The year-end festive season is here, and for F&B owners, this is the golden opportunity to boost your sales. But with so much competition, a standard menu just won’t cut it. Your customers are looking for something special, something memorable to celebrate with.
This isn’t just about inspiration; it’s about a business plan. This guide will show you how to create a Malaysian-inspired Christmas menu that is not only unique but, more importantly, highly profitable. We’ll cover the dishes that sell, the strategies that work, and how to turn the busiest time of the year into your most successful one.
Here’s some of our favourite recipes to get you started:
Help customers bring their family together this Christmas with a fun entrée. Quesadillas are kid-friendly, as they are easy to eat, have easily modified fillings, and can be served in various cuts and sizes.This perfect-to-order dish for families with kids is your must-have this season. The trick is to season your salsa and filling with AJI-SHIO®Flavoured Black Pepper and lemon juice, making each bite a burst of flavour. Be it as starters, or as a snack, this dish will be a great addition to your seasonal menu to keep customers happy!
Give pasta a makeover by turning it into pie for Christmas – also making it a tempting dish to order for your customer! Rigatoni pasta, a wonderfully herby filling, and gooey cheesy goodness all come together in our recipe for rigatoni pie, paired with the savory essence of TUMIX® Chicken Stock to give your herb sauce savoury notes that linger long and fragrant.
This delicious recipe encases earthy mushrooms, onion and fluffy, tender potatoes with a touch of AJI-SHIO® Flavoured Black Pepper in flaky pastry. Baby spinach and dried oregano add a dash of green to this solid meal. This Instagrammable dish featuring a symphony of flavors is also perfect as a main for our vegetarian customers out there — just substitute egg wash with honey, and your potato & mushroom wellington is sure to dazzle!
Christmas brings to mind roasted whole birds like turkey, but how about doing it with chicken so it wouldn’t affect your usual inventory control? Marinate the bird overnight to perfection with our special marination recipe to give the chicken tender, juicy and infused with aromatic spices. Roast the bird until golden perfection, each bite offers a delightful contrast of crispy skin and moist, flavorful meat.
Sometimes, the simplest things in life can be the most satisfying, and we’re sure that your customers would agree too. Indulge in the allure of comfort food — and go back to basics with our recipe for Baked Cheesy Macaroni. Baked to golden perfection, served piping hot, tender macaroni and creamy cheese is sure to hit the spot; don’t forget to season to taste with herb, salt and AJI-SHIO® Flavoured Black Pepper for a delightful peppery and umami kick!
Bird’s-eye chilli, chilli flakes, curry leaves and parsley invoke Christmas colours of red and green on the plate, while fried chicken and spaghetti and a thick sauce is sure to fill tummies and keep them warm. Your customers can expect a harmonious blend of heat and creaminess, while experiencing a tantalizing fusion of flavors. Don’t forget to season your sauce with TUMIX® Chicken Stock, for a perfect balance of chicken, garlic and onion too to achieve that! This bold and spicy dish is something different to offer during Christmas, but we’re sure that it will win hearts.
Any smart F&B operator knows that the real money is made in the set menus. It guides customer choices, increases their spending, and makes your kitchen operations smoother. But you need to be strategic.
Balance Your Costs: Don’t just throw your most expensive dishes together. A smart set menu balances a high-cost “hero” dish with lower-cost, high-margin items. For example, pair your premium Rendang Roast Chicken with a simple, low-cost appetizer and a creative dessert. The lower cost of the sides protects your overall profit margin on the set.
Offer Tiered Options: Create two or three set menus at different price points. A “Joyful Set” for 2-3 pax and a “Celebration Platter” for 4-6 pax. This caters to different group sizes and budgets, ensuring you capture more customers.
The Power of the Upsell: Include a standard drink in the set, but train your staff to offer an upgrade to a special festive mocktail for an extra RM5. It’s an easy and almost guaranteed way to increase the value of every single bill.
Let’s be real, a huge part of the Christmas business is now for celebrations at home or in the office. If you don’t have a solid takeaway plan, you’re leaving money on the table.
Market a “Hero” Takeaway Dish: Your Rendang Roast Chicken is perfect for this. Market it as a “Whole Roast Chicken Takeaway Special” for families. Start promoting this in early December and push for pre-orders to manage your inventory and cash flow.
Pack for Quality, Not Just Convenience: The biggest complaint about delivery is soggy food. For your roast chicken, pack the rendang gravy in a separate container. For your pasta dishes, consider keeping the sauce separate from the noodles. This small step guarantees a better customer experience and protects your brand’s reputation.
Create an “Office Party” Platter: Bundle your smaller, easy-to-eat items like your Fried Ice Cream and Pandan Log Cake into a “Christmas Party Platter.” This is an easy upsell for corporate clients looking for something simple and festive for their year-end office parties.
Need more ideas to zhuzh your seasonal Christmas menu up? Hit this link for more interesting recipes that will wow your customers.
Sign-up as a Ajinomoto Food Biz Partner today for more tips & recipes that’ll help keep your menu fresh and festive-appropriate throughout the year!
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