U.S. Korean Barbecue Market Heads for $13.2 Billion by 2034 as K-Pop Lifts Demand
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
U.S. Korean Barbecue Market Heads for $13.2 Billion by 2034 as K-Pop Lifts Demand
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
Summary
$13.2 billion is the projected size of the Korean barbecue restaurant market by 2034, up from $6.8 billion in 2025, as the cuisine expands across major U.S. cities.
A 10% rise in U.S. South Korean restaurant locations in 2024 reflects demand driven by K-pop, social media and younger diners seeking interactive, experience-led meals.
Chains such as KPOT are helping fuel that growth, while new Korean barbecue concepts replace some shuttered Tex-Mex sites in places including Michigan, Houston and Florida.
Tex-Mex's struggles are not seen as a direct casualty of Korean barbecue's rise: experts say chain closures such as On the Border and Moe's stem more from company-specific and broader casual-dining pressures.
About 11% of U.S. restaurants serve Mexican food, and analysts say both cuisines can grow as diners seek familiar comfort foods with globally inspired, bolder flavors.