Leeann Chin
Encyclopedia
Leeann Chin is a Chinese-American
fast food
restaurant
chain in Minnesota
, operating approximately 40 outlets. Although the establishment's menu is dedicated almost entirely to chicken entrees and fried appetizers, it does offer at least one beef entree and a vegetarian dish. A shrimp entree is available at a premium. There is a great deal of variety in the sauces and vegetables used to prepare dishes in Mongolian
, Hunan
, and Szechuan
styles. The food ranges from mild
to spicy, and there are a variety of salads, bottled and fountain beverages, and frozen yogurt
treats available for purchase.
Leeann Chin markets itself as an alternative both to traditional Chinese restaurants and fast food competitors, claiming a position of superior nutritional value in their food. While this is debatable, the atmosphere of the restaurants attempts to capture the emerging fast casual trend in the fast food industry, placing it in direct competition with Chipotle
, Noodles and Company, Baja Sol, Culver's
, Panera Bread
, and other competitors.
Leeann Chin, the restaurant chain's founder, originally worked as a seamstress. She began hosting casual dinner parties as a show of appreciation for customers and word quickly spread about her tasty, innovative dishes. She started to receive requests to cater parties and eventually began teaching cooking classes through Edina, Minnesota's community education program. Her success continued to grow, and she opened her first Leeann Chin location in Minnetonka, Minnesota in 1980. Originally conceived as sit-down eateries, her restaurants became so popular that the format was changed to buffet style eating. Leann Chin had counters in Dayton's department stores, and later, Byerly's and Lund's grocery stores.
Leeann Chin founder and namesake Leeann Chin died on March 10, 2010 in Seattle, WA after a long illness, a company spokeswoman confirmed.
American 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:...
fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
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 in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, operating approximately 40 outlets. Although the establishment's menu is dedicated almost entirely to chicken entrees and fried appetizers, it does offer at least one beef entree and a vegetarian dish. A shrimp entree is available at a premium. There is a great deal of variety in the sauces and vegetables used to prepare dishes in Mongolian
Mongolian cuisine
Mongolian cuisine refers to the local culinary traditions of Mongolia and Mongolian styled dishes. The extreme continental climate has affected the traditional diet, so the Mongolian cuisine primarily consists of dairy products, meat, and animal fats. Use of vegetables and spices is limited...
, Hunan
Hunan cuisine
Hunan cuisine, sometimes called Xiang cuisine , consists of the cuisines of the Xiang River region, Dongting Lake and western Hunan Province, in China. Hunan cuisine consists of three styles:...
, and Szechuan
Szechuan cuisine
Szechuan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, or Szechwan cuisine is a style of Chinese cuisine originating in the Sichuan Province of southwestern China famed for bold flavors, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavour of...
styles. The food ranges from mild
Mild
Mild may mean:*Mild ale, often simply referred to as mild, from the Old English milde, meaning "young" or "immature"*Håkan Mild , Swedish former footballer and current director of sports of IFK Göteborg...
to spicy, and there are a variety of salads, bottled and fountain beverages, and frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert containing yogurt or other dairy products. It is slightly more tart than ice cream, as well as lower in fat...
treats available for purchase.
Leeann Chin markets itself as an alternative both to traditional Chinese restaurants and fast food competitors, claiming a position of superior nutritional value in their food. While this is debatable, the atmosphere of the restaurants attempts to capture the emerging fast casual trend in the fast food industry, placing it in direct competition with Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
, Noodles and Company, Baja Sol, Culver's
Culver's
Culver’s is a privately owned and operated fast casual restaurant chain that operates primarily in the Midwestern United States. The first Culver’s opened in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin...
, Panera Bread
Panera Bread
Panera Bread is a chain of bakery–café quick casual restaurants in the United States and Canada that sells breads, sandwiches, soups, salads, and other bakery items. Its headquarters are in Sunset Hills, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.-Corporate history:In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co...
, and other competitors.
Leeann Chin, the restaurant chain's founder, originally worked as a seamstress. She began hosting casual dinner parties as a show of appreciation for customers and word quickly spread about her tasty, innovative dishes. She started to receive requests to cater parties and eventually began teaching cooking classes through Edina, Minnesota's community education program. Her success continued to grow, and she opened her first Leeann Chin location in Minnetonka, Minnesota in 1980. Originally conceived as sit-down eateries, her restaurants became so popular that the format was changed to buffet style eating. Leann Chin had counters in Dayton's department stores, and later, Byerly's and Lund's grocery stores.
Leeann Chin founder and namesake Leeann Chin died on March 10, 2010 in Seattle, WA after a long illness, a company spokeswoman confirmed.