GEN Restaurant Group expands to three international locations in South Korea.

GEN Restaurant Group, the owner of GEN Korean BBQ, has announced the grand opening of three international locations in South Korea. The expansion into the South Korean market marks a milestone for the company and represents confidence in its international expansion plans. GEN Korean BBQ offers a unique "grill at your table" experience and has over 53 company-owned locations in the US.

GEN Restaurant Group, the owner of GEN Korean BBQ, has announced the grand opening of three international locations in South Korea. The expansion into the South Korean market marks a significant milestone for the company and demonstrates confidence in its international growth plans. GEN Korean BBQ, known for its unique "grill at your table" dining experience, has over 53 company-owned locations in the US.

The expansion includes two GEN Korean BBQ restaurants and one KAN Sushi location, marking the company's strategic entry into the Seoul market. This move represents the 55th location globally for GEN Restaurant Group [2].

The company's CEO, David Kim, expressed excitement about the expansion, stating, "We are excited to announce the opening of three new international locations in South Korea: two GEN locations and one KAN Sushi. The expansion of opening these three locations is another milestone for GEN, as it represents confidence entering the South Korean market" [2].

GEN's international expansion strategy aligns with a broader trend among major restaurant chains, which are looking overseas for growth while managing domestic challenges such as tariffs, staffing, and inflation. The company's strong liquidity position, with $9.6 million in cash and no material long-term debt, supports its ambitious plans to open 12-13 more stores this year [1].

Despite facing economic headwinds, GEN Restaurant Group has shown resilience and ambition in its expansion plans. The company's restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA margin improved sequentially from 15.6% in Q1 to 16.3% in Q2 2025, indicating a renewed focus on cost control [3].

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/gen-restaurant-group-aims-12-13-stores-2025-expands-internationally-product-lines-2508/
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/GENK/gen-korean-bbq-expands-internationally-with-three-new-south-korean-3bnn5ejenau1.html
[3] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/GENK/gen-restaurant-group-announces-second-quarter-2025-financial-2ky7e9lh25kp.html