Global Expansion of Asian-Inspired Fast-Casual Chains (2005–2020)

1. Fast-casual dining accelerates into a global model

   Jan 1, 2005Labels: Fast-casual

   • Britannica
   • NRA

2. Wagamama sold as it scales beyond the UK

   Jun 1, 2005Labels: Wagamama, Lion Capital

   • Wikipedia
   • PENews

3. Pei Wei reaches 100 units in the US

   Oct 1, 2006Labels: Pei Wei, P F

   • Pei Wei Wiki
   • Encyclopedia com

4. Gong cha begins overseas expansion from Taiwan

   Jan 1, 2009Labels: Gong cha, Bubble tea

   • Gong cha
   • Gong cha USA

5. Wasabi expands London’s grab-and-go sushi model

   Jan 1, 2011Labels: Wasabi, Grab-and-go

   • Wasabi US
   • Wasabi Wiki

6. Giraffas opens first US location in Florida

   Jul 11, 2011Labels: Giraffas, Florida

   • Eater Miami
   • Florida Trend

7. Centerbridge buys P.F. Chang’s and Pei Wei

   Jul 1, 2012Labels: Centerbridge, Pei Wei

   • Encyclopedia com
   • Restaurant Dive

8. Ichiran opens first overseas ramen shop in Hong Kong

   Jul 14, 2013Labels: Ichiran, Ramen

   • Inside Retail
   • Vogue

9. Jollibee’s Smashburger stake strengthens global platform

   Oct 27, 2015Labels: Jollibee, Smashburger

   • Philstar
   • NRN

10. Wagamama acquired by The Restaurant Group

    Dec 24, 2018Labels: Wagamama, The Restaurant

    • TRG
    • Wikipedia

11. P.F. Chang’s changes hands in private-equity sale

    Mar 1, 2019Labels: P F, Paulson &

    • PRNewswire
    • Restaurant Dive

12. COVID-era disruption tests chain expansion assumptions

    Jun 12, 2020Labels: Din Tai, COVID-19

    • CBS LA
    • Eater LA