Chipotle opens first Asia restaurant in Seoul joint venture

Chipotle opens first Asia restaurant in Seoul joint venture

Wed, September 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM GMT+3 2 min read

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Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first restaurant in Asia in Seoul's Gangnam neighborhood earlier this month, marking the chain's entry into a region it has designated as a significant growth opportunity. The location, at 423 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, is being operated through a joint venture with Sangmidang Holdings, a South Korean food company formerly known as SPC Group.

Under the arrangement, Big Bite Company — a Sangmidang affiliate — holds a 51% stake in the joint venture, S&C Restaurants Holdings, with Chipotle owning the other 49%, according to CNBC. The structure marks Chipotle's first expansion through a joint venture arrangement. Sangmidang previously brought Shake Shack to South Korea.

The Seoul opening drew long lines, with some diners waiting three hours, according to CNBC. The restaurant serves the standard Chipotle menu — burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas and salads — with ingredients prepared fresh throughout the day and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, the company said.

Chipotle Chief Executive Officer Scott Boatwright said in a statement that South Korea is an ideal market to introduce the brand to the region and that the company sees potential to grow from there. Chief Business Development Officer Nate Lawton said that the South Korea venture is intended to demonstrate how Chipotle can establish and grow in an unfamiliar region without compromising the qualities that set the brand apart.

To support the Seoul restaurant, Chipotle and Sangmidang assembled a South Korea supply chain capable of meeting the company's global food standards, with Big Bite contributing its existing network of approved suppliers and Sangmidang providing its logistics and processing capabilities. Sangmidang President and Chief Vision Officer Hee-soo Hur said in a statement that the company is committed to delivering the authentic Chipotle experience.

Chipotle plans to open two more South Korea locations by the end of 2026, the company said. The joint venture is aiming to debut in Singapore sometime during the first half of 2027, though neither a specific date nor a site has been confirmed.

The Seoul opening is part of a broader international push for Chipotle. The chain has an established presence in Canada and Europe and has been expanding through partnerships in the Middle East and Mexico. Earlier this year, Chipotle opened its first Mexico location in San Pedro Garza García, near Monterrey, through a development agreement with restaurant operator Alsea, with plans to expand into Mexico City in 2027.

Chipotle has more than 4,200 total restaurants and plans to open 350 to 370 new locations in 2026, the company said.