Korean Food Chains & Franchises
What to eat, how to order, and where to find Korea's most popular food chains
Saemaeul Sikdang
Saemaeul Sikdang (새마을식당) is one of Korea's most beloved BBQ chains, founded in 2002 by celebrity chef Baek Jong-won — the star of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars and Korea's most famous restaurateur.
Hanam Pig House
Hanam Pig House (하남돼지집) is one of Korea's most celebrated pork BBQ franchise chains, founded in June 2010 in a tiny 40-square-meter shop in Hanam City by entrepreneur Jang Bo-hwan.
Maple Tree House
Maple Tree House (단풍나무집) is a premium Korean BBQ restaurant established in 2005 in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.
Ggupdang
Ggupdang (꿉당) is a Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized premium pork BBQ restaurant in Seoul, holding the distinction for four consecutive years since 2022. Founded in 2019 in Sinsa-dong, it pioneered the '돼마카세' (pork omakase) trend — elevating Korean pork BBQ to a fine-dining-adjacent experience.
Wonhalmeoni Bossam
Wonhalmeoni Bossam (원할머니보쌈) is one of Korea's oldest and most recognized bossam (boiled pork wrap) franchise chains, with roots dating back to 1975.
Puradak Chicken
Puradak Chicken (푸라닭) is Korea's premium fried chicken chain, founded in 2002 and repositioned around 2017 as an upscale brand with sleek matte black packaging that has become iconic on Korean social media and K-drama product placements.
Goobne Chicken
Goobne Chicken (굽네치킨) is the only major Korean chicken chain built entirely around oven-roasting rather than deep-frying, founded in 2005. The name comes from '굽다' (to roast/bake).
Nene Chicken
Nene Chicken (네네치킨) is one of Korea's oldest and most beloved fried chicken franchises, founded in 1999 — predating the global Korean fried chicken boom. The name means 'yes yes' in Korean, reflecting its approachable personality.
BBQ Chicken
BBQ Chicken (BBQ치킨) is Korea's #1 chicken franchise by store count, founded in 1995 by Yoon Hong-geun under parent company Genesis Co., Ltd.
Kyochon Chicken
Kyochon Chicken (교촌치킨), officially Kyochon 1991, is South Korea's most iconic fried chicken brand and a must-visit for any tourist in Seoul.
Mom's Touch
Mom's Touch (맘스터치) is Korea's #1 burger franchise by store count with approximately 1,490 locations — surpassing even McDonald's in Korea. Founded in 1997, it created a uniquely Korean fast food concept combining American-style burgers with Korean fried chicken expertise.
BHC Chicken
BHC Chicken (BHC치킨) is Korea's No. 1 chicken franchise by store count and revenue, with over 2,200 locations nationwide.
Yupdduk (Yeopgi Tteokbokki)
Yupdduk (엽기떡볶이, meaning 'Crazy Tteokbokki') is Korea's most iconic spicy tteokbokki franchise, founded in 2012.
Dookki
Dookki (두끼, meaning 'two meals' — eat enough for two) is Korea's pioneering all-you-can-eat tteokbokki buffet chain, launched in 2014.
Kimbap Cheonguk
Kimbap Cheonguk (김밥천국, literally 'Kimbap Heaven') is Korea's most ubiquitous budget restaurant chain with an estimated 1,000+ locations nationwide. Born during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis when Koreans desperately needed affordable dining, it became a cultural institution.
MEGA Coffee
MEGA MGC Coffee (메가커피) is Korea's largest coffee chain by store count with over 4,000 locations — surpassing even Starbucks Korea since December 2023. Founded in 2015, it pioneered the 'mega-size, low-price' coffee revolution that has reshaped Korea's café landscape.
Paik's Coffee
Paik's Coffee (빽다방, officially Paik Dabang) was founded in 2006 by Baek Jong-won — South Korea's most famous celebrity chef, Netflix's Culinary Class Wars star, and the entrepreneur behind Saemaeul Sikdang.
Compose Coffee
Compose Coffee (컴포즈커피) is Korea's fastest-growing coffee franchise with approximately 2,700+ stores, founded in 2014 in Busan.
EGG DROP
EGG DROP (에그드랍) is Korea's trendy premium egg sandwich chain, launched in 2017. With 300-400+ locations, it elevated the humble Korean toast into an Instagram-worthy experience.
Lotteria
Lotteria (롯데리아) is Korea's original fast food chain, founded September 1979 by Lotte Group — predating McDonald's Korea by nearly a decade. With 1,200-1,300 locations, it holds the distinction of introducing fast food culture to Korea.
Isaac Toast
Isaac Toast (이삭토스트) is Korea's quintessential breakfast chain, founded in 1995 in Daehak-ro, Seoul. With 900-1,000+ locations nationwide and international stores in Southeast Asia, it became synonymous with Korean-style toast — a unique category unlike Western sandwiches.
Blue Bottle Korea
Blue Bottle Korea (블루보틀 코리아) entered Seoul in May 2019 with the Seongsu-dong flagship — opening-day lines exceeded 3 hours, making it one of Korea's most hyped café launches ever. Now with ~30 carefully curated locations, each store is an architectural destination.
Starbucks Korea
Starbucks Korea (스타벅스 코리아) operates 1,930+ stores, making Korea one of the top 5 global markets. Entered in 1999, now fully owned by Shinsegae Group.
Sulbing
Sulbing (설빙, meaning 'Snow Ice') is Korea's iconic bingsu (shaved ice dessert) chain, founded in 2013 in Busan. It revolutionized traditional bingsu by using finely shaved milk-ice that creates a snow-like, melt-in-your-mouth texture with generous premium toppings.
Paris Baguette
Paris Baguette (파리바게뜨) is Korea's dominant bakery chain with approximately 3,400+ stores — the largest bakery franchise in the country by far. Founded in 1988 by SPC Group, it has expanded to 400+ international locations including the US (170+), France, China, and Southeast Asia.
Baskin-Robbins Korea
Baskin-Robbins Korea (배스킨라빈스 코리아) is the most localized version of the brand worldwide, with 1,700+ stores operated by SPC Group since 1985. It's not just ice cream — it's a Korean cultural institution.
Tous les Jours
Tous les Jours (뚜레쥬르, French for 'every day') is Korea's second-largest bakery chain with 1,300-1,500 stores, launched in 1997 by CJ Foodville (CJ Group). Positioned as slightly more premium than Paris Baguette, it emphasizes natural fermentation and artisan-style baking.
Yookssam Naengmyeon
Yookssam Naengmyeon (육쌈냉면) is a unique Korean franchise pairing charcoal-grilled marinated beef with cold buckwheat noodles in one meal, founded in 2006. With 100+ locations, the concept is based on the traditional Korean philosophy of balancing warm and cold foods.
Bonjuk
Bonjuk (본죽) is Korea's No. 1 rice porridge (juk) chain with approximately 1,600+ locations, founded in 2002. Endorsed by Korean superstar actor Gong Yoo. Bonjuk transformed traditional Korean juk from a humble home-cooked dish into a mainstream fast-casual meal with premium ingredients.
Tosokchon Samgyetang
Tosokchon Samgyetang (토속촌삼계탕) is Seoul's most legendary ginseng chicken soup restaurant, established in 1983 and operating at the same hanok (traditional Korean house) location near Gyeongbokgung Palace for over 40 years.