Each year, Nation’s Restaurant News honors five emerging restaurant concepts that are changing the face of foodservice.
For 2016, the brands highlight everything from natural and local sourcing — in both full-service and fast-casual versions — as well as juices, Middle Eastern-influenced menus and fusion mash-ups in the hot area of tacos.
The Hot Concepts winners will be celebrated at a MUFSO conference tasting event on Oct. 23 at the Hyatt Regency Reunion in Dallas.
Criteria for the Hot Concepts, selected by the NRN editorial team, include being a standout restaurant with proven success in either three markets or among five units. Expansion beyond the first unit must have been launched in the past seven years or fewer. The concepts also exhibit good financial standing for their growth stage.
Without further ado, meet this year’s winners.