1851

<a href="https://www.takorean.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TaKorean</a>, the Korean and Latin-American fusion restaurant, has disrupted the ‘build your own’ landscape, offering both bowls and tacos, fully customizable with a level of freshness and bold flavors not available in other concepts.“I was inspired by Kogi BBQ in LA, a hot food truck concept that Chef Roy Choi opened in the 2000s. I've eaten out there, and it's really delicious, His food and what he was doing is what inspired me to create Takorean,” explained&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-lenard-759a9050/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Lenard</a>, the founder of TaKorean.&nbsp;In a world of restaurants like CAVA, Sweetgreen and Chipotle, many diners are looking for other unique and delicious flavors in the ‘build your own’ model, and TaKorean fills this void with colorful, nourishing, made-fresh options.With both taco and bowl options, guests can customize a meal with fresh slaws, including kimchi, romaine slaw and spiced kale, Korean-inspired proteins like chicken (dak galbi), steak (bulgogi), tofu (hoisin) and more, as well as a variety of add ons and toppings.“Even though our flavors are probably not very familiar to some people, you can get behind them pretty quickly,” added&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-umana-a89764169/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lukas Umana</a>, president and COO of TaKorean.&nbsp;While TaKorean continues to embrace Korean foods and flavors, they are incorporated in a way that does not feel intimidating to those who have never eaten more traditional Korean foods.“TaKorean is one of the few fusion concepts that actually tastes good and is consistent, and it’s one of the few options that is Korean-esque without being 100% Korean, and it hits really hard in terms of food preferences,” explained&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-lenard-b93a3842/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Lenard</a>, TaKorean’s director of Development.In a time when the demand for Asian and Mexican foods is high, and the interest in cultural fusion options is growing among younger crowds, TaKorean provides a culmination of all of these options that is hard to find anywhere else. According to Statista, Mexican and Asian cuisine are the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/2313/ethnic-foods-statistics-and-facts/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041#topicHeader__wrapper" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">first and second most popular ethnic food categories in the country</a>, respectively.&nbsp;Further, younger demographics of diners have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gen-z-millennials-value-cultural-fusion-cuisine-peter-yang?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">expressed interest in expanding their experiences with cultural flavors</a>. Convenient, innovative fusion cuisine like TaKorean delivers a cross-cultural experience that many consumers seek in a way that remains accessible to many.The ‘build your own’ model provides an additional perk for both consumers and TaKorean owners. The demand for customization is high, and providing these options in the context of bowls and tacos allows for an assembly process that does not overcomplicate substitutions or exceptions. The bowl model, specifically, also creates a less intimidating way to try new flavors as guests can mix all parts of their bowl or try various combinations of the ingredients they have chosen.“The rise of bowls is driven by operators offering ethnic food in fairly authentic ways, even if it is somewhat Americanized,” Maeve Webster, president of Menu Matters, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/menu-innovations/going-bowling?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market-2719041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">QSR</a>. “There’s an interest in street food, with a lot of different ingredients and textures, and for us, bowls are easier to handle."For franchisees, TaKorean’s model provides a unique restaurant option without overly complicated ingredients and preparation practices, specialized training or increased overhead costs. The brand’s leadership is not made up of classically trained chefs, so all of the processes have been developed in a way that is accessible and will make sense to owners who are motivated to succeed, regardless of if they have absolutely no culinary experience whatsoever.“Our operational simplicity and availability to open second-generation stores make TaKorean a great fit for all operators and owners looking to add a great franchise to their portfolio,” Umana explained. “We believe so deeply in our systems and company culture that we are confident we can train any and all franchisees and their teams to run highly successful and profitable businesses that our communities will be proud of.”&nbsp;Further, while many Asian food concepts require additional team training to master the ingredients, techniques and tools necessary to produce a given menu item, Mike developed the restaurant in a way that leverages Korean flavors while maintaining a level of simplicity that translates to employees and first-time diners.&nbsp;Though Eric does have extensive culinary experience, the other members of the core leadership did not before TaKorean was launched in 2010. This creates an environment perfect for owners interested in developing a restaurant business, even if they have little to no experience or formal culinary training.Mike explained that TaKorean is built on a culture of respect for each team member, an emphasis on customer experience, and a passion for quality food. Rather than seeking franchisees with extensive experience in franchising or restaurants specifically, TaKorean looks to owners interested in partnering with the brand to truly develop it and expand the reach, bringing the unique dining experience to more customers nationwide.“It can be really hard to do great quality Asian concepts without getting really deep into specialized equipment and training,” Eric said. With freshly prepared menu items, TaKorean provides a light, nourishing option that, though made with efficient processes, does not sacrifice taste or quality. With fresh bright flavors, a simple and consistent system and a light, nourishing menu, TaKorean has found that balance.

How TaKorean Brings a Unique Fusion Concept to the 'Build Your Own Bowl' Market

1851 Franchise

The Korean taco grill restaurant brings a Latin American twist to its fresh, bold and colorful ‘build your own’ meals, offering an experience like no other for guests and franchisees alike.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-takorean-brings-a-unique-fusion-concept-to-the-build-your-own-bowl-market

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

DonutNV Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-donutnv-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

The Fashion Class Franchise - Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, ROI - 1851 Franchise

The Fashion Class Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

fashion-class-franchise-deep-dive

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

How TaKorean Brings a Unique Fusion Concept to the 'Build Your Own Bowl' Market

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS