Thai fast food chain Five Star Chicken says it will expand further in India and Vietnam as it sees high growth potential in the two countries.

In India, it plans to open 500 new outlets over the next two years. It also plans to introduce a new concept called Five Star Chicken Cafe that would combine restaurant and coffee shop.

In Vietnam, where its growth rate is higher than in India, Five Star Chicken plans to operate a total of 250 outlets by the year-end and 800-900 outlets over the next five years.

According to deputy senior MD Sanjiv Pann of Charoen Pokphand Foods, the operator of Five Star Chicken, Vietnam is less challenging for five Star Chicken when it comes to adapting to local palate. For example in south India, people likes spicy food while in north India, they prefer milder food.

Five Star Chicken wants to establish a strong brand presence in Vietnam, opting for standalone outlets and a more premium image than in Thailand.