Wow Bao offering menu items locally through third-party delivery services

December 22, 2020 | 12:09 am

Updated December 22, 2020 | 12:10 am

Graphic by Owensboro Times

Wow Bao, a chain restaurant that serves Asian-American food, is now available in the Owensboro area through third-party delivery or pickup orders. The Chicago-based eatery has created a “ghost kitchen” establishment, as Wow Bao’s food is prepare and distributed by Fazoli’s employees through their brick-and-mortar location. 

According to an article published by Restaurant Hospitality, Wow Bao sells its products to other restaurants and ghost kitchen companies to resell as their secondary income. 

“In an unprecedented industry move, Wow Bao has begun selling the materials necessary to make a simplified version of their menu of bowls, buns and pot stickers to other restaurants and ghost kitchen facilities,” the article explains. “For $2,000, the company will send participating restaurants or kitchens a ‘starter kit’ of onboarding and training materials, and the three pieces of kitchen equipment necessary to steam, cook and sell the Wow Bao menu out of their kitchen through third-party delivery companies, including Caviar, DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates and Uber Eats.” 

Fazoli’s Assistant Manager Jamie Maurer said business has been booming at the Owensboro location since the restaurant teamed up with Wow Bao to make and sell certain menu items.

In one week’s time, cooks became so busy with Wow Bao orders that Fazoli’s was forced to keep one person on the steamer at all times. 

“In the first few days, there weren’t a lot of orders. After 2-3 days, it blew up,” Maurer said. “During our lunch rush, we’ll have $500-$600 in Wow Bao orders.” 

Fazoli’s keeps the Wow Bao kitchen setup in the “back of house,” Maurer added, with one person preparing and cooking orders the entire time, while the rest of the staff works on Fazoli’s orders. 

Though it’s kept the employees busy, Maurer said the Wow Bao/Fazoli’s partnership has been a good thing for both businesses. Fazoli’s restaurants in other locations have been bringing home $3,000 a week due to Wow Bao orders, she said. 

“It’s a whole new world,” Maurer said of the ghost kitchen experience. “I didn’t even know people did this until we did it.” 

Fazoli’s also serves a variety of wings now through Wingville, which is affiliated with the restaurant. 

Wow Bao orders can be made via GrubHub or DoorDash. 

December 22, 2020 | 12:09 am

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