Why dont Chinese/Indian takeaways offer 'half portions'

[theplayingmantis]

Thought about this on the streetfood thread where someone says they like ot try lots of things, so same is true for us with Chinese/Ind takeaways but unless you go to a terrible one its gets expensive if you want a selection of items and leads to loads of waste as portions are large. None i'm aware of do, but if they offered 'half' portions sizes for mains i would sample a much wider range of stuff. I suppose its not cost effective for them to cook half portions perhaps (but do they all cook from fresh anyway?)

[robbieduncan]

I have seen places offering combo deals before where you get two half portions. Generally on curry where I always suspect the have big batches of the sauce sat ready anyway

[thebraketester]

Sometimes they will do certain things as either a starter or main size.

[21TonyK]

As you say OP "cost effectiveness" or more to the point "not profitable" enough. The only thing that costs them less is the ingredients, same power, same labour, same packaging but half the price. Probably end up losing money on most things.

[theplayingmantis]

ah ok. id be happy to pay more than half the price to cover some of this cost, as ultimately id be geting more choice, but less food for say 2/3rds the cost (theoretically).
I suppose most chinese have to be cooked to order so not so feasible, but indian perhaps more likely as lots of things perhaps take longer to cook so are ready/premade? (indian not a favorite so not sure hw they do it).

None of those round my way offer the main/starter option size apart from one high end one where each 'main' is £14+ anyway so not the type of place to go wild at for a takeaway. (its a sit down place that happens to allow you to collect) when im having one of these i like a selection so when there not a group of you its too pricey!

[Mobile Chicane]

If you could find somewhere that did a 'thali' you'd be laughing. You only get one 'main', but lots of little sides and snacks for different flavours, and to make a balanced meal.

[RobbieTheTruth]

I've seen plenty of Chinese offering a 'mini meal' for about two thirds of the price.

It must be absolute hassle though. People ordering two meals every time, thus doubling the meals they need to cook.

I like it when an Indian does sauces for about £3 - so you can get something fancy and get a massala/korma/madras sauce as your 'insurance policy'.

[Richieboy3008]

theplayingmantis said:

Thought about this on the streetfood thread where someone says they like ot try lots of things, so same is true for us with Chinese/Ind takeaways but unless you go to a terrible one its gets expensive if you want a selection of items and leads to loads of waste as portions are large. None i'm aware of do, but if they offered 'half' portions sizes for mains i would sample a much wider range of stuff. I suppose its not cost effective for them to cook half portions perhaps (but do they all cook from fresh anyway?)

Just take what you don’t eat home with you.

[HarryW]

As already mentioned see if your local Indian restaurant does Thallis

[Johnnytheboy]

Have you noticed some Indian restaurants have a little note under the side dishes saying that they can only be ordered with a main dish?

I wonder why?

[sunbeam alpine]

Is bunging the leftovers in the fridge and reheating not a thing these days?

[theplayingmantis]

too council for me! ha no once ive eaten a takeaway i instantly regret it after and then dont want it again for another month...strange attitude but the prospect and moment of it is good but always regret afterwards thinking i could have made nicer myself, gone to a nice restaurant and saved the money!

[Riley Blue]

sunbeam alpine said:

Is bunging the leftovers in the fridge and reheating not a thing these days?

We have a freezer drawer full of takeaway leftovers, none are labelled so future meals can be a bit hit-and-miss.

[boyse7en]

sunbeam alpine said:

Is bunging the leftovers in the fridge and reheating not a thing these days?

I usually buy an extra side dish - Bombay potato or a Daal - specifically to put in the fridge and have the next day. Egg and bacon with bombay potato for a Sunday morning breakfast is a thing of wonder

[rodericb]

Richieboy3008 said:

theplayingmantis said:

Thought about this on the streetfood thread where someone says they like ot try lots of things, so same is true for us with Chinese/Ind takeaways but unless you go to a terrible one its gets expensive if you want a selection of items and leads to loads of waste as portions are large. None i'm aware of do, but if they offered 'half' portions sizes for mains i would sample a much wider range of stuff. I suppose its not cost effective for them to cook half portions perhaps (but do they all cook from fresh anyway?)

Just take what you don’t eat home with you.

The more economically inclined do that. Note that for Chinese there's some sort of status thing to not eat a decent portion of what you get!

[Ace-T]

Riley Blue said:

sunbeam alpine said:

Is bunging the leftovers in the fridge and reheating not a thing these days?

We have a freezer drawer full of takeaway leftovers, none are labelled so future meals can be a bit hit-and-miss.

We call this freezer roulette.

[gotoPzero]

My local Chinese does lunch portions which are basically half portions.

Its about £4.

They do salt and pepper beef / chicken, beef in black bean or sweet and sour pork. You get a small portion of rice or half rice and half chips for 20p extra.

They only do it from 1130 till 130 though.

[sunbeam alpine]

boyse7en said:

sunbeam alpine said:

Is bunging the leftovers in the fridge and reheating not a thing these days?

I usually buy an extra side dish - Bombay potato or a Daal - specifically to put in the fridge and have the next day. Egg and bacon with bombay potato for a Sunday morning breakfast is a thing of wonder

In my single days my standard weekend breakfast was whatever was left over from the previous night's takeaway - unless I'd fallen asleep in the chair - in which case it was already in the dog...

[nebpor]

rodericb said:

The more economically inclined do that. Note that for Chinese there's some sort of status thing to not eat a decent portion of what you get!

It's a sign of rudeness in China to finish the rice, as it means the host hasn't supplied enough meat or vegetables. I can easily see that being extended to not finishing anything, on the basis of it makes the host look generous.

I was told this on a trip to China back in 2001 when I greedily scooped up the remaining rice in the central bowl!!

[gotoPzero]

I once stuck my chopsticks into my rice whilst I was eating something else.

The girl I was with at the time almost passed out... apparently its not the done thing as its only done when people die!

Who knew!!!