After more than five decades, South Korea’s popular fast-food chain Lotteria is set to make its U.S. debut in Orange County, California. The new restaurant is scheduled to open this summer at 150 W Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton.
A company spokesperson said the opening is expected around mid-August, though the exact date and menu details for the Fullerton location have yet to be announced.
Lotteria is best known for its Bulgogi Burger, inspired by the traditional Korean grilled meat dish. The chain also offers shrimp burgers, fried chicken, fries, cherry-flavored shakes, and more. The menu is known for its creative and bold items; for example, in 2012, the chain introduced a five-patty tower burger to celebrate its 40th anniversary. A few years later, it launched the “With Everything Burger,” which stacked cheeseburgers, rib patties, fried shrimp patties, beef patties, egg, cheese, cabbage, pickles, teriyaki sauce, ketchup, and mayonnaise in one massive sandwich.
The Fullerton Lotteria will take over a former KFC location currently undergoing renovations.
Although Lotteria is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, it opened its first store in Tokyo in 1972 before launching in South Korea in 1979. In May 2024, its parent company, Lotte GRS, showcased menu items such as the Bulgogi Burger and Jeonju Bibim Rice Burger at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, introducing the brand to the American market.
According to Food and Beverage Magazine, Lotteria operates about 1,600 locations worldwide, with approximately 1,300 in South Korea and others in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Mongolia. The Orange County store marks its first step into the U.S. market.
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