How to Meet Customer Demand for Asian-inspired Foods

What’s Driving the Popularity of Asian-inspired Food in Canada?

According to the meal delivery service Chef’s Plate, Canadians request Chinese meals the most, closely followed by Thai, Indian, Italian, and Korean food. In Doordash’s most-ordered food report from 2022, four of the top ten ranked cuisines were of Asian or South Asian origin. These statistics demonstrate that Canada’s taste for international food, especially Asian cuisine, is well-established and growing. Mintel found that 77% of Canadians view global food as more mainstream than in previous years.

What’s driving these trends? One explanation is that the pandemic lockdown of previous years spurred consumers to explore new and novel food types. Immigration is also a factor. Statistics Canada predicts that Asian immigrants will account for 34% of the population by 2041. Last but not least is the continued trend toward plant-based and healthy foods. Many Asian meals, especially Indian cuisine, heavily feature vegetables in exciting preparations and presentations.

Emerging Trends

Mashups and Fusion Cuisine

Driven by novelty and exciting flavour profiles, many restaurants and commercial kitchens are experimenting with global mashups. Sushi burritos, Korean corn dogs, Kimchi on everything—cultural fusions are cropping up nationwide. Kitchen operators are getting bolder with mixing ingredients from a global pantry, feeding into the sweet and spicy trend of the past few years.

Authentic

Just as fusion food has taken over, the quest for authentic flavors and ingredients has consumers exploring region-specific, authentic cuisines such as Szechuan Chinese or Northern Thai. But perhaps consumers experimenting with fun fusions or mashups have urged them to explore the traditional roots of ethnic foods.

Also read: How to Choose Cutlery for Your Restaurant or Venue

Asian Food Equipment

Consumer demand for Asian cuisine isn’t going away anytime soon; Chinese food is currently Canada’s third largest restaurant segment (after Canadian and American). But how can restaurateurs and kitchen operators keep up with the demand?

Fortunately, Russell Hendrix features many flexible and efficient pieces of equipment to help your business meet the demand for Asian-inspired food.

Quest Chef Centre

Quest Wok Station

Another option from Quest is the Deluxe Wok Station which features:

• Easily controllable, high-heat ranges
• Heavy-duty stainless steel construction
• Innovative combustion chambers that ensure even heat distribution and eliminate hot spots found in traditional woks
• Built-in cleaning features
• Customizable depths allow for personalization

The Wok Station is a fantastic choice for operators looking to take their Asian cuisine to the next level.

Hamilton Beach Rice Cookers

Rice is a staple across the world of Asian food. Access to perfectly cooked rice, quinoa, and other grains is essential for crafting high-quality Asian-inspired food. Hamilton Beach Rice Cookers feature:

Also read: How to Get the Most Out of Your Commercial Shelving

Gearing up for Asian Food Trends

Many kitchens are exploring the possibility of adding Asian-inspired foods to their menu. However, outfitting a kitchen with the appropriate tools may be daunting. Russell Hendrix has decades of experience guiding commercial kitchens through selecting, designing, purchasing, and installing the equipment they need to achieve their goals.

Contact your local RH Rep to learn more about equipping your kitchen to meet customer demand for delicious Asian cuisines.