Nation's Restaurant News: Thai Flavors Spicing Up Buffalo Wings & Rings Menu

Thai flavors are spicing up more and more menus these days, as the sweet and sour international flavor is finding a fan base with Millennial diners. Nation's Restaurant News looked at the Thai craze and Synergy Restaurant Consultants Founder and Managing Partner Dean Small, founder and managing partner told NRN, "A lot of ingredients in the Thai pantry are starting to weave their way onto menus."

Cincinnati-based elevated sports franchise concept Buffalo Wings & Rings has had Thai on the menu for four years and ran an LTO with wings tossed in Thai chili and sea salt caramel, topped with bacon, sesame seeds, scallions and a caramel corn garnish.

"[Sweet Thai chili sauce] is the logical evolution of teriyaki, a mainstream, sweet Asian experience," Elliot Jablonsky, R&D chef of Buffalo Wings & Rings, told NRN. "It's a lovely combination of sugars, chiles and garlic."

Other restaurants have been experimenting with Thai flavors in items from pizza to tea.