56% of consumers do not plan to return to restaurants for more than a month post-COVID. Yet, many find themselves anxious to dine out. Offering items that travel well, are easy to customize and allow healthy choices are a win-win. Bowls fit this description more than many as a versatile platform for providing options to address multiple guest needs. Rice bowls, ramen, pho, and acai bowls are already being ordered to go, and the options go on.
Burrito Bowls are a top item ordered for takeout and delivery, according to Doordash®, GrubHub®, and Uber Eats®. Dishes like Farro, Pork Ramen, and Pad Thai also made the list of favorites. One bowl of comfort in the eyes of consumers, yet flexible enough to build on, customize, and intensify with signature sauces. For this very reason, we recently published a guide packed full of insight-driven ideas, including an entire section on bowls, ready for your menu.
One idea you’ll find—Chilled Bruschetta Chicken Bowl—is one to try right away. We already know chicken bowls are a hit. According to Datassential, they’ve grown on menus nearly 70% in the last 4 years. In this concept, grilled chicken breast is served over a blend of ancient grains topped with tomato bruschetta prepared with bits of fresh tomato, Cannellini beans, kalamata olive, capers, sundried tomato pesto, and olive oil. Pack a disposable ramekin of crumbled feta cheese for guests to add when they’re ready.
For guests seeking comfort foods in a bowl, this Braised Short Rib Bowl should be ordered. Tender pieces of braised short rib top a bed of creamed cauliflower surrounded by roasted root vegetables. Drizzle the bowl with a red wine jus and offer extra servings on the side. The same order, or the next, could include Crispy Fried Korean Chicken Strips coated in water chestnut flour and tossed in Korean Sweet Heat Sauce. Dust with sesame seeds and serve with fried rice loaded with wok-charred peppers, scallions, and broccolini.
For a global spin, try our take on an authentic Ramen bowl. Up 56% on menus, ramen offers a hot and comforting broth ready for customization. This version is filled with slices of sweet and spicy glazed pork belly and alkaline noodles, topped with soft boiled egg, scallion, and a liberal shake of furikake. Of course, there’s always Pho. A top choice for takeout and delivery, Pho continues to rise in popularity. Offer your version of a hot pot filled with shaved beef, Asian vegetables, and a pile of rice noodles. Watch the bowl come to life when piping hot beef broth flavored with ginger and brown spices is poured on top. It’s sure to be a hit in your kitchens as it is in ours.
Here’s a tip: 33% of consumers say they would like to see labels that indicate time their food was prepared, according to a Technomic Off-Premise Packaging Study. With bowls and the right packaging, it’s very possible to accommodate the need. Consumers are looking to operators to help them feel more comfortable as they transition to a new normal. We have more tips to weather this time, too. Start with our menu guide and then click through for our tools--white papers, recipes, and a full team of culinary experts. You can reach us here, too. Be well, friends--we’ll talk to you soon.
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