Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened of its first restaurant in Asia in Seoul, South Korea, in partnership with Sangmidang Holdings (formerly SPC Group). Along with Sangmidang Holdings, Chipotle plans to continue its expansion with two additional locations in South Korea by the end of 2026, followed by its first restaurant in Singapore in 2027.
South Korea will serve as a reference market for Chipotle’s expansion across Asia, establishing a model for how the brand can enter new markets while maintaining its culinary and operational standards. The two companies will run Chipotle’s South Korean business through their joint venture, S&C Restaurants Holdings.
“Asia represents a significant growth opportunity for Chipotle, with strong demand for variety, convenience and real food prepared fresh and served fast,” says Scott Boatwright, chief executive officer of Chipotle. “South Korea, in particular, is an ideal market to introduce Chipotle to the region, and we see tremendous potential to grow from here. As we scale across Asia, we will remain focused on what has always differentiated Chipotle — a delicious, customizable meal at a value you can’t find anywhere else.”
The partnership combines Sangmidang Holdings’ extensive restaurant industry, operational and South Korean market knowledge with Chipotle’s culinary expertise. Sangmidang Holdings will be responsible for faithfully delivering the Chipotle experience in South Korea — from ingredient sourcing and cooking methods to team training and restaurant operations.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has over 4,200 restaurants as of June 30, 2026, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Middle East. It is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in the United States, Canada and Europe. For more information, visit www.chipotle.com.
Sangmidang Holdings is a South Korea-based global food company with more than 80 years of history. The company owns 30 well-known brands, including Paris Baguette, Paris Croissant, Passion 5, Coffee@Works and StrEAT, and operates approximately 7,000 locations worldwide. Sangmidang Holdings has also successfully introduced a number of global brands to the South Korean market, including Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’, Pascucci, LINA’S, Jamba and Shake Shack.
Big Bite Company is a restaurant-focused company affiliated with Sangmidang Holdings, with experience operating global restaurant brands in South Korea. It operates Chipotle South Korea through S&C Restaurants Holdings Pte. Ltd., a joint venture established with Chipotle.
SOURCE: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.