Cooked-to-order service a hit at Zhejiang market

Chef Zhou Kaikai (center) and his colleagues prepare ingredients bought by customers and cook for them at the Runyu Food Processing Workshop in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Some small markets in Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen in Guangdong province and Yiwu in Zhejiang province have introduced a novel cooked-to-order service that allows customers to have their freshly bought foods prepared on-site. Just hand over or order the ingredients and get your meals prepared instantly.

For a small fee, shoppers can hand over ingredients they've just purchased, including vegetables, fish or meat, and have them cooked at the markets to their specifications so they can bring home a hot meal. Such services have garnered a great deal of attention.

At Yiwu's Xinma Road Neighborhood Market, the Runyu Food Processing Workshop has been a key driver of this trend. Customers can request their food to be prepared in various ways, from stir-frying to stewing, based on their preferences. They can either eat on the spot or take their freshly prepared meals to go, with processing fees varied according to the complexity of each dish.

"Customer response has been very positive," said chef Zhou Kaikai, who works at Runyu.

The workshop handles about 40 orders daily, with roughly 100 dishes prepared in total. Since starting operations on Oct 12, Zhou has seen daily revenue triple.

Open daily from 9 am to around 7 pm, Runyu lists clear prices for various dishes, such as 10 yuan ($1.39) for stir-fried vegetables, 15 yuan for meat dishes and 20 yuan for complex cooking items. They also accept online orders; customers pay for the ingredients — which the chef purchases for them at no extra cost — and the cooking process.

Catering to diverse preferences, Zhou has introduced menu options that include homestyle dishes, low-calorie meals, health soups and even postpartum-friendly meals.

Xinma Road market staff member Jin Jingxiu said that the cooked-to-order service is part of the market's adaptation to the fast-paced, modern lifestyle.

"A major appeal is the transparency of the cooking process, and many find the service more reliable than restaurant or delivery options," Jin said.

The service draws a wide range of customers — young professionals who don't have time to cook, parents juggling childcare duties, fitness enthusiasts and seniors looking for healthier meal options.

Liu Xiaohui, a frequent customer, said she was intrigued when she saw the cooking service offered in the market and decided to give it a try.

"It's really convenient, freeing me from washing and cooking," she said.

Runyu's processing area is equipped with an order system that allows customers to reserve a pickup time. Chefs prepare raw materials in advance, store them in custom containers and then cook the dishes about 30 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Orders are labeled and prioritized in sequence, streamlining the collection process.

Currently, the Xinma Road market is the only location offering the service in the city.

Zhou is considering expanding to other markets in the area, aiming to make the convenient service accessible to more locals. Future plans for the processing area include expanding the workspace, increasing cooking efficiency and reducing wait times, allowing more customers to enjoy the convenience of freshly prepared meals.