I put a $15 bowl of ramen on my menu as a test and it sold out in 2 hours

I mean, I run a small spot in Silver Lake and thought our $22 bowls were the sweet spot. Last week, I added a simpler, cheaper tonkotsu option just to see. We prepped for maybe 20 orders. It was gone before the dinner rush even started, and people kept asking for it. I learned that maybe our regulars just want a solid, basic option without all the fancy extras. Has anyone else had a cheap item blow up like that and mess with your whole plan?

2 comments

2 Comments

karenw231mo ago

What was the profit margin like on that cheaper bowl? We tried a budget-friendly lunch special once and it brought in so many new faces, but then we were basically just working to cover costs. It really changed the vibe of the place for a few weeks.

dylanwilliams1mo ago

Man, that's the exact trap. So you got the crowd but not the cash. Did you track if those new faces ever came back at full price, or did they just vanish when the special ended? I've seen places become known as the discount spot and then can't shake that rep even after they stop the deal.