The New Fast-Casual Asian Restaurant Focuses on a Plant-Based Menu with Minimal Meat and Dairy
Fast-casual Asian restaurant concept Balance Grille, which began franchising in February 2023, already has signed a five-unit franchisee. The healthy foods-focused brand is partnering with HRH Operations 1 LLC, owned and operated by Roshan Ayub, on five restaurants in the Dallas area. The first will open later this year in Wylie, a northeast Dallas suburb.
“I was immediately impressed with Balance Grille,” Ayub says. “They are unlike any other brand in the quick-service space. The brand’s commitment to fueling people with clean and delicious food as well as its optimization of technology to create an efficient experience make them stand out, and I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of it.”
History of Balance Grille
Although new to franchising, the Toledo, Ohio-based Balance Grille has been around since 2010. The restaurant’s co-founders, buddies Prakash Karamchandani and HoChan Jang, launched the concept with a passion for serving happiness through food.
Their inventive take on pan-Asian cuisine – emphasizing whole grains, plant-based greens and other vegetables, with minimal meat and dairy – has been a big hit with foodies and families who want their foods to be nutritious as delicious. Balance Grille menus include prepared-fresh-daily tacos, customizable bowls, snacks and bubble teas.
As Balance Grille evolved, Karamchandani concentrated on business efficiencies and customer experience while his co-founder toiled with flavor and menu innovations. Both listened attentively to customer and employee responses regarding every nuance of Balance Grille’s repertoire to deliver craveable foods quickly, with high-quality dishes that drive return visits.
Under the founders, the Balance Grille brand has received industry accolades in the lead-up to franchising. Recogntion includes landing on the Fast Casual list of 100 Movers and Shakers as well as being ranked on QSR’s list of 40 Hottest Fast-Casual Concepts.
Experienced Franchisee
All of those accomplishments worked in concert to woo Ayub, who has 15 years of franchise experience in owning and operating four Subway restaurants and eight Marco’s Pizza locations. In addition, Ayub developed 12 Marco’s Pizza’s in a new market as an area representative. He’s a high achiever, too, as Subway Franchisee of the Year in 2010 and Marco’s Franchisee of the Year in 2015.
With all that industry knowledge under his belt, Ayub believes he’s has picked a winner with his new brand. “The menu is creative, with a blend of flavors that offer wide appeal. And Balance Grille’s well-thought-out business model will help the brand and its franchisees stay atop the fast-casual Asian restaurant category,” he predicts.
Karamchandani welcomes Ayub to the Balance Grille fold. “We are thrilled to be expanding into the Texas market for the first time,” he says. “We are confident that Roshan is the perfect partner to help us lead the way in our expansion efforts in the area. We look forward to integrating into the community and sharing Balance Grill’s innovative approach to fresh, delicious pan-Asian food in a tech-advanced environment.” Balance Grille restaurants offer the convenience of ordering via kiosks and apps. It has iPad-based kitchen operations.
Ayub and the leadership of Balance Grille believe Dallas is an ideal location for the brand because the diverse city and its surrounding suburbs are booming. Dallas is the nation’s fifth-fastest-growing city, CNBC reported in November 2022. The city and surrounding communities include many corporate headquarters, such as American Airlines, AT&T, ExxonMobil and Toyota.
Franchise Expansion in Texas and Other States
Balance Grille currently has five restaurants in operation, four in Ohio and one in Colorado. Balance Grille is involved in an expansion plan that’s assisted by Pivotal Growth Partners, a brand accelerator and growth consultant.
The emerging franchise has set an immediate goal of partnering with 14 additional operators in select markets across the United States. It currently seeks more partners in the Texas markets of Bryan-College Station, Houston, San Antonio and Waco. Opportunities also exist in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The ideal franchisee is someone like Ayub – an experienced multi-unit restaurant operator who is excited to be part of this up-and-coming brand that champions uniquely flavorful, healthful dining. Balance Grille seeks franchisees willing to make area development commitments of at least five restaurant sites. Their minimum investment will be $747,000. For more information about Balance Grille franchises, please visit https://balancegrille.com/franchise.