Is tofu the new tuna?
If UK-based Japanese sushi chain Itsu is any indicator, it just might be. The chain says that since 2015 sales of plant-based dishes — not just vegan sushi — have more than doubled in its 70 locations, now making up 20 percent of its overall sales. And it’s responding in kind with a new menu heavy on the plant-based options.
“Itsu is synonymous with sushi but we wanted to remind our customers about how much variety there is in our range. We’ve seen a lot of increase in our vegetarian sales, for example, our veggie udon noodle dish is the bestseller in the udon range (over and above meat options), so we wanted to respond directly to our customers and provide them with even more vegetarian options,” Will Da Silva, senior food development manager for Itsu, said in Eater London.
“We’re excited to launch our hot food menu nationwide and hope our customers enjoy our Asian-inspired menu as much as we did creating it. Keep an eye out for our new additions over the coming months.”
There are eleven additions to Itsu’s new menu, half of which are vegetarian, including a detox miso soup, quinoa falafel and vegetable rice bowl, a vegetarian gyoza udon, and a veggie sushi platter.
