Consumers line up outside Mixue Group's first outlet in Sydney, Australia, on its soft opening day in February 2023. [Photo/China Daily]

Chinese catering brands have actively expanded to overseas markets, according to Hurun China Top 100 Restaurant Brands 2024 released on Oct 25.

The future trend of China's catering industry will show the features of digitalization, refinement and internationalization, according to the Hurun Research Institute.

In recent years, new tea brands such as HeyTea and Naixue have opened stores abroad. In addition, Chinese restaurant brands like Haidilao and Xiabu Xiabu (hot pot brands) are also expanding to overseas markets. With more than 4,000 overseas stores, Mixue Bingcheng, a beverage chain, has become a leading brand in China catering to global markets.

Chinese regional local cuisine leads the list with twenty-three brands; followed by hot pot/barbecue/malatang (spicy hot pot), as well as cafe/tea house/taverns and Chinese fast food.

Twenty-three restaurant brands from Shanghai are on the list, which makes Shanghai become the city with the most catering brands in China's top 100 restaurants, followed by fifteen in Beijing, seven in Chongqing, and six each in Chengdu and Hangzhou.

Three of the dining brands listed were established during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), including roast duck restaurant Quanjude, Cantonese restaurant Taotaoju and Suzhou cuisine Song Helou, while Chen Xianggui noodles, Cotti Coffee and Zhu Guangyu hot pot are emerging brands established after 2020.