Best Gourmet Mushrooms to Grow for Restaurants

Gourmet mushrooms are now used in a wide range of dishes and cuisines. While increasing numbers of people are aware of their health benefits and have adopted mushrooms in their diets, a good chunk of the market is made up of restaurants and eateries.

Mushrooms are a billion-dollar market in North America. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the value of U.S. mushroom crop sales for 2021 to 2022 was over $1.02 billion. 

Restaurants make up a significant percentage of the mushroom market. As such, growers must be up to date with the most popular mushrooms for restaurants or risk cultivating mushrooms blindly and end up making losses.

As restaurants continue experimenting with new culinary trends, mushrooms are now a staple on many menus, leading to an increase in demand for certain types of mushrooms. In this article, we’ll discuss the most popular mushrooms for restaurants and what they are used for. Read on!

Our Top 5 Mushrooms for Restaurants

Are you a grower wondering what the most popular mushrooms to grow for restaurants are? While thousands of edible mushroom species exist, only a handful are truly flavourful and used by restaurants.

Of the few flavourful gourmet mushrooms, some can only be found in the wild, and some, such as truffles, are notoriously hard to cultivate. Luckily, some of the most popular mushrooms for restaurants are relatively easy to grow, especially if you get high-quality spores and liquid culture syringes.

At PNW Spore, Co., we have a wide selection of gourmet and medicinal mushroom liquid syringe cultures in stock for home growing. We have the most sought-after spore syringes, including reishi, shiitake, morels, turkey tail, and more. Order mushroom spores online at PNW Spore, Co., and enjoy great prices and nationwide shipping!

Now that you know where to get the best quality gourmet and medicinal spores online, let’s look at the five most popular mushrooms to grow for restaurants.

1. Shiitake 

Also called “Chicken of the Woods,” Shiitakes are probably the most popular and recognizable gourmet mushrooms. They are everywhere, in supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and probably at your nearest grocery store.

Shiitakes are native to East Asia and are utilized in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Cuisine. Originally wild mushrooms, Shiitakes were also used in traditional medicine for years, with claims that they support heart and immune health.

While the claims are not verified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these mushrooms contain lots of vitamins and minerals that may help promote well-being. Shiitakes are used in most restaurants as they fit various Asian cuisines.

Shiitakes have a rich, savory flavor and meaty texture. They can be used for various dishes, and their umami-filled flavor and texture make them a popular replacement for meat in vegetarian and vegan dishes. 

Shiitakes are easy to grow at home and yield well in controlled environments. Get high-quality Shiitake liquid culture syringes at PNW Spore, Co. online today!

2. Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms come in a variety of colors, from blue, yellow, pearl, pink and more. They are also some of the easiest to grow at home and are great starter mushrooms. They aren’t just popular mushrooms for restaurants because of their availability; they are renowned for their unique flavor.

Oyster mushrooms are named for their shape, which resembles an oyster, and their unique seafood flavor. Oyster mushrooms can be added to any dish to add flavor or alone to make a delicious standalone side dish.

These mushrooms are a good source of protein and are low in calories, making them great for a healthy dish. At PNW Spore, Co., we have different types of Oyster mushroom liquid culture syringes, including Yellow Oyster, Pink Oyster, Pearl Oyster, and Blue Oyster.

3. Morels

Fresh morel mushrooms are not all that common in markets or grocery stores, so people will pay a pretty penny if they find them. Morels are always in demand. They are a staple of French haute cuisine and are highly prized by chefs for their unique flavor and texture.

Morels are, however, not the easiest mushrooms to cultivate, making foraging the more popular way of obtaining them. In the wild, they are only available seasonally, making them even more coveted. 

If you want to cultivate these highly prized mushrooms, PNW Spore, Co. has generously filled, premium quality White Morel and Black Morel liquid culture spores in stock!

4. Lion’s Mane

With its unique appearance and flavors, Lion’s Mane is a chefs’ favorite and one of the increasingly popular mushrooms sold to restaurants. Lion’s Mane is also considered a superfood due to its potential health benefits, making it even more in demand.

Lion’s mane mushrooms have a seafood-like taste, and its delicate texture makes it one of the more popular mushrooms to incorporate into salads, soups, and stir-fries. They are also popularly used as a seafood alternative.

These mushrooms are relatively easy to grow at home. Want to grow Lion’s Mane mushrooms? Grab high-quality Lion’s Mane liquid culture syringes at PNW Spore, Co. online today!

5. Enoki Mushroom 

Enoki mushrooms have been used in Japanese cuisine for centuries. This mushroom grows in clusters and has a long thin stem and a small button-shaped cap. Enoki is delicious and is believed to have medicinal benefits —including improving immunity, heart health, cognitive function, and slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Enoki mushrooms have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a delicate texture, making them a popular choice for salads and soups. Looking to grow Enoki mushrooms at home? Golden Enoki liquid culture syringes are now available at PNW Spore, Co.

Final Thoughts on Mushrooms to Grow for Restaurants

More and more people are adopting mushrooms into their diets for their unique flavors, potential health benefits, or as alternatives to meats and seafood. Restaurants are also experimenting with new culinary trends, driving up the demand for gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.

Whether you are a grower looking to capitalize on the new market trends or a restauranteur looking for fresh, innovative ingredients to incorporate into your menu, you cannot go wrong with the mushrooms in this list. 

If you are looking for premium-quality gourmet mushroom syringes to grow at home, look no further. PNW Spore, Co. has some of the best liquid culture spores in the country. They come in a generously filled 10cc liquid culture syringe with an 18-gauge sterile dispensing needle.

Order gourmet and medicinal spores at PNW Spore and enjoy top-quality liquid culture syringes ready for home growing, great prices, and free standard shipping for orders over $100!