This September, Bonchon is taking its growth story directly to prospective franchisees. The global Korean fried chicken franchise will meet with entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators at the IFA World Franchise Show, using the event as an opportunity to introduce prospective partners to a brand that combines more than two decades of U.S. experience with substantial remaining white space.

The event will take place Sept. 25-26, 2026, at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For Bonchon, “Florida is much bigger for us than just South Florida,” said Chief Development Officer Blas Escarcega. “We already have a presence in markets including Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, and we believe there is significant opportunity to continue building the brand across the state. The key is finding the right franchise partners and developing each market strategically.” South Florida is an especially compelling part of that growth story. The brand currently has two restaurants in the Miami area, in South Beach and Doral, but leadership believes the broader region could support approximately five additional locations across markets such as Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and greater Broward County, Pompano Beach, Plantation, Davie and Pembroke Pines.

"We've got strong brand recognition, but there is also still significant white space opportunity throughout the U.S. to establish multi-unit territories," said Chief Development Officer Blas Escarcega. “We really don't have much saturation in the markets we're in.”

At the IFA World Franchise Show, Bonchon will be looking to turn some of that white space into conversations with qualified operators who can help build the brand's next chapter.

Why South Florida Fits the Bonchon Growth Strategy

Bonchon has identified Florida as one of its priority growth states, and South Florida offers many of the characteristics the development team looks for when evaluating new markets.

The region combines a business-friendly environment with continued population and employment growth, significant chicken consumption, and a diverse consumer base accustomed to trying international cuisines and unique restaurant concepts. Its strong populations of millennials and Gen Z consumers also align well with a brand benefiting from growing American interest in Korean food and K-culture.

"We're at an inflection point in the Bonchon story," Escarcega said. “For years, the brand grew organically through guest love and a product that speaks for itself. Now, as K-culture is having a moment across the U.S., Bonchon is pairing this momentum with a sophisticated, data-driven development strategy.”

That strategy is particularly important as Bonchon evaluates where additional South Florida restaurants could go. Rather than simply filling every available pocket of real estate, the brand wants to build intelligently around its existing South Beach and Doral restaurants while identifying territories that can support sustainable long-term growth.

"Real estate availability does not dictate where the brand goes," Escarcega said. “We lead with data. We're using analytics to understand the markets we're looking to enter and identify spaces that will appeal to dual-income families or large groups of millennials.”

Each new Bonchon restaurant is expected to create approximately 23 jobs. Five additional restaurants in South Florida could therefore create roughly 115 new positions while introducing the brand to more communities throughout the region.

A Flexible Prototype for a Diverse Market

Another advantage for development in South Florida is Bonchon's flexible restaurant footprint. The brand's refreshed fast-casual prototype has been designed around a 1,800- to 2,000-square-foot footprint, improving kitchen workflow and labor efficiency while giving franchisees greater flexibility when evaluating real estate.

"We have very flexible real estate formats," Escarcega said. “We operate in nontraditional areas, inline locations and other formats. We provide greater site flexibility.”

That versatility is particularly useful in a region as varied as South Florida, where a restaurant opportunity in a dense urban neighborhood may look very different from one in a suburban shopping center. Bonchon can evaluate locations based on the underlying market opportunity rather than forcing every franchisee into a single real estate format.

"Our new prototype wasn't designed simply to be smaller. It was designed to be smarter," Escarcega said. "Every element has been thoughtfully engineered to improve operational efficiency, enhance the guest experience and provide franchisees with greater flexibility in site selection."

Meeting the Next Generation of Bonchon Operators

While Bonchon sees considerable room for expansion, the goal at the IFA World Franchise Show isn't simply to sign as many franchisees as possible. Leadership is focused on identifying sophisticated partners who understand restaurant operations, can build strong teams and have the ambition to develop multiple restaurants over time.

Bonchon has also structured parts of its franchise program around multi-unit growth, including reduced royalty rates during the first 12 months for qualifying franchisees opening three or more restaurants.

That makes the World Franchise Show an opportunity for Bonchon to meet prospects who aren't necessarily looking for one restaurant, but rather an opportunity to build a larger portfolio in markets where significant development runway remains.

"Bonchon is not seeking someone looking to buy a job or be the 'caregiver' to a single restaurant," Escarcega said. “Our most successful franchisees are those who want to own the category and are ready to build and lead great teams.”

As Bonchon heads to the IFA World Franchise Show this September, South Florida illustrates exactly the kind of opportunity the brand wants to discuss with prospective partners: existing consumer awareness, proven restaurants already in market and enough remaining white space for experienced operators to build something much larger.

For entrepreneurs attending the show, meeting the Bonchon development team could be the first step toward bringing the brand's signature double-fried crunch to the next South Florida community.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/bonchon.