China Coast
Encyclopedia
China Coast was a casual dining
American
restaurant
chain specializing in Chinese food. Founded in 1990 in Orlando, Florida
, the company began a rapid and ill-fated national expansion in 1993, ultimately resulting in its demise. At the time of its closing in 1995, it operated 51 locations in the United States
.
. Dishes included moo goo gai pan
, pork lo mein
, beef & broccoli, and sweet and sour pork
. A lunch buffet was eventually dropped in favor of complimentary appetizers that included egg rolls, its proprietary China Coast bread, marinated vegetables, and crispy noodles. The appetizers accompanied all entrees in a similar fashion to the signature appetizers at sister chains Red Lobster
and Olive Garden
.
, which ultimately spun the chain and sisters Red Lobster
and Olive Garden
to Darden Restaurants, Inc. in 1995 under the name Darden Restaurants
.
Casual dining
This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
chain specializing in Chinese food. Founded in 1990 in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, the company began a rapid and ill-fated national expansion in 1993, ultimately resulting in its demise. At the time of its closing in 1995, it operated 51 locations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Target markets
Restaurants were typically located in mall outparcels. Unfortunately for the chain, it attempted to enter markets that were saturated with well-established family-owned Chinese restaurants that offered comparable food and service at lower prices. Operational issues stemming from the rapid expansion attempt ultimately made it difficult for it to compete with the market incumbents.Food
Its restaurants served moderately-priced American Chinese cuisineAmerican Chinese cuisine
American Chinese cuisine refers to the style of food served by many Chinese restaurants in the United States. This type of cooking typically caters to Western tastes, and differs significantly from the original Chinese cuisine.-History:...
. Dishes included moo goo gai pan
Moo goo gai pan
Moo goo gai pan is an Americanized version of the Cantonese dish .-Etymology:The name comes from the Cantonese names of the ingredients:*moo goo : button mushrooms *gai : chicken*pan : slices...
, pork lo mein
Lo mein
Lo mein is a Chinese dish with wheat flour noodles. It often contains vegetables and some type of meat or seafood, usually beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or wontons.-Etymology:...
, beef & broccoli, and sweet and sour pork
Sweet and sour pork
Sweet and sour pork is a Chinese dish that is particularly popular in Cantonese cuisine and may be found all over the world. A traditional Jiangsu dish called Pork in a sugar and vinegar sauce is considered its ancestor....
. A lunch buffet was eventually dropped in favor of complimentary appetizers that included egg rolls, its proprietary China Coast bread, marinated vegetables, and crispy noodles. The appetizers accompanied all entrees in a similar fashion to the signature appetizers at sister chains Red Lobster
Red Lobster
Red Lobster is a U.S. chain of seafood restaurants. It also operates in Canada, the UAE and Japan . It is aimed at the mid-level "casual dining" segment of the market...
and Olive Garden
Olive Garden
Olive Garden is an American restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is headquartered in an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, near Orlando. Olive Garden operates more than 730 locations globally.- History :The...
.
Ownership
It was founded by General MillsGeneral Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
, which ultimately spun the chain and sisters Red Lobster
Red Lobster
Red Lobster is a U.S. chain of seafood restaurants. It also operates in Canada, the UAE and Japan . It is aimed at the mid-level "casual dining" segment of the market...
and Olive Garden
Olive Garden
Olive Garden is an American restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is headquartered in an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, near Orlando. Olive Garden operates more than 730 locations globally.- History :The...
to Darden Restaurants, Inc. in 1995 under the name Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc. is a multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, near Orlando. The firm owns several casual dining restaurant chains, most notably Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Red Lobster...
.