Chipotle opens its first restaurant in Asia in Seoul, South Korea, using its first joint venture structure for international expansion. The chain’s new location tests its approach in an Asian market while outlining a longer rollout that includes additional openings in South Korea and later expansion to other countries.
According to reporting, Chipotle partners with South Korean food company Sangmidang Holdings for the joint venture. Quartz reports that Chipotle plans two more locations in South Korea by year-end. CNBC adds that Singapore is expected to be next in 2027, placing the Seoul launch as the starting point for a broader regional strategy.
The outlets broadly agree on the core details—Chipotle’s first Asian move, the Seoul restaurant, and the Sangmidang-backed joint venture—while differing on emphasis. CNBC focuses on the staged timeline toward Singapore, and Quartz highlights the near-term rollout within South Korea.
