Genghis Grill introduces tablets, new menu items

Genghis Grill has introduced tabletop ordering devices, more table service and new menu items at 10 of its 110 restaurants, and plans to roll the new features out systemwide.

“We’re calling it the Fresh Casual evolution,” Al Bhakta, president and chief executive of the fast-casual Mongolian barbecue chain, said. “It’s a redesign of the stores and the way we present our food.”

The new menu items and tabletop devices would be included in all new locations and would be phased in by the first quarter of next year, Bhakta said.

E la Carte’s Presto tabletop devices allow guests to order and pay for food and drinks, play interactive games, look up nutritional information, sign up for Genghis Grill’s e-mail list and engage with its social media, for example by liking it on Facebook.

Bhakta said the new menu items were developed in part for guests who might not be comfortable with the chain’s build-your-own-bowl format, in which customers decide what goes into their food.

“The concept lends itself well to folks who are a little bit more daring in their culinary taste profile,” Bhakta said.

However, if customers design a bowl that they don’t like, “ultimately it’s my problem,” he said.

The new “We Built It” lineup features “chef-crafted” dishes, according to the wording on the menu. Those items are:

• Pan-Asian Chopped Salad: Choice of protein tossed with spring mix, cucumbers, onions, red bell peppers, baby tomatoes, Thai basil, toasted sesame seeds and choice of dressing, priced between $8.49 for vegetarian and $9.49 for steak

• Korean BBQ Steak Tacos: Seared steak in Korean barbecue sauce topped with cabbage, carrots, green onions and spicy Korean pepper sauce, for $8.49

• Tandoori Butter Chicken Tacos: Natural chicken breast marinated in an Indian-spiced butter sauce, topped with cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, onions, cilantro and cucumber cilantro mint cream, for $7.99

• Thai Basil Chicken Tacos: Natural chicken breast marinated in honey and soy, topped with cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, Thai basil and Thai basil ranch sauce, for $7.99

•Drunken Noodles: Choice of protein tossed with noodles, carrots, red bell peppers, cabbage, baby tomatoes and mushrooms in “drunken noodle sauce,” priced at $8.99 with chicken or tofu and $9.49 with steak

• Thai Street Noodles: Choice of protein tossed with noodles, carrots, snow peas, cabbage, Thai basil and sliced almonds, stir-fried in cashew almond sauce, priced at $8.99 with chicken or tofu and $9.49 with steak

• Honey Walnut Chicken: Natural chicken breast, broccoli, red bell pepper, snow peas and onions in honey walnut sauce, for $9.99

• Mandarin Orange Chicken: Natural chicken breast, red bell peppers, carrots, broccoli and green onions in mandarin orange sauce, for $9.99

• Mongolian Steak: Steak grilled with green beans, baby tomatoes, mushrooms and green onions tossed in sweet-and-spicy Mongolian sauce, for $9.99

• Bombay Chicken: Natural chicken breast, onions, green beans, carrots and potatoes tossed in Indian-spiced butter sauce, $9.99

• Gourmet Fried Rice: Fried rice with choice of protein in seasoned soy sauce with onions, carrots, snow peas, broccoli, cabbage, baby tomatoes, scrambled eggs and sesame oil, priced at $8.99 for tofu or chicken and $9.49 with steak.

Customers who want to build their own bowl still go through the buffet line to assemble their meal, but with the new items, “We know the consumer’s not going to make a mistake,” Bhakta said.

Genghis Grill operates about 70 locations and franchises 40 units.

Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].
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