Hit Korean Food Chain Picks Illinois for Expansion

If you enjoy Korean food, you're in for a treat if you also live in Illinois as a hit fast casual chain has chosen the Land of Lincoln for its first-ever expansion.

Just the thought of Korean BBQ makes me feel all warm inside. The problem is it's a very difficult food to replicate in the kitchen which makes news of a fast casual expansion into Illinois exciting. I saw Restaurant Dive report today that one of the most popular Korean options outside of - well, Korea - has just opened it's first Illinois location.

The word is that SeoulSpice which has 7 locations in Washington, D.C. has decided to make its first expansion outside of that region in Chicago, Illinois and they just opened in March. Billed as "Korean Comfort Food", they seek to become the defining Korean food brand in America and the Midwest is their next target.

Why did SeoulSpice pick Chicago as its first expansion?

I've learned that founder Eric Shin is still the primary percussionist at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was able to get to know the region and thought that his Korean food brand was the perfect fit for that part of Illinois. He said that Chicago is "a city of neighborhoods" which is appealing to how they do business.

Will this be the only SeoulSpice location in Illinois?

The report says that the chain believes in slow "organic" growth, but expansion into other areas is a possibility. I've now learned that they do plan locations River North and Wicker Park in Chicago later in the summer.