Lotteria, South Korea’s largest K-burger chain, has made its debut in the multicultural scene of Downtown Fullerton. The concept of introducing the chain to the city can be credited to a meeting that Mayor Fred Jung had with the CEO of Lotteria during a trip to South Korea in 2022.
According to Jung, Cha Woo-cheol, the CEO of the restaurant chain, reached out to Jung informally to inquire about potential places to open in the U.S., and Jung then provided Woo-cheol with a list of potential cities, including Fullerton and Irvine.
Shortly after, the general counsel for Lotteria reached out with a proposal to open their first U.S. location in Fullerton. Jung suggested there was a light-hearted restaurant feud between Fullerton and Irvine from 2024 when Shake Shack backed out of a launch in Fullerton and instead opened in Irvine.
He said that he wanted the Lotteria proposal confirmed in writing, saying playfully, “I’m not going to lose to Irvine again.”
The significance of this opening is not lost. According to Jung and OC Census Atlas, Fullerton has one of the highest populations of Koreans in Orange County.
Since its opening on August 14, the restaurant has been received with substantial enthusiasm, and 3-hour lines have trailed out the door and onto the surrounding sidewalk. Highly popular items, such as the Bulgogi Burger, made with crispy rice patty buns and egg, have sold out quickly, causing the restaurant to impose limits on items in order to keep up with demand.
Jung sees this restaurant as the beginning of a major investment in the future of Fullerton and its multicultural and diverse culinary scene, and is bullish about the steadiness of future returns. He hints at a future authentic Mexican restaurant slated to be opened in the same area in the coming months, and plans to solidify Fullerton’s position as a premier “culinary and cultural destination” in the years to come.
