# Casual Fusion Grills The Ahi Mahi Fish Grill Fusion Restaurant Blends BBQ and Asian Flavors By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-07-17 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fusion-restaurant References: [bizjournals](http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/prime_cuts/2015/07/fast-casual-fish-restaurant-opens-in-scottsdale.html) & [ahimahifishgrill](http://www.ahimahifishgrill.com/) When you cross a love of all-American barbecue with Southeast Asian flavors, the result is a fusion restaurant like the Ahi Mahi Fish Grill. This eatery in Scottsdale, Arizona was based on the [California Fish Grill](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/california-pizza-kitchen-menu-items) chain out of Southern California, but with more of a spin on Asian flavors. As well as enticing diners with its [Asian barbecue fusion cuisine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ember-lotus), the restaurant is also equally as attractive for its low price points—most items on the menu come it at under $13. Although costs are kept low, many fast casual diners are still willing to pay a premium for high-quality eats. As one of the fastest growing concepts from the restaurant industry, [fast casual restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pei-wei-asian-kitchen) are satisfying a need for convenience, alongside a huge health-focused shift in consumer attitudes with regard to diet and lifestyle. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 31% | Activity: 19% | Freshness: 8% - 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 ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Asian Barbecue Fusion:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity for restaurants to combine traditional American barbecue with Asian flavors to create unique fusion cuisines. - **Low-cost Fast Casual:** The rise of fast casual restaurants offering high-quality food at affordable prices presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the restaurant industry. - **Health-focused Convenience:** Consumer preference for health-focused diets and convenient dining experiences creates a disruptive innovation opportunity for restaurants to provide healthy fast casual options. ### Where This Applies - **Restaurant:** The trend of Asian barbecue fusion and low-cost fast casual dining presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the restaurant industry. - **Food Service:** The demand for health-focused convenience in fast casual dining offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the food service industry. - **Culinary:** The blending of American barbecue with Asian flavors in fusion cuisines presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the culinary industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Conceptually Transformed Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nami-restaurant.md) - [Poké QSR Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/island-fin-pok-co.md) - [QSR Poke Bowl Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/premium-poke-bowls.md) - [Casual Fine Dining Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fastfine-prototype.md) - [Asian-Fusion Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lobby-bar.md) - [Tuna-Packed Poke Burritos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fresh-poke-burrito.md) - [Spicy Seafood Protein Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-seafood-bowls.md) - [Seasonal Seared Tuna Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seared-ahi-tuna-menu.md) - [Fast Casual Seafood Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-casual-seafood-restaurant.md)