Restaurant Resource
Chinese Menu Complexity Calculator
Menu complexity is not just the number of dishes. It is the number of station, prep, sauce, ingredient, and modification combinations the kitchen must execute.
Complexity factors
| Factor | Scoring prompt |
|---|---|
| Number of items | How many active menu items are sold? |
| Cooking stations | How many stations are required at peak service? |
| Sauces | How many distinct sauces or sauce bases are maintained? |
| Proteins | How many protein types require separate prep? |
| Modifiers | How many common modifications disrupt normal workflow? |
| Delivery fragility | How many dishes travel poorly? |
| Low-volume specialties | How many dishes need special prep but sell rarely? |
Calculator template
Score each factor 0 to 3: 0 = low complexity 1 = manageable 2 = high 3 = severe Items: Stations: Sauces: Proteins: Modifiers: Delivery fragility: Low-volume specialty prep: Total: 0-6 = controlled 7-12 = watch carefully 13-18 = likely operational strain 19-21 = menu likely needs redesign
Downloadable complexity calculator
| Template | Download | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Menu complexity calculator | menu-complexity-calculator.csv | Spreadsheet-ready complexity input sheet. |
item_name,menu_section,kitchen_station,unique_sauce,unique_prep,low_volume_item,shared_allergen_risk,takeout_problem,complexity_score,notes Mapo tofu,Tofu,Wok,1,0,0,1,0,2,Uses sauce system and shared wok. Dry pot chicken,Dry pot,Wok,1,1,0,1,1,4,High station pressure and delivery risk. Har gow,Steamed dim sum,Steamer,0,1,0,1,1,3,Labor and steamer timing.