Taco Bell recently announced their new cheese puff-filled burritos, but around the world they have many other noteworthy menu items that aren't available in North America, including a kimchi quesadilla. Taco Bell Korea posted images of the Asian influenced dish on Instagram last month.
The hybrid meal takes the soft flour tortilla and melted cheese of a normal grilled quesadilla but adds the traditional Korean side dish consisting of fermented vegetables. The kimchi quesadilla is served with a side of tortilla chips and a special dipping sauce.
This is not the first example of an international fast food chain offering special food items that appeal to regional consumers. Although this dish is not offered in the West, it could spawn copycats at home.
What's Driving This Trend
- International Fusion Dishes
- There is an opportunity for fast food chains to create regional dishes by combining international flavors with their regular menu items.
- Localized Menu Offerings
- Fast food chains can offer unique localized menu items to cater to regional tastes and preferences.
- Global Fast Food Industry
- Fast food chains can aim to create a global footprint by incorporating local favorites in their menu offerings.
Who This Affects Most
- Fast Food
- Fast food chains can innovate and create regional dishes to increase their appeal to local customers.
- Restaurant
- Restaurants can pay attention to regional cuisines and create fusion dishes to diversify their menu offerings.
- Food and Beverage
- The food and beverage industry has an opportunity to create unique flavor combinations by combining traditional cuisine with popular menu items.
