K‑Fried Chicken rules
A 2026 global survey named Korean fried chicken the most popular K‑food worldwide — proof that crispy, spicy comfort fare is mainstreaming even further (ibtimes.com.au). Expect more restaurants and comfort‑food spins riffing on that crunchy, saucy profile this year (ibtimes.com.au).
The survey was conducted by South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Food Promotion Institute, interviewing 11,000 consumers in 22 major global cities between July 3 and Aug. 25, 2025. (korea.net) Respondents’ top preference share for Korean-style fried chicken measured 14.0%, with kimchi at 9.5% and bibimbap at 8.2% in the published results. (ibtimes.com.au) When asked what they had actually eaten in the past year, 28.3% reported eating Korean-style chicken and 28.0% reported eating kimchi, showing near parity in consumption frequency. (en.sedaily.com) Overall awareness of Korean cuisine reached 68.6% in the survey, and satisfaction among those who tried K-food was reported at about 94.2%. (chosun.com) A separate government survey on overseas restaurant expansion found 4,644 Korean-brand outlets operating in 56 countries in 2025, with chicken brands accounting for 1,809 of those locations (39% of the total). (en.sedaily.com) By country, Korean chicken chains had their largest footprints in the United States (555 stores), the Philippines (207), Thailand (157), Vietnam (129) and Taiwan (109), and major franchises like BBQ and bhc are actively expanding abroad. (en.sedaily.com)
