Korean fried chicken chain bb.q opens first Central Asian store in Kazakhstan

Korean fried chicken chain bb.q has opened its first Central Asian location in Almaty, Kazakhstan, its operator Genesis BBQ said on Monday.

The 78-square-meter (840-square-foot) grab-and-go restaurant is in MEGA Alma-Ata, a sprawling shopping mall that sees more than 10 million visitors annually.

The location will serve fried chicken with signature Korean flavors, such as yangnyeom chicken, which is coated in a sweet and spicy sauce.

The store will also offer chicken sandwiches, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and a UFO chicken platter, in which customers can dip their chicken in cheddar fondue, said Genesis BBQ. 

Almaty, located in southeastern Kazakhstan, is the country's largest city and boasts a high concentration of businesses, schools, trade and tourism.

Genesis BBQ plans to open 20 additional stores throughout major commercial districts in Kazakhstan in the first half of the year before expanding to the capital city of Astana by the third quarter. The fried chicken giant hopes to open 100 stores nationwide by the end of the year. 

“This expansion into Kazakhstan was made possible through cooperation among public institutions, private companies and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency,” a Genesis BBQ spokesperson said. “Starting in Almaty, we plan to expand into other major cities across the country, including Astana, as we broaden our presence in the Central Asian market.”

BY LEE JI-WON [[email protected]]