Chipotle opens first Asian restaurant in Seoul
The company plans to open two more locations in South Korea by the end of 2026.
Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened its first restaurant in Asia at 423 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, in partnership with Sangmidang Holdings, formerly SPC Group.
South Korea will serve as the reference market for Chipotle's expansion across Asia, establishing a model for how the brand enters new markets whilst maintaining its culinary and operational standards.
The companies will operate Chipotle's South Korean business through their joint venture, S&C Restaurants Holdings.
Under the partnership, Sangmidang Holdings will oversee ingredient sourcing, cooking methods, team training, and restaurant operations in South Korea, combining its restaurant industry, operational, and local market knowledge with Chipotle's culinary expertise.
Chipotle said its menu is built from real ingredients and contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
The menu includes customisable burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and salads prepared using the brand's recipes.
The company plans to open two more locations in South Korea by the end of 2026, followed by its first restaurant in Singapore in 2027.
Chipotle also said its business development group, led by Chief Business Development Officer Nate Lawton, is exploring additional growth opportunities through outside partnerships.
