How to add Asian inspired trends to your menu

Asian cuisine is seeing growth in traditional, fast casual, and quick service restaurants. Whether it’s Korean BBQ, sushi, or ramen, Asian flavours offer broad appeal and can be a significant growth avenue for your business.

So, how should you think about incorporating these popular flavours into your menu? Here are some strategies to consider:

Focus on Health and Wellness

Foodservice operators can add a healthy and trending spin to their menus with Asian dishes. With health and wellness as a top trend of 2024, adding Asian dishes that feature fresh fish, vegetables, and other lean proteins to your menu can open a new avenue to a profitable menu.

For example, a poke bowl made with fresh tuna, avocado, and seaweed salad can attract health-conscious customers. Incorporating whole grains like brown rice or quinoa as a base for dishes can further enhance the health benefits.

Add Plant-Based Alternatives to Your Menu

Ingredients such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan are commonly used as protein sources in Asian cuisine, providing a satisfying and healthy alternative to meat.

Consider offering dishes like spicy tofu stir-fry or tempeh lettuce wraps. These options not only cater to vegetarians and vegans but also appeal to the growing number of consumers looking to reduce their meat consumption for health or environmental reasons.

Create a Fusion of Flavours

Take your menu and add a twist of Asian-inspired flavour. Fusion dishes can be a hit with diners looking for something familiar yet exciting.

For instance, you could create Asian-inspired tacos with Korean BBQ beef, pickled vegetables, and a spicy gochujang sauce. Or, consider a sushi burrito, combining the flavours of sushi with the convenience of a burrito.

Boost Your Beverage Service

While you’re looking at your menu for places to create tasty new offerings, let’s not forget your beverage menu. Non-alcoholic mocktails are trending, and Asian flavours can add an exotic twist.

According to Technomic data, top Asian flavours for non-alcoholic beverages include coffee, mango, garam masala, and orange. Popular beverages include yoghurt drinks, iced specialty tea, iced specialty coffee, iced tea, soft drinks, hot tea, and chai tea.

Try offering a matcha latte, a mango lassi, or a spiced chai tea. These beverages can complement your Asian dishes and provide a complete dining experience.

Highlight Diverse Asian Cuisines

This surge in the popularity of Asian foods on menus isn't just confined to classics like sushi, ramen, stir-fries, and dumplings. It extends to a broad spectrum of Asian cuisine foods, each offering a unique taste profile that caters to various preferences.

For instance, explore the flavours of Thai cuisine with dishes like pad Thai or green curry. Or, introduce your customers to Vietnamese cuisine with pho or banh mi sandwiches. Each of these cuisines brings something unique to the table and can attract a diverse customer base.

Understand the Market Drivers

Asian cuisine, with its rich flavours, vast selection of ingredients, and vibrant colours, has seen a significant rise in popularity on menus. Attribute this boom to international travel or the growing Asian population in the UK. One thing is clear: the appetite for Asian cuisine is on the upswing.

To stay ahead, consider the factors driving this trend. Millennials and Gen Z consumers, in particular, are seeking out global flavours and experiences. They value authenticity and are willing to try new and exotic dishes. Catering to these preferences can help your business stay relevant and attract new customers.

Take Advantage of Expert Support

Explore Entegra’s culinary services or contact us to have Entegra’s culinary team help you implement any of these profit-generating ideas. Our experts can guide you in sourcing authentic ingredients, training your staff, and creating a menu that highlights the best of Asian cuisine.

By strategically incorporating Asian flavours and dishes into your menu, you can tap into this growing trend and offer your customers an exciting and diverse dining experience.