Bonchon Grows in The Golden State with Three New Locations in Los Angeles

Bonchon, the wildly popular Korean fried chicken restaurant concept with 115 U.S. locations, announced today it has signed a franchise agreement to open three locations throughout the Los Angeles area. It will bring the brand’s world-famous signature menu, which includes hand-battered, double-fried, crispy Korean fried chicken, to residents in neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles and Bakersfield. Kenneth Park is the entrepreneur leading the charge on the development of these Korean fried chicken restaurants, with the first location slated to open in early 2023.

This announcement comes at an exciting time for the brand, which has 385-plus units worldwide including in the countries of Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. Bonchon is also ramping up its growth initiative in key cities across the United States.

“The SoCal community and Bonchon go together seamlessly. Not only is our food loved by residents throughout the L.A. area already, but also the diverse cultures in the city make this a perfect fit,” said Greg Buchanan, chief administrative officer at Bonchon. “As we continue on our journey to grow with multi-unit operators, we are eager to connect with many talented individuals passionate about spreading Bonchon’s culture and flavors to communities across the world.”

In addition to the brand’s growth planned for the Los Angeles market, there are several other factors driving Bonchon’s impressive momentum, such as reaching a 21%* five-year growth rate and securing several commitments from franchise groups. Also notable, current average unit volume has reached $1.57 million** and according to Black Box Intelligence™ data, Bonchon has consistently outperformed all other segments and cuisines in its two-year metrics (2021 vs.

2019. with positive 23% same store sales as of Dec. 25, 2021. The brand has displayed its perseverance and the ability it has to thrive in all market conditions.

As its unwavering commitment to strategic expansion continues and as Bonchon locations sustain consistent sales growth, multi-unit operators have placed a high priority on adding the concept into their portfolios. An ideal Bonchon franchise candidate has restaurant experience, is dedicated to operational excellence and maintains a commitment to customer service and product quality.

Bonchon, which translates from Korean to English as “my hometown,” is known for its signature Korean fried chicken that is hand battered, double-fried to achieve its signature, crave-worthy crunch. Every piece of chicken is hand brushed to make each bite perfectly flavorful. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, Bonchon’s founder Jinduk Seo dreamed of sharing his favorite flavors with the world. In 2006, U.S. fans were able to Crunch Out Loud with the global sensation as the brand continued to expand across the country.

Bonchon is a global brand of fast-casual dining restaurants known for distinctive Korean double-fried chicken, Asian fusion cuisine, and Korean specialties. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, the concept was established in the heart of New York City in 2006. Bonchon sets out to have its fans “Crunch Out Loud” by sharing the joy of hand-battered, double-fried, crazy crispy Korean fried chicken with the world.

The brand has earned several accolades - it was recognized by Business Insider as “the gold standard for fried chicken” as well as included on Nation’s Restaurant News 2021 “Top 500 Restaurants”, Fast Casual Magazine’s 2021 “Top 100 Movers & Shakers” and Entrepreneur’s 2022 “Franchise 500”, “Fastest Growing Franchises”, “Top Food Franchise” and “Top Global Franchise” lists. Bonchon is positioned for strategic growth and has outlined an aggressive five year expansion plan, aimed at having 400 locations in the U.S. by 2026.

**This amount reflects the average annual gross revenues for 100 franchised Bonchon Restaurants in the system that were open from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, as published in Item 19 of our March 4, 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document.