kpop, a thread 🧶 https://t.co/Frre8BaT0h pic.twitter.com/uPlC0eIocb

— livia 🦫 (@leeplutoknow) March 8, 2025

Let’s start with the basics. Nachos are delicious when they’re fresh out of the oven—crispy, cheesy, and full of flavor. No wonder we end up making a bit more than we can have in one serving and end up with leftovers. However, unlike curries, the next day when you try to reheat them, they’re never quite the same. They still have the essence of the original dish, but something feels… off.

This idea of “reheating nachos” has become a metaphor in pop culture, particularly among pop culture stans (extremely dedicated fans) on Twitter/X. It refers to artists or trends that are inspired by something iconic from the past but don’t quite capture the crispness and vibrancy of the original. The ‘nachos’ can be their own or of a whole industry. They can be abstract or specific, but they remind audiences of something from the past.