The phenomenon of Hangzhou's culinary desert is actually the result of many factors. One of the major reasons is the lack of innovation and quality in the Hangzhou restaurant industry. Many stores are following the trend, copying and reducing costs, without forming their own characteristics and advantages, and without focusing on service and hygiene, leading to a decline in consumer reputation and trust. According to statistics, Hangzhou's catering revenue in 2019 was 101.8 billion yuan, up 9.6 percent year-on-year, but per capita consumption was only 29.3 yuan, lower than the national average. This shows that Hangzhou's catering industry still has a lot of room for improvement.
Hangzhou lacks its own unique food culture and specialties. Although there is the so-called "Hang Gang Cuisine", but in the eyes of outsiders, there are not many features and highlights. Moreover, the standard of "Hang Gang Cuisine" is not uniform, and many stores are doing it on their own without any standardization and quality assurance.
Another reason is the changing tastes and needs of consumers. Many young people prefer to try fresh, fashionable, diversified food, for the traditional Hangzhou dishes and snacks lost interest and recognition, and some people even think Hangzhou food desert is a kind of self-deprecation. The traditional Hangzhou cuisine, in the eyes of outsiders do not have much appeal.