Restaurants run by foreigners

[Takumi]

So I’ve been thinking about how Chinese restaurants are run by Chinese, Indians restaurants by bengalis, Turkish by Turkish etc.

Since people from those countries are more familiar, experienced with their cuisine inevitably they will be employed by respective restuarants.

However at the same time you will come across Japanese restaurants which have no ethnic Japanese people running it rather it may be other ethnicities and so on.

I’m just wondering does any have any data on or know whether this tends to affect the success of a restuarant eg do people tend to avoid chinese restaurants not run by Chinese. Do such restaurants have an image problem and does it affect sales?

If I had a restuarant I’d do it for fun and passion but want to recreate the authentic feel or the cuisines country so I would imagine an Indian restuarant should have Asian workers. This is easier to do when you are Indian and know a lot of Indians or Indian look alike a who are willing to be waiters etc but it’s not always possible depending on your location and who is available. For example one reason why a lot of japanese restaurants have no Japanese workers is because there’s not a lot of Japanese people in locality’s and those that are around don’t want to work with Japanese as they’re here to learn English and would rather be amongst native English speakers.

Any how important is it to get the image right with regards to whether your staff look like they’re from the country’s your cuisine is based on or can a small restuarant be very successful without this, clearly it wouldn’t have the authentic image but how important is This in keeping people coming back for more?

Thanks.

 

[japancool]

However at the same time you will come across Japanese restaurants which have no ethnic Japanese people running it rather it may be other ethnicities and so on.

The thing here is that most Brits couldn't tell the difference between a Japanese person and a Korean or Chinese.

I personally avoid Japanese restaurants if I know they aren't run by Japanese. You won't ever find me in a Yo! Sushi or Wagamama. I might occasionally pick up a snack from a Wasabi, but I remember overhearing a couple of Japanese girls in a Wasabi looking at the food on offer, giggling and saying "igirisu sutaeru" - in other words "English style".

And no Japanese place does proper bentos. I mean, the whole point of a bento is that you take it somewhere else to eat!

And most Thai restaurants only do food from northern Thailand well, because that's where all the Thais in foreign countries tend to be from.

 

[Ian J]

I remember overhearing a couple of Japanese girls in a Wasabi looking at the food on offer, giggling and saying "igirisu sutaeru" - in other words "English style".

Isn't that the same for almost all ethnic restaurants though? England's favourite curries for example are nothing like one would eat in the Indian subcontinent for example and most Chinese food bears little resemblance to what one would eat in China

In answer to the OP's question it wouldn't worry me in the slightest if the restaurant wasn't staffed by the correct ethnicities as it's the taste of the food that is most important and if the cuisine was altered slightly to cater for English tastes that wouldn't worry me either as most of the best cuisine has some element of fusion in it.

 

[John Hemming]

I know of Italian style restaurants run by Bengalis and all sorts of variations. The Bento boxes from Yakinori in Selly Oak are good for delivered food.

 

[Mr D]

I know of several Chinese takeaway places run by people from Britain.
They do not have to be foreigners - merely people willing to set up in business.

My local Indian restaurant is owned and run by a family from Birmingham. The grandfather is from Pakistan, the grandmother from Carlisle.

 

[Ian J]

I remember many years ago (over 40 anyway) an Irish client always wanting to go to dinner at an Irish restaurant in London even though it was staffed almost exclusively by Australians

 

[japancool]

Isn't that the same for almost all ethnic restaurants though? England's favourite curries for example are nothing like one would eat in the Indian subcontinent for example and most Chinese food bears little resemblance to what one would eat in China

True, but sometimes, you find restaurants that are truly authentic. If you want real Chinese food, go to Chinatown in London (the one between Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square).

 

[Mark T Jones]

I'm aware that there are legal exemptions around creating an authentic experience

Personally I'm more concerned around whether I like the food then whether it is authentic but will admit that I do enjoy the 'authenticity' of native staff and dreadful twangy music

 

[japancool]

On the other hand, I've been to a British pub in Tokyo, which is situated on the 1st floor of a multistorey building.

It's not authentic at all. It's clean and there weren't any fights breaking out.

 

[Fagin2021]

On the other hand, I've been to a British pub in Tokyo, which is situated on the 1st floor of a multistorey building.

It's not authentic at all. It's clean and there weren't any fights breaking out.

For a character-building experience, order a pint of Guinness at an 'authentic British pub' in Singapore. After a few minutes contemplating the frothy scum on top of the pint, look pointedly at your watch, exclaim "Goodness, is that the time!" and rush out.

 

[Lapak]

So I’ve been thinking about how Chinese restaurants are run by Chinese, Indians restaurants by bengalis, Turkish by Turkish etc.

Since people from those countries are more familiar, experienced with their cuisine inevitably they will be employed by respective restuarants.

However at the same time you will come across Japanese restaurants which have no ethnic Japanese people running it rather it may be other ethnicities and so on.

I’m just wondering does any have any data on or know whether this tends to affect the success of a restuarant eg do people tend to avoid chinese restaurants not run by Chinese. Do such restaurants have an image problem and does it affect sales?

If I had a restuarant I’d do it for fun and passion but want to recreate the authentic feel or the cuisines country so I would imagine an Indian restuarant should have Asian workers. This is easier to do when you are Indian and know a lot of Indians or Indian look alike a who are willing to be waiters etc but it’s not always possible depending on your location and who is available. For example one reason why a lot of japanese restaurants have no Japanese workers is because there’s not a lot of Japanese people in locality’s and those that are around don’t want to work with Japanese as they’re here to learn English and would rather be amongst native English speakers.

Any how important is it to get the image right with regards to whether your staff look like they’re from the country’s your cuisine is based on or can a small restuarant be very successful without this, clearly it wouldn’t have the authentic image but how important is This in keeping people coming back for more?

Thanks.

Through my observation, restaurants run by foreigners is common and everywhere in the world. Most Chinese are very good in cooking and they really keep the autenticity of their food and that is one of the reasons why they keep Chinese as a worker. I love Chinese food for sure. Same goes with Indian. However, i hv experienced not in the UK where the restaurant belongs to Chinese but not the workers and i found that the food is no longer authentic or original. So which restaurants to go? Up to our stomach on that time and go for the second time?? Welll depend on the service, the price and the taste.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Try finding a restaurant serving genuine English food.

I was once researching Somerset Pie in Wells. Not one pub had it on the menu but they all had Chillie Con Carne.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

My favourite Indian restaurant was owned by a Sri Lankan lad who'd been adopted by an English couple at 4 years of age and never set foot outside this country. Our local Italian is owned and run by Albanians, and the Indian guy at our Post Office cannot eat most UK Indian restaurant food as he claims it's Bangladeshi and nothing lie traditional fayre.

 

[Ian J]

the Indian guy at our Post Office cannot eat most UK Indian restaurant food as he claims it's Bangladeshi and nothing lie traditional fayre.

"Indian restaurant" is a bit of a misnomer nowadays as whilst they were Indian in the old days almost all are now Bangladeshi even if they have traditional Indian restaurant names.

I think that very little is traditional food from the subcontinent as dishes such as Balti and Tikka Masala are British inventions to cater for our tastes

 

[Jeff FV]

Try finding a restaurant serving genuine English food.

I was once researching Somerset Pie in Wells. Not one pub had it on the menu but they all had Chillie Con Carne.

I grew up in Wells. Sister & father still live there.

Never heard of Somerset pie.

 

[japancool]

The obvious way to tell how authentic a restaurant is, is to see how many people of that ethnicity are eating in it.

 

[Mark T Jones]

The obvious way to tell how authentic a restaurant is, is to see how many people of that ethnicity are eating in it.

Terrifying to wonder how that defines "typical" British food

 

[japancool]

Terrifying to wonder how that defines "typical" British food

In a foreign country though, it's easy to tell. In Thailand, the pubs that cater to Brits serve things like full English breakfasts or fish and chips.

Although they mostly serve Guinness(?!).

 

[Mr D]

The obvious way to tell how authentic a restaurant is, is to see how many people of that ethnicity are eating in it.

Good idea.
Been ages since I last went out for an English meal. Proper food, none of that foreign stuff.
A proper 'English'.

Roast beef, yorkshire pudding, proper steamed pudding for dessert.

Come to think of it, the reason I go out for food is to have things I don't eat at home.
I'll use multiple food type restaurants - have no need to get what I eat at home at those places.

Perhaps those of other ethnicity (what that has to do with food I'll never figure out) are like me and don't go out to have what they eat at home?
Perhaps you are thinking of people who were raised in another country when you refer to ethnicity?

 

[Fagin2021]

When I lived in London I used to get all excited by the opening of a new Asian restaurant - Indonesian, Malay etc.

Typically, they were great to start with, but a few months of being asked for 'beef rendang and chips' wore them down and the authentic cuisine began a long slide.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

I grew up in Wells. Sister & father still live there.

Never heard of Somerset pie.

Proves my point really. Bet you've heard of Chilli Con Carne.

Recipes are available on the internet.

 

[Lapak]

My favourite Indian restaurant was owned by a Sri Lankan lad who'd been adopted by an English couple at 4 years of age and never set foot outside this country. Our local Italian is owned and run by Albanians, and the Indian guy at our Post Office cannot eat most UK Indian restaurant food as he claims it's Bangladeshi and nothing lie traditional fayre.

A lot of restaurants tolerate the way their prepare the food with locality..it has adv and disadv.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

The obvious way to tell how authentic a restaurant is, is to see how many people of that ethnicity are eating in it.

Doesn't work in Japan.

 

[japancool]

Doesn't work in Japan.

Sure it does. If you want to find an authentic British pub or Chinese restaurant in Japan, see how many Brits or Chinese are eating and drinking there.

And if you want to see how good the local restaurants are, just watch to see how long the queues to get in are.

 

[AllUpHere]

My God this thread is making me hungry. Anyone want to come out for an Indian later?

 

[Mark T Jones]

My God this thread is making me hungry. Anyone want to come out for an Indian later?

Only if the owner can prove they've lived in India for more than 2/3 of their lives

 

[AllUpHere]

Only if the owner can prove they've lived in India for more than 2/3 of their lives

Ok, I'll check.
See you later lads, I think I've got a date.

 

[japancool]

 

[MikeJ]

On the other hand, I've been to a British pub in Tokyo, which is situated on the 1st floor of a multistorey building.

It's not authentic at all. It's clean and there weren't any fights breaking out.

When in California a few years ago, some colleagues thought it would be nice to take me to their local British pub. We waited to be seated, and once the front of house had got us to our table our server came to take our beer order.

I was then asked if it was like a British pub

 

[MikeJ]

I remember many years ago (over 40 anyway) an Irish client always wanting to go to dinner at an Irish restaurant in London even though it was staffed almost exclusively by Australians

What ever happened to Spud-u-like?

(sorry...)

 

[Red Wood]

most Chinese food bears little resemblance to what one would eat in China

My god, you are certainly right. I love going there, genuinely... *But* the meals feel me with dread, especially when a large spread has been put on.

I've been sick in my mouth before and had to swallow so not to offend.

 

[simon field]

What ever happened to Spud-u-like?

(sorry...)

They ended up with one shop left. On Norwich’s Prince of Wales road no less (affectionately known locally as Beirut Boulevard). That disappeared circa 1997.

 

[japancool]

They're still around. There's 8 of them:
http://www.spudulike.com/

 

[simon field]

They're still around. There's 8 of them:
http://www.spudulike.com/

And still in Norwich! Doh...

 

[Awinner2]

After the demise of the 2 Chinese takeaways over the last 12 months (not Covid related, one death of the owner and the other served rubbish (polite word), our Indian takeaway owners (3rd generation Indian lads) added Chinese food to their menu. And the locals reckon it is pretty good and saves them having to make a 40-minute roundtrip to another takeaway. None of them serve the quality that I used to eat in Chinatown London years ago but still that is history for me!

 

[IanSuth]

Bit of an aside but in my previous job i did recruitment and took various legal courses and exams.

For authenticity purposes it was ok to advertise for front of house staff to be of a particular ethnic background but as they are not seen not for the same re chefs (this was under the old race discrimination act not the newer 2010 Equality Act)