You may have often seen the name of a restaurant called "Lotteria" while walking down the street or traveling to various places. You can also see "Lotteria" at train stations and airports. Have you ever used this convenient "Lotteria"?
In Korea, when you want to eat a hamburger, you often think of McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken, but when you come to Korea, you should know that the Korean hamburger menu at “Lotteria” can be a good choice.
Source: Lotteria, Chuncheon - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor (tripadvisor.co.kr)
Lotteria is the first hamburger franchise in Korea. It is operated as a member of the Lotte Group and is in charge of the Hamburger Division. The brand name "Lotteria" is derived from a combination of "Lotte + Cafeteria".
On October 25, 1979, Lotteria opened its first store in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, but the store disappeared due to the renewal of the department store and Lotte Hotel. Lotteria is also the oldest store in the basement of Lotte Department Store main store as of 2021. In 1980, we opened a training center for the first time in the industry, and in 1983, we opened the first highway rest area at the Cheonan Samgeori Rest Area. Also in 1989, POS devices were first introduced to 5 branches in Sogong area.
There are about 1,100 stores in Korea, and they feature menus made with Korean flavors. As a café-style store, it has a friendly image. Although it is criticized for its poor taste or low quantity compared to the price, Lotteria has become a symbol of hamburgers and has a strong recognition in small and medium-sized cities and rural areas, including counties. This is because it is difficult for foreign brands such as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King to enter these areas. Lotteria is one of the oldest fast food chains in Korea and is growing steadily.
On May 16, 2017, Lotteria introduced a new concept called BURGER LAB by LOTTERIA to celebrate its 30th anniversary. As a result, the entire system has been replaced with a made-to-order concept of cooking after ordering. Stores with a new concept apply new signboards, and existing stores can choose the interior according to the contract.
Koreans love Lotteria and eat it a lot.
Since Lotteria is the first hamburger franchise in Korea that has been operating for a long time, many people have been familiar with it since childhood. In addition, Lotteria provides menus that combine Korean tastes and ingredients, providing a variety of options to suit the tastes of Koreans.
Lotteria operates a store with a friendly atmosphere, so it is good for dining with family and friends. In addition, Lotteria is very widely distributed across the country, making it easy to access and convenient.
Source: Thoughts after eating Lotteria Burger (brunch.co.kr)
Lotteria currently operates about 350 stores in 11 countries. You can find Lotteria stores in Japan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United States.
Lotteria is one of the most popular fast food brands abroad. Especially in Japan, it is recognized as one of the leading fast food brands along with local fast food chains. Lotteria's menus are also modified to suit local tastes.
If you look at the Hankyung News on November 14, 2022, “Will Lotteria work in the United States… It reported on the news that it was promoting entry into the 'home of hamburger', and Lotteria is pushing for entry into the US, and recently, it is said that it is predicting competition in the hamburger market, which is also a popular fast food in the US. It has been reported that this is part of an effort to prepare not only delicious Korean-style menus in Korea, but also a foundation to compete in the global fast food market.
So, if you want to eat a hamburger, don't just think of McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken, Lotteria is also a good choice.
