# Northern China Rice Bowls Junzi Kitchen's Firecracker Chicken Millet Rice is Its First Rice Bowl By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2020-01-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/firecracker-chicken-millet-rice References: [qsrmagazine](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/junzi-kitchen-unveils-first-rice-bowl) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/junzikitchen/photos/a.689003034469125/2676128422423233/?type=3&theater) Growing fast casual chain Junzi Kitchen just announced the debut of its very first [rice bowl](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/korean-crispy-chicken) option with the launch of the new Firecracker Chicken Millet Rice dish. Created to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the new dish offers a delicious way to enjoy a taste of northern Chinese cuisine. Junzi Kitchen was created to serve homestyle Chinese food in a fast casual format, and its new Firecracker Chicken Millet Rice is perfectly in line with that mission. The new "nice bowl uses millet rice, a traditional northern Chinese combination called Da Xiao Mifan (literally translated to big and small rice), as the base." The rice is then topped with [sweet and spicy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-chicken-bowl) [firecracker chicken](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gsn-firecracker-chicken) that's been marinated in chili, garlic, and Sichuan spices. The bowl also includes leeks, cabbage, a soy-marinated egg, carrots, and caramelized shallots. Image Credit: *Junzi Kitchen.* ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## 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 - **Fast Casual Chain Expansion:** The growing trend of fast casual chains expanding their menu options to include rice bowls presents an opportunity for Junzi Kitchen to enter new markets and attract a wider customer base. - **Traditional Ingredients Reinvention:** The use of millet rice and traditional northern Chinese flavors in Junzi Kitchen's Firecracker Chicken Millet Rice taps into the trend of reinventing traditional ingredients to create unique and innovative dishes. - **Lunar New Year Menu Specials:** The introduction of the Firecracker Chicken Millet Rice as a special dish to celebrate the Lunar New Year reflects the trend of restaurants offering limited-time menu items tied to cultural events, presenting a chance for Junzi Kitchen to create seasonal offerings throughout the year. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast Casual Dining:** The fast casual dining industry can leverage the popularity of rice bowls to diversify their menu offerings and cater to customer preferences for customizable and convenient meals. - **Asian Cuisine:** The Asian cuisine industry can explore the use of traditional ingredients and flavors to create unique dishes, similar to Junzi Kitchen's Firecracker Chicken Millet Rice, in order to attract a broader customer base and distinguish themselves from competitors. - **Seasonal Menu Marketing:** The restaurant industry, particularly those focused on cultural cuisine, can benefit from the trend of offering limited-time menu specials tied to seasonal events, providing an opportunity for Junzi Kitchen and other establishments to create buzz and engage customers with innovative dishes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Balanced Rotisserie Chicken Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bolero-bowl.md) - [Cajun-Seasoned QSR Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-rice-bowls.md) - [Modern Chinese Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modern-chinese-dish.md) - [Crunchy Korean Chicken Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crunchy-chicken-bowl.md) - [Virtual Fried Rice Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lucky-dragon-friend-rice.md) - [Street Food-Inspired Rice Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/street-food-rice-dishes.md) - [Bowl-Packaged Rice Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multigrain-rice-bowls.md) - [Chicken-Packed Rice Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-cooked-bowls.md) - [Blackened Chicken Burrito Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotle-chicken-burrito-bowl.md)