Inside Kok Kok Mega Mall in Vientiane's Patuxai commercial district, Korean-loved brands like Paris Baguette, Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon, Ediya Coffee, hot pot chain Dukki, and burger chain Mom's Touch have already staked their claims. It's on this mall corridor already crowded with Korean F&B brands that South Korean barbecue chain Hanam Dwaejijip has chosen to open its 25th overseas branch.
The new store sits near Patuxai, the landmark monument in the Laotian capital of Vientiane. Kok Kok Mega Mall, developed and operated by Laotian conglomerate Kolao Group, combines shopping, dining, and entertainment facilities, making it a hotspot where locals and tourists converge. The new outlet spans roughly 75 pyeong (about 248 square meters) and seats 25 tables.
The expansion follows a master franchise agreement signed between Hanam Dwaejijip and Kolao Group on November 28 of last year, under which the two parties agreed to pursue cooperation across key Indochinese markets including Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The Vientiane store marks the first tangible outcome of that agreement.
Ku Dong-hui, head of Hanam Dwaejijip's Global Business Team, called the opening "a meaningful milestone" in the brand's global expansion, adding that the company will "take into account each market's characteristics and local food culture while maintaining the consistent quality and brand experience that defines Hanam Dwaejijip." He expressed hope that continued cooperation with Kolao Group would help boost the global competitiveness of K-BBQ.
Jakaphong Vongthapan, CEO of Kolao Group, said he was "very pleased" to bring Hanam Dwaejijip to Laos for the first time, describing the new outlet as "a fresh food and lifestyle space that combines Korean barbecue with world-class service."
For Hanam Dwaejijip, this marks the brand cutting in line to claim a spot within the existing lineup of K-food brands already present. Rather than being first to market, it's more like filling in the missing piece of Korean barbecue, giving Kok Kok Mega Mall's Korean wave dining scene one more option. Details on menu items, pricing, and the timeline for future openings in Cambodia and Myanmar were not provided.
