# Soju Bar-Inspired Eateries Anju Prepares to Open and Will Serve Korean-Influenced Dishes By Amy Duong | Published 2021-02-18 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anju References: [dallas.eater](https://dallas.eater.com/2021/1/28/22254344/anju-dallas-opening-city-council-bar-space-uptown-dallas-march-2021) Anju is a restaurant that is set to open next month in Dallas, Texas as a celebration of [Asian drinking culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lobby-bar), specifically [Korean soju bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allnatural-soju-cocktail). The relaxed ambiance of the space is reminiscent of the bars in Korea and the name of the restaurant itself is in reference to the "drinking snacks." This ranges to anything from tteokbooki to pajeon pancakes to dried fish to mixed nuts. The menu at Anju also features more hearty items such as lobster lo mein, angus dumplings, braised pork belly bao, and spicy green papaya salad. Staying true to the culture, the restaurant is also serving up a delicious [cocktail menu](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sake-cocktail-menu) that is creatively crafted to pair to each dish's flavor palette. Image Credit: Anju ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 13% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Asian Drinking Culture Celebrations:** Opportunities for restaurants to open eateries that cater to an ongoing trend for celebrating the drinking culture in Asia, from Korea's soju bars to Japan's izakayas. - **Ethnic Food Fusions:** Trend of creating fusion dishes that mix ethnic flavors, in this case blending traditional Korean dishes like tteokbooki and pajeon with Western staples like lobster lo mein. - **Gourmet Casual Dining:** Opportunities for restaurants to specialize in casual gourmet dining, creating a relaxed ambience while presenting high-quality culinary options like angus dumplings and spicy green papaya salad as menu items. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food and Beverage Industry:** Opportunities for entrepreneurs to invest in the growing demand for authentic Asian cuisine and set up specialty eateries like Korean soju bars-inspired restaurants and izakayas. - **Hospitality Industry:** Opportunities for hotels and resorts to tap into the cultural trend of Asian drinking culture by developing bar concepts that offer more than just drinks but also drinks-friendly snacks and light meals. - **Tourism Industry:** Opportunities for travel agencies and tour operators to sell the experience of Asian drinking culture through bar hopping tours and food crawl itineraries that showcase local food and drinking customs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Soju-Based Aperitifs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modern-aperitif.md) - [Canned Asian Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jumo.md) - [Juicy Soju-Style Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sojuice.md) - [Contemporary Korean Dining Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/korean-dining.md) - [Flavored Soju Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soju-cocktails.md) - [Premium Soju Spirits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soju-spirit.md) - [Asian Cuisine-Flavored Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dokkaebier.md) - [Distilled American-Made Soju](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yobo-soju-luxe.md) - [All-Natural Soju Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allnatural-soju-cocktail.md)