1851

<a href="https://takoreanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=recession-thrivers-how-the-takorean-business-model-positions-owners-to-succeed-despite-economic-conditions-2721076" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TaKorean</a>, the emerging Korean-inspired taco concept, has laid the foundation for recession resistance in its processes and operational systems. As talks of a recession swirl,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/takorean">TaKorean</a> owners are confident in their ability to survive through a recession and thrive despite it.“Our system allows for the cross-utilization of employees, we’re able to operate at a lot of different volume levels with similar payroll metrics, and our ingredients and cooking methods yield little to no waste,” explained&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-lenard-759a9050/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=recession-thrivers-how-the-takorean-business-model-positions-owners-to-succeed-despite-economic-conditions-2721076" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Lenard</a>, CEO of TaKorean. “When we’re facing a constantly changing business environment, we’re able to succeed because our entire approach is built to adjust and adapt to varied needs on a daily basis. We do it all of the time.”A prime differentiator for TaKorean owners is the sheer level of advancement available within the systems. Since its inception, TaKorean has been ahead of the times. At its birth, it brought Korean-inspired dishes to a food scene that had yet to see such offerings, and it has since made the transition from a food truck model to a brick-and-mortar one. When the COVID-19 pandemic arose, the leadership team was not left scrambling to adapt as it had already perfected its unique offerings and laid the groundwork for multiple streams of revenue that would continue to drive business through shutdowns and restrictions.&nbsp;Similarly, with a recession on the horizon, the brand’s leadership is not left scrambling to reduce costs, increase efficiencies or strategize ways to maintain restaurant-level traffic. Rather, it developed all of these resources and methods before they were necessary, meaning that franchisees can invest confidently, knowing that the business plan provided will guide them through times of uncertainty --- as it has been proven to do in the past.“We have put so much emphasis on building up our systems; we are one of the few restaurants that have integrated our processes into our systems so well,” explained&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-umana-a89764169/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=recession-thrivers-how-the-takorean-business-model-positions-owners-to-succeed-despite-economic-conditions-2721076" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lukas Umana</a>, president. “The pandemic happened, and we were able to reopen. Nothing changed for us. People began to struggle with labor and supply chain, and our simplicity kept us from having those issues. While everyone else is trying to catch up, our business trucks along every time.”A substantial amount of cost control occurs in TaKorean’s ingredient list and sourcing. With just 22 perishable items kept on hand and a thoughtful ordering approach, there is nearly zero spoilage that occurs inside the restaurant, minimizing losses.&nbsp;Additionally, TaKorean leverages a small-batch cooking philosophy which maintains the best flavors for guests while allowing staff to control production based on demand.“At the end of the night or during slower periods, we’re able to control the amount of food we make, so there is little to no waste on a daily basis,” Lukas added.&nbsp;“At moderate volumes, or even low volumes, you’ll never have an issue selling through your inventory,” Mike added. “Every time you order, you can adjust to whatever the trends may have been the prior week and order less or more of each ingredient. The way we order food makes it virtually impossible not to sell through everything before it goes bad.”<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-lenard-b93a3842/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=recession-thrivers-how-the-takorean-business-model-positions-owners-to-succeed-despite-economic-conditions-2721076" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Lenard</a>, director of development, proceeded to explain how this model contrasts with more traditional restaurant approaches. In some cases, a single restaurant will order 20 pounds of a given ingredient that absolutely must be sold within a few days. If no one ordered that entree, the chef is left to improvise or cut their losses.“That sort of dilemma just isn’t in our model,” he said.While TaKorean’s back-of-house model positions owners well for success, what it offers to guests serves to maintain or even increase unit-level volume during times of uncertainty. A visit to TaKorean provides not only consistency and dependability to guests, it also allows couples and families to go out for a reasonably priced meal and feel that they still had an experience. In a recession, as guests are seeking value in their purchases, TaKorean provides just that by combining new flavors, fresh, colorful food, customizable offerings and the feeling of trying something new into a single meal.“The experience we offer is a special one, certainly at our price point,” Mike added. “Because of this, during a recession, we can actually end up being busier than one might think, which requires us to be nimble — a trait that has long been established. There are certain businesses that will thrive during a recession and need to have the mindset of being prepared to ramp up operations when the time comes, and TaKorean absolutely falls into that category.”On all fronts, TaKorean offers value. For franchisees, an affordable initial investment provides access to a robust support system and operational playbook that has been optimized over time. As guests realize the uniqueness of the concept and experience, demand is driven up further, drawing in additional volume, creating repeat consumers and driving owners’ revenues up further.“Dependability and consistency are what people need for our concept to become a go-to spot,” Lukas said. “And that’s what we provide. People know they’re going to get a delicious, consistent meal from us every single time, and that is all thanks to our systems.”ABOUT TAKOREAN:TaKorean, a fast-casual Korean-inspired concept with Latin-American influence, was founded by Mike Lenard in 2010 to bring a fresh twist on Korean flavors to the Washington, DC food scene. Its “build your own” bowl and taco concept allows guests to create memorable meals, catered to their specific preferences by combining the restaurant’s colorful, fresh, and delicious ingredients. Originally founded as a mobile vending concept, Lenard and his team have grown the brand into a local chain of brick-and-mortar locations and, as of 2022, are eager to offer the opportunity to franchise the concept. The investment required to open a TaKorean restaurant ranges from $215,500–$781,500, including a $40,000 franchise fee ($20,000 for veterans). Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.takoreanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=recession-thrivers-how-the-takorean-business-model-positions-owners-to-succeed-despite-economic-conditions-2721076" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.takoreanfranchise.com</a> for more information.

Recession Thrivers: How the TaKorean Business Model Positions Owners To Succeed Despite Economic Conditions

1851 Franchise

The brand’s streamlined systems reduce waste, improve efficiency and prepare TaKorean restaurants to continue to thrive, even in times of economic downturns.

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

recession-thrivers-how-the-takorean-business-model-positions-owners-to-succeed-despite-economic-conditions

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

Recession Thrivers: How the TaKorean Business Model Positions Owners To Succeed Despite Economic Conditions

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS