Newly Discovered Asian Dining Trend: Trend Or Fad?
by Felix Lim
@ 10 Jan 2014
From the land of Chinese takeaway comes yet another Asian dining trend. An offshoot of wildly popular Mexican chain Chipotle, Shophouse Southeast Asian Kitchen has garnered a large number of loyal customers. It is a fast-casual restaurant, in between fast food and sit-down dining, with a menu inspired by Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Singaporean cuisines. Following the same model as that of Chipotle, where customers can build their own meal from the ingredients on offer, one can always look to trying something new. Customers start with a bowl and choose from a range of rices and noodles before selecting toppings to build their own meal. This concept has proved rather popular in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, where the stores are located. For young adults in college or just started working, the idea of a satisfying meal, quickly and readily made is very appealing. One might wonder if a similar concept might work in a setting such as Singapore, where there remains a culture of home-cooking.
