South Asian cuisine has been a treasure to the culinary industry, unfurling as a trove of numerous delicious dishes and delicacies. This vast region boasts depth, colour, and complexity of taste and aroma in food.
Blending the cultural diversity of South Asian cuisine in restaurant menus has paid off for many chefs, cafes, and restaurants. In the UK, this strategy has extended the taste of food lovers while increasing revenue and reputation for businesses.
Many South Asian restaurants and those that have blended it into their regular menus have won prestigious restaurant awards along the way.
Today, this article will explore South Asian cuisine and how blending it into a restaurant menu impacts business and customer experience.
Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian South Asian Dishes
In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian countries, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are popular in their own ways. Both types offer diverse tastes, flavours, and nutritious values to diners.
Vegetarian Dishes: Simplicity & Nutrition
As South Asia is a prosperous region that grows vegetables affluently, it’s no wonder why so many popular vegetable dishes are there. From simple Aloo Gobi (India) or Mashed Eggplant (Bangladesh) to Potato & Pea Curry (Pakistan) or Veg Momos (Nepal), each dish speaks to its unique story and taste.
One of the top traits of South Asian vegetarian dishes is a balanced use of spices and condiments. These spices bring varied colours to each dish and add tasty layers and depths. Spices like coriander, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, and so many others are like the abundant richness of food.
Non-Vegetarian Dishes: Meaty & Scrumptious
While vegetarian dishes in South Asia feel like a holistic approach to its food carnival, non-vegetarian dishes dominate with their mouthwatering smell, taste, and fullness. Top non-veg dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala (India), Lamprais (Sri Lanka), Chapli Kebab (Pakistan), and more are a testament to the culinary delicacy in this region.
Most non-vegetarian dishes in South Asia are made with marinated meat (chicken, lamb, or beef), certain spices, yoghurt, dry fruits, etc. Cooking techniques like tandoori (clay oven), grilling, stir-frying, tadka (spicy tweak), etc., make non-veg dishes even tastier, more aromatic, and more delectable.
How Blending South Asian Cuisine in Menu Impacts Business
Taste has no boundaries. And when South Asian cuisine is enormous, with its diverse cultural background and influences, adding it to your restaurant’s menu can only make things better for the business.
Customers love to hear about new dishes and taste them from the nearby restaurants and cafes. If you can hear that call and are willing to serve them what they want, South Asian cuisine can be a blissful strategy. How so?
South Asian Cuisine Can Attract Diverse Customers
Since the UK has a population with a wide cultural background and history, offering them diverse dishes will be a win-win situation. People in London are constantly seeking new recipes, unique dishes, and something new that appeals to their taste buds.
Here, South Asian cuisine can be your best bet for serving these interested customers. Bringing the Sri Lankan seafood aroma, Pakistani rich, meaty flavours, or Indian spicy tweaks to these customers will only enhance their dining experience. As you do so, the business bottom line will rise with time.
Your Restaurant Will Stand Out from the Crowd
In both dine-in and online food ordering systems, the new generation of customers seeks a wider range of food selections on the menu. Gen Zs, especially, are crazy about unique dishes with tantalising presentations and tastes. Being a vast region promising a wide array of culinary delicacies, South Asian cuisine can meet the requirements of your customers.
Adding South Asian dishes will not only make customers happy, but also their positive social media reviews will build up your reputation. In time, you may see your restaurant’s brand racing to the success you desire.
You Can Boost Your Profitability
Adding diversification to your menu by bringing South Asian dishes will give you the edge in business profits. Scintillating dishes will increase customers’ cravings and boost sales through repeat orders, oft-returning diners, and a new batch of customers.
Two ways you can increase profits in your restaurant are:
- A Diversified Menu & Upselling: As you add South Asian dishes to your menu, customers will order additional items to taste them. You can recommend that they try various sides, beverages, or desserts to inspire them to make takeaway or dine-in orders.
- Exclusive & Seasonal Offers: Drawing in customers through experimenting with South Asian dishes can benefit your business. Trying seasonal dishes, holding themed tasting nights, rotating specials, etc., can earn your restaurant loyal customers and more profits.
Way to Winning Accolades with South Indian Cuisine
While boosting your restaurant’s profitability is important, reputation plays a big part in giving your business the edge needed to stand out from the crowd. A well-thought-out South Asian adaptation in your menu can help you gain that reputation.
Renowned restaurant awards entities like ARTA (Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards) or others, recognise chefs, restaurants, or cafes with relevant and prestigious awards.
So, offering crafted South Asian cuisine on your menu is likely to get your restaurant establishment recognised similarly.
Furthermore, winning restaurant awards can help you market your business. With a prestigious award, your restaurant will stand out in the market, making it appear a unique service to your loyal customers.
Final Thoughts
Blending South Asian cuisine into your restaurant menu can be a timely strategy. It involves not just serving diverse dishes and flavours but also catering to varied customers’ taste buds and service requirements.
Additionally, by adding a South Asian twist to the regular servings in your restaurant, you’re more likely to get special attention from top award institutes like ARTA, the Oscar of the Curry Industry.
