Do you want to start a Thai restaurant business franchise but you lack ideas? If YES, here are 10 best Thai restaurant franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Thai restaurants have evolved into one of the most recognized restaurants around the world thanks to the brilliant recipes that Thai people make.
Also, people demand food everyday and it is one nice reason why Thai restaurants spring up in different places around the world, along with the fact that some of us just want to try something new. But have it in mind that you will never be able to successfully start a Thai restaurant if you haven’t learned the menu.
Thai cuisine is internationally known to be a harmonious mixture of different flavors that can be either spicy or bland. It has long been recognized as one of the most unique dishes of all time. The dishes are mainly composed of the resources that can be gathered in the bodies of water. Animals and plants from the sea are being used as the main dish for their cuisine.
Note that the use of meat chunks are not allowed in the menu due to a Buddhist tradition in the country. There are also Chinese-styled cooking techniques involved in its menu such as doing stir and deep fry. Also note that the right meal in Thai restaurants are usually composed of curry dishes, soups, some dips with some fishes and vegetables, and some spicy types of salads.
Understanding the nature of the business is very necessary when it comes to starting a successful Thai restaurant. One should not only follow the principles of a restaurant; it must also have a Thai culture in it for customers to really feel that it’s a Thai restaurant.
The theme of your menu should always match the restaurant’s appearance in order to provide the perfect ambiance. Thai food is usually eaten using a fork and spoon on a plate since there are meals such as fried rice partnered with pork, and some are made of rice with roasted meat toppings – where the meat is sliced into little chunks. This practice of eating avoids the need of using a knife.
In the restaurant, soups are ordered together when there’s a rice meal, but never ordered solo. Bland dishes come together with spicy dishes to balance the spiciness of the dish. Meanwhile, have it in mind that there are two business types to consider when planning to start a Thai restaurant: franchising or independent service.
If you are really interested in starting a Thai restaurant, then it’s pertinent you consider going the franchise route as it provides numerous advantages that dwarfs starting from the scratch. Below are few franchises you can consider in the United States.
10 Best Thai Restaurant Business Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost
1. Thai Express
This company has been credited with bringing the flavors of traditional Thai cuisine into the quick-service segment with orders prepared fresh. The menu features two soups (Tom Yum and Regular Thai Soup), five appetizers (Imperial Roll, Spring Roll, Mango Salad, Chicken Dumplings, and Fried Dumplings), 13 main dishes (such as Steamed Dumplings, General Thai Chicken, Fried Rice, Stir-Fry, General Thairacha, Khao Soi – Golden Noodle Bowl, Pad Thai, and Pad Sew) and two desserts (sorbet gelato and fried banana).
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $337,900 – $753,700
- Net-worth Requirement: $400,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $150,000 – $350,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 3%
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Tin Drum Asian Kitchen
This company was founded in 2003 in Atlanta GA. Tin Drum Asian Kitchen focuses on made-by-order cuisine from many Asian regions. Inspired by music and life around Asian curbside cafes, the menu packs bold flavors. The space invites all budgets, tastebuds and styles, and looks to introduce guests with thoughtful, modern design and surprising, witty details.
Tin Drum’s are typically between 1,800 and 2,200 square feet and feature a dramatic wok theater, bold colors and images, and open shelving stocked, market-style, with noodles, sauces, and other ingredients used in cooking. Some locations also include a small set of retail product offerings featuring a variety of cool, exotic, and unique items from around the world. Tin Drum offers sit-down dining and takeout, with 60% of the business in lunch and 40% in dinner.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $150,000
- Net Worth requirements: $500,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000
- Total Investment: $354,800 – $555,000
- Royalty Fee: 6%
- Advertising Fee: 2.5%
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LemonShark Poke
LemonShark Poke, as the name implies, focuses solely on poke bowls, where poke refers to a raw fish salad typically served as an appetizer or sometimes an entrée in Hawaiian cuisine. Note that the word poke in Hawaiian is a verb meaning “to section” or “to slice or cut.” The “LemonShark” part of the name refers to a species of shark, Negaprion Brevirostris, known for feeding only on the very best fish, indicating the chain uses high-quality fish in its dishes.
Have it in mind that the menu consists of five signature bowls: Aloha Tuna, LemonShark Salmon, Albacore Islander, Maui Heat Wave, and Tofu Garden, but customers can also build their own bowls in four steps by first choosing among seven bases, then the poké (ten protein options), 23 toppings, and nine different sauces.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $120,000
- Net Worth Requirement: $1,200,000
- Franchise Fee: $40,000
- Total Investment: $343,950 – $613,700
- Royalty Fee: 3% first 6 months – then 6%
- Advertising Fee: 2%
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Panda Express
Panda Express is literally the largest Asian fast-casual chain in the U.S. and is the quicker-service version of its predecessor, the more upscale table-service Panda Inn. Note that for many years, the chain located its stores almost exclusively in shopping mall food courts, but in recent years has adopted a variety of formats, including standalone restaurants.
The menu includes 13 entrées, five appetizers, five sides, and one dessert (fortune cookies). The vast majority of Panda Express locations are company-owned, so the limited franchise potential is in non-traditional locations such as airports, universities, military bases, hospitals, casinos, amusement parks, and stadiums.
Financial Requirements
- Total Investment: $370,700 – $1,552,600
- Franchise fee: $25,000
- Initial Term: 10 Years
- Renewal Term: 5 Years
- Royalty: 8.0%
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L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue focuses on the traditional Hawaiian barbecue plate lunch, a style of eating that dates back to the wage laborers of the 1800s working in Hawaii’s sugar plantations and pineapple fields. It consists of two scoops of rice, a creamy macaroni salad, and a hot entrée.
But in recent years, the chain’s approach to its menu is one that fuses vast Asian and American cuisines with offerings ranging from Chicken Katsu and Kalua Pork with Cabbage, to BBQ Beef and Cheeseburgers. It’s also one of the few chains you’ll find that features Spam in its menu with its Spam Musubi (a slice of grilled spam on rice and wrapped in dry seaweed) and Spam Saimin noodle soup.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $135,700 – $527,000
- Net-worth Requirement: $500,000 – $1,000,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $300,000 – $600,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2%
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Teriyaki Madness
Teriyaki Madness even with it’s “More options than you can shake a chopstick at” still boasts of a pretty simple menu. The chain’s bowl offerings come with a choice of chicken, beef, or tofu with white rice, brown rice, fried rice, or noodles, and steamed or stir-fried veggies; while the plate option comes with a choice of veggies, a side of macaroni salad, or green salad.
Kids meals come with a kid-size bowl and a fountain drink. Core offerings include Chicken Teriyaki, Spicy Chicken, Chicken Breast Teriyaki, Beef Teriyaki, Tofu Teriyaki, Orange Chicken, Chicken Katsu, and Yakisoba Noodles. In addition, there are four appetizers, seven sides, and eight house-made sauces.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $313,500 – $653,860
- Net-worth Requirement: $400,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $125,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $45,000 – $99,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 3%
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Genghis Grill
Genghis Grill is a fast-casual restaurant featuring an approach to Mongolian cuisine inspired by Genghis Khan’s army, who were known for cooking food on their shields even during battles. Customers build their own stir-fry by selecting their proteins, veggies, sauces, and spices from an open food bar, then hand it off to a Grill Master who cooks it up in minutes on a large circular Gill.
Other menu options include gourmet fried rice, street-style noodle bowls, Asian tacos, Thai sauce, hand-tossed salads, and several Grill Master entrées for customers who want to skip the line and order right from their table.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $289,000-$650,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000
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The Flame Broiler
This company distinguishes itself from competitors as being a simpler, healthier option for fast food. The menu truly is simple, offering just four basic dishes: Sauce-basted natural chicken, marinated Angus beef, a mix of beef and chicken, or its uniquely charbroiled, organic, and non-GMO project verified tofu. Your order can be served in a mini-bowl, regular bowl, or plate on a base of white or brown rice, veggies, rice and veggies, or salad.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $256,732 – $408,514
- Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000 – $25,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 3%
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Pho Hoa
Pho Hoa focuses on presenting a healthier Vietnamese Pho noodle soup with all the flavors of the traditional approach, but without its reliance on bone marrow broth, which is known for being high in calories and cholesterol. Instead, it relies on high-quality meats and Thai sea food recipes. The menu features 16 signature soups, all but three of which have some form of beef in them, along with three appetizers, four rice plates, and three vermicelli bowls.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $226,100 – $436,650
- Net-worth Requirement: $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000 – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2%
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Ginger Sushi Boutique
Ginger Sushi Boutique specializes in sushi with an extensive menu featuring a dozen choices of nigiri and sashimi, a dozen different hosomaki, 11 maki choices, 21 different sumomaki choices, four crispy rolls, 10 blossoms, six temari choices, three hako choices, three tartare choices, three tartare maki choices, and six spring maki choices. Other menu items include six poke bowls, sushi burritos, sushi tacos, and sushi pizza. Customers can enjoy their meal in the zen atmosphere of the boutique or order it as take-out.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $265,560 – $387,700
- Net-worth Requirement: $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $80,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 3%