By Katie Belflower

RestoBiz and Technomic have teamed up again for Concept Watch to highlight three standout restaurant concepts featured in today’s Canadian foodservice. This month, the focus is on Butter Chicken Roti, Houston Pizza, and Chaiiwala, and how they are distinguishing themselves from the competition.

Butter Chicken Roti

Butter Chicken Roti

Image Source: Butter Chicken Roti Instagram

Instagram: 3,700 followers | Facebook: 1,800 likes

Locations: 20 (Alberta and Ontario)

Concept characteristics:

Quick-service chain offering a variety of Indian dishes
Mission is to share the best flavours from India
Interiors have Indian-inspired décor, with mandala-patterned counters, basket lantern pendant lighting, and Bollywood-themed painted murals
Additional locations scheduled to open throughout the U.S. and Canada
Franchising is available

Menu snapshot:

Specialty is traditional Indian curries served in roti, an Indian flatbread, as a wrap
Spice levels are customizable and range from mild to nuclear hot
Meat-based curry options include Tikka Masala, Vindaloo, and Korma with meats such as chicken and lamb
Vegetarian curry options include Aloo Mutter, a potato and green pea curry; Saag Chana, a chickpea and spinach curry; and Aloo Gobi, a potato and cauliflower curry
Serves Indian-inspired street foods including Samosa Chana Chaat, with crispy samosas, spiced chickpeas and chutney, and Butter Chicken Poutine with crispy fries, butter chicken and melted cheese

Houston Pizza

Shrimp Pesto Pizza

Image Source: Houston Pizza Instagram

Instagram: 3,100 followers

Locations: 8 (Saskatchewan)

Concept characteristics:

Pizza-focused casual-dining chain with a Mediterranean influence due to the founders’ Greek heritage
Philosophy of proving quality over all else, with a focus on flavour and value
Units are 2,000-3,000 square feet with a hip, casual interior
“REAL. GOOD. FOOD” slogan
Franchising is available

Menu snapshot:

Meat is 100 per cent Canadian, produce is all cut fresh daily and sauces are housemade
Houston Greek Pizza with grilled chicken, feta, green peppers, tomatoes, and souvlaki sauce
Chicken Kyiv Pizza with garlic butter sauce, chicken, sauteed onion, smoked sausage, parsley and Romano tomatoes
Shrimp Scampi Pizza with seasoned shrimp, onion, red pepper, and garlic aioli
Appetizers include calamari, spinach artichoke dip, chicken wings, and nachos
Menus sandwiches such as the Pesto Chicken Sandwich and Fratzolaki, a Greek steak sandwich

Chaiiwala

Tikka Boti in Naan

Image Source: Chaiiwala website

Instagram: 117,000 followers | Facebook: 21,000 likes

Locations: 10 (British Columbia, Calgary, and Ontario)

Concept characteristics:

Concept highlighting Indian street food and traditional beverages, giving consumers “a sip from the East”
Based in London, with Canada the first international site for the brand
Operates the Chaiiwala Foundation to help empower communities across the world through charitable projects
Franchising is available to expand the brand’s footprint

Menu snapshot:

Aloo Tikki Burger with potato croquette in a bun with onion, tomatoes, house slaw, and tamarind
Butter Chicken Roll with shredded masala butter chicken in a classic roti
Samosa Chaat with samosa, chickpeas, onion, tomato, tamarind chutney, and fresh yogurt
Tikka Boti in Naan with boneless chicken pieces, onion, tomato, yogurt and mint chutney, all wrapped up in a garlic and coriander naan
Chili Paneer with deep-fried cottage cheese chunks smothered in spicy onion and pepper sauce
Cold drinks include Dirty Chai Frappe, Lemon Iced Chai, Limbu Pani (a cloudy lemon drink) and Rose Falooda (a rose milkshake topped with whipped cream, almonds, pistachios, and strawberry jelly)
Dessert options such as Gajar Halwa, a sweet carrot pudding, and Gulab Jamun, fried dough balls soaked in syrup

Concept Watch is based on restaurant and menu trends noted by Technomic Inc.

Katie Belflower is Associate Editor for Technomic, a Chicago-based foodservice research and consulting firm. Technomic provides clients with the facts, insights and consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and results. The company’s services include publications and digital products as well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food industry, including menu trends.

Title image courtesy of Chaiiwala’s Facebook page.