Why no Chinese chain restaurants?

[FriarTed]

It may be limited to the S Indiana/N Kentucky area but I’ve seen several Super China Buffet places.

[The_Hamster_King]

@Rex Fenestrarum

There is at least one PF Chang’s in Atlanta and there was at least one China Coast as well. I tend to think of both of them the same way: cool decor and mediocre food that’s not nearly as good as a good strip-mall Chinese place but costs twice as much. Apparently I’m one of the few that believes that - PF Chang’s is always jam packed.

No, you’re right. PF Chang’s is ass.

The chain that I’d really like to see go national is Curry House. Japanese curry rocks. Mmmm … menchi catsu … .

[scotandrsn]

Yet another thought from the crossroads of Jews and Chinese food (you’d think I was obsessed with this). The city of Brookline, MA has (or at least had, 7 years ago) no less than two chinese restaurants that market themselves directly to the city’s large Jewish population:

Shalom Hunan

Just a few blocks south of Coolidge Corner, places on its marquee that it serves “Glatt Kosher Chinese Cuisine”. Just North of Coolidge Corner on the same street is what I can only assume is its direct competition:

The Shang Chai

[Loopydude]

Nah, Massaman curry rules all. Thai red curries ain’t too bad either.

Now that I think about it: Why not more Thai fast food places? Seems it’s mostly Chinese places that throw a Pad Thai and beef satay dish onto the menu. I’m not sure if I’ve ever been to a Thai restaurant that wasn’t a sit-down-menu kinda place.

Mmmmm, tom ka gai followed by beef massaman curry, ending with gluai tod. Mmmmmmm…

[Loopydude]

@scotandrsn

Yet another thought from the crossroads of Jews and Chinese food (you’d think I was obsessed with this). The city of Brookline, MA has (or at least had, 7 years ago) no less than two chinese restaurants that market themselves directly to the city’s large Jewish population:

Shalom Hunan

Just a few blocks south of Coolidge Corner, places on its marquee that it serves “Glatt Kosher Chinese Cuisine”. Just North of Coolidge Corner on the same street is what I can only assume is its direct competition:

The Shang Chai

When I lived in DC, we had lots of Jews in my lab, and we used to order out from a place in Sliver Spring called Moshe Dragon :D.

[Rucksinator]

@NE Texan

That’s interesting – I’ve never seen a “Speedy Gonzales” on a Mexican menu. Maybe it’s a regional thing?

<snip>

Also, you mentioned lunch menu. Now, if I were making a lunch menu for a Mexican restaurant, and wanted to indicate a quick lunch dish that could come to the table quickly(*), and it’s for the US culture… isn’t an obvious joke to use the name “Speedy Gonzalez”?

(*) I hope that’s why they call it that…

If it’s regional, than the regions include Richmond, KY, most or all of the 4 or so places that I ate at in Orlando, FL, and all of the 6 or so places that I’ve eaten at here in Anderson, SC. Pretty big region.

I can’t say for sure that the “Lunch Combo #1” (or any other, for that matter), is the same at every place, but I know the Speedy Gonzales.

I agree that the idea of that name is pretty obvious. The question is if every family of Mexicans that starts their own store models their menu after others, or if there’s some kind of startup kit. Or maybe they’re not really as independent as they make you believe.

[Rucksinator]

That should be: “…that starts their own **restaurant ** models their menu after others…”

[Rex_Fenestrarum]

@Duke

A side question, but a related one: Why, apart from fast-food joints and a handful of “pub fare” places, are there no real national restaurant chains in the UK? The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Pizza Express (despite its name, it’s actually a sit-down restaurant with bar service), but I don’t think it’s much found outside of the south of England.

Does Pret-a-Manger count? I can’t remember if they have tables or not, but jeesh! - seems like those places are on every street corner in London!

@NE Texan

That’s interesting – I’ve never seen a “Speedy Gonzales” on a Mexican menu. Maybe it’s a regional thing?

Every independent Mexican place I’ve ever been to has it and I’ve been to Mexican places in GA, FL, NC, SC and VA. I always thought it was funny that it was always called the “Speedy Gonzales”… It made me wonder if there’s some “Carletono A’Sheets” in Mexico running late-night informercials for his “get rich quick in America by opening your own chain of restaurants!” scheme!

[DrDeth]

Ahh, Mr Chau’s… food of about the same quality as Panda express, about the same cost (if not cheaper) and portions 2 or 3 times larger. A gift to the hungry big eater.

PF Changs is upscale, about that of Outback. Not bad at all, but a bit pricey, IMHO.