Lotteria opened its first United States restaurant in Fullerton, California, on Monday, August 11, drawing crowds for its shrimp burger. Lotteria was founded in 1972 by Shin Kyuk-ho and launched in Japan the same year before expanding to South Korea in 1979; South Korea now hosts more than 1,300 locations. Fullerton offers signature K-burgers such as the bulgogi burger and bibim rice burger, rice bowls, fries, Shake It fries, crispy chicken, and bingsu dessert. Menu pricing is comparable with Southern California fast-food options, with the bulgogi burger priced at $6.49 and combo meals under $16 before tax.
Lotteria, a portmanteau of Lotte (its parent company) and cafeteria, was founded in 1972 by South Korean businessman Shin Kyuk-ho; its first location opened the same year in Japan. In 1979, the restaurant expanded to South Korea for the first time. Today, the country is home to more than 1,300 locations. The Japanese and Korean arms of Lotteria are no longer related, and the locations in each country operate separately.
In Fullerton, Lotteria serves fan-favorite K-burgers from the South Korean menu, like the bulgogi burger with a bulgogi-seasoned beef patty and the bibim rice burger with the same patty, served on rice buns with a fried egg and tangy gochujang sauce. The menu also comprises rice bowls topped with slices of bulgogi and gochujang sauce or chopped sweet and spicy chicken. Fries are available on their own or topped with the same chicken or beef as the bowls.
The signature Shake It fries and crispy chicken also made the trip to California, both served in a paper bag with a choice of onion or cheese seasoning; guests are encouraged to dump the seasoning right in the bag and give it a hearty shake. The Fullerton Lotteria serves one dessert: bingsu (Korean shaved ice) in a cup layered with red bean paste, fruit, chewy rice cakes, yakgwa (honey cookie), and misugaru (grain powder). The menu is priced on par with other fast-food options in Southern California, with the bulgogi burger coming in at $6.49 on its own and $12.77 in a combo meal with a drink and fries; the entire menu, including the combo meals, is currently priced at under $16 before tax.
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