Lotteria Plans Singapore Debut by February 2026 With Korean Burgers and More Outlets to Follow

A First Singapore Outlet, With More Planned

South Korean fast food chain Lotteria plans to open its first Singapore outlet by February 2026, bringing its Korean take on burgers and fried chicken to a market where international restaurant brands are competing for customers even as thousands of food businesses close.

Singapore company Katrina Group and South Korea's Lotte GRS formalized franchise and development agreements in August 2025. Their partnership covers a rollout of multiple Lotteria outlets across Singapore in the coming years, with the first restaurant intended to provide the starting point for that expansion.

As of August 29, 2025, the location of the first outlet remains undisclosed. The full Singapore menu, prices and any plans for halal certification have also not been announced. Those details will determine where diners can try the brand, how much they will pay and which customers its food can serve.

Lotteria is known for bulgogi burgers, shrimp burgers, fried chicken and changing seasonal dishes. Its appeal rests on combining familiar fast food formats with Korean flavors, while adjusting parts of its menu for different countries. Singapore customers could see that combination of established favorites and dishes developed for local tastes.

The launch also brings another Asian chain into a fast food market where American brands have a large presence. McDonald's, KFC and Burger King are established competitors, alongside Jollibee. Recent arrivals such as Shake Shack and Five Guys, and the announced arrival of Chick-fil-A, add to the choices available to diners.

For Katrina Group, the agreement expands a food and beverage business that already operates eight brands in Singapore. For Lotteria, it forms part of a regional expansion that also includes a planned Malaysian debut in late 2025.

What the August Agreement Sets in Motion

Katrina Group will oversee Lotteria's entry into Singapore through its partnership with Lotte GRS. A franchise arrangement allows a local operator to run restaurants under an established brand. Here, the companies have paired that arrangement with a development agreement covering expansion beyond the opening outlet.

Alan Goh, CEO and founder of Katrina Group, described the signing as a milestone in the company's plans to introduce Lotteria to Singapore. He said:

The official signing marks a major milestone in our journey to introduce a dynamic and globally respected brand to the Singapore market. We are confident that Lotteria's unique Korean-style offerings will resonate with Singaporeans and elevate our F&B portfolio.

Cha Woo-chul, CEO of Lotte GRS, also expressed excitement about bringing an authentic Korean fast food experience to Singapore consumers.

The announced schedule places Singapore's opening after the planned Malaysian launch. The key dates and expansion targets are:

• August 2025: Katrina Group and Lotte GRS formalized their Singapore franchise and development agreements.
• Late 2025: Lotteria plans to open its first Malaysian outlet.
• By February 2026: Lotteria plans to open its first Singapore outlet.
• Over five years: The Malaysian partnership with Serai Group aims to open 30 outlets.

Singapore's plan also involves multiple restaurants, although no outlet total or timetable for subsequent openings has been given.

A Korean Chain With an International Footprint

Lotteria was founded in Seoul in 1979 and became a household name in South Korea through a menu that combines Western fast food staples with Korean flavors. Burgers and fried chicken remain central to its identity, alongside seasonal dishes and collaborations.

The brand's stated footprint exceeds 1,600 outlets across seven countries. Its international locations include Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan, Indonesia, Laos and the United States.

Lotteria's approach abroad has been to retain recognizable parts of its menu while making room for local eating habits. That gives the Singapore launch two sources of interest: dishes customers may already know from travel, and possible additions created for the local market.

Vietnam provides a concrete example of that approach. Lotteria's menu there has a rice and spaghetti section, including fried chicken rice and beef spaghetti. Those meals show how the chain can extend beyond burgers without giving up its fast food format.

Which Burgers Could Reach Singapore?

The bulgogi burger is one of Lotteria's signature items and a likely focus of interest before the Singapore opening. It combines marinated beef, lettuce and a sauce with sweet and salty flavors. The dish puts a Korean flavor profile into the familiar format of a burger.

The kimchi burger offers another connection to Korean food through kimchi, Korea's fermented cabbage. Lotteria also sells a shrimp burger, giving customers a seafood alternative that has proved popular in several Asian markets.

A bibim rice burger is also among the chain's known dishes. Together, these products illustrate the range behind Lotteria's reputation for adapting fast food rather than relying entirely on conventional beef or chicken burgers.

Bulgogi, kimchi and shrimp burgers are possible contenders for Singapore, but the opening menu remains to be confirmed. Customers waiting for a particular item will need the local menu announcement before knowing whether it will be available.

Local adaptations could be part of the launch. Katrina Group's plans point toward a combination of signature products and food suited to Singapore tastes, although no Singapore exclusive dish has been named.

Chicken, Cheese and Limited Editions

Fried chicken is another major part of Lotteria's menu, often served with different sauces and sides. Crispy chicken fillets, seasoned fries and mozzarella cheese sticks are among the products expected to attract attention as the Singapore selection takes shape.

In South Korea, the T-Rex chicken burger comes with pepper sauce, while fried mozzarella cheese sticks are another popular choice. Both illustrate the kind of food that could find a following in Singapore, alongside the better known burgers.

Lotteria also uses temporary menu items and collaborations to give customers something new to try. A recent campaign with K-pop group TXT introduced a kimchi and bulgogi burger, linking the chain's food with Korean pop culture.

A separate collaboration with Napoli Matfia, the winner of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars, produced a mozzarella burger sold for a limited period. Such partnerships bring celebrity chefs and entertainment figures into the brand's menu development and marketing.

Singapore's food scene could provide opportunities for local collaborations or exclusive products. No such partnership has been announced, so these remain possibilities rather than part of the confirmed launch.

Local Tastes and Dietary Needs

Singapore's population includes people with different food traditions and dietary requirements. Lotteria's experience adapting menus in other markets gives it a basis for responding to those preferences, whether through changes to existing recipes or new dishes.

The Vietnam menu shows one route: adding rice meals and spaghetti alongside the chain's core products. A Singapore menu could follow the same broad principle of making the brand familiar to local diners while preserving its Korean identity.

Halal status is another practical issue for customers. Lotteria is not a halal certified eatery, and the Singapore operation's certification plans have not been disclosed. That status may affect its appeal among diners who require halal certified food.

Pricing will also shape how customers compare Lotteria with existing fast food choices. The interest generated by a new international name gives the launch an audience, while the eventual menu, portion choices and prices will give people the information they need to decide whether to return.

Katrina Group Brings Local Operating Experience

Katrina Group operates eight food and beverage brands in Singapore, including Bali Thai, Streats, So Pho, Daily Chicken and Daily Beer. Its business also extends into hospitality.

The company's experience covers casual dining and restaurants in the middle of the price range. That gives it experience managing different food concepts and serving local customers as it prepares to add Lotteria to its portfolio.

The Singapore partnership is intended to build a network rather than stop at one restaurant. The first outlet will therefore have a role beyond introducing the menu: it will be the starting point for the wider rollout Katrina Group has signaled.

Lotteria's Malaysian agreement provides a more detailed numerical comparison. Serai Group and the chain plan 30 outlets over five years, while Singapore's expansion has been described without a published outlet target. Both markets are part of the brand's regional push, but their announced development plans have different levels of detail.

The business proposition combines Lotteria's established identity with Katrina Group's knowledge of Singapore operations. Its commercial appeal is a calculated bet on the ability of fast food businesses to adapt and attract repeat customers in a crowded market.

A Launch During a Difficult Period for Restaurants

More than 3,000 food businesses closed in Singapore in 2024, according to government data, the highest number in nearly two decades. Rising operating costs, changes in consumer spending and greater competition have contributed to a difficult environment for restaurant operators.

Several prominent closures have involved restaurants at the expensive end of the market. Fast food and casual dining, meanwhile, have continued to benefit from demand for international brands and new food experiences.

Singapore's recent experience with Shake Shack and Five Guys, together with Chick-fil-A's announced debut, helps explain the attraction for another overseas chain. Customers have shown an appetite for trying brands they know from abroad, and Lotteria brings a Korean identity into a field with many American names.

Operating costs and labor shortages will still matter to the new business. Lotteria must compete with established chains that already have loyal customers, while giving diners reasons to choose its food on quality, value and flavor.

Korean culture offers another route to customer interest. Hallyu, the global popularity of Korean music, entertainment and food, may help Lotteria reach younger diners who follow those trends. Its TXT campaign shows how that connection already appears in the brand's marketing.

Regional Growth Meets Local Anticipation

Lotteria's Singapore and Malaysia plans sit within a broader push by Asian fast food chains into Southeast Asian cities. Rising incomes and interest in food from different countries have helped make these urban markets attractive to restaurant operators.

Singapore offers a diverse population, a reputation as a food destination and customers open to new dining experiences. Those qualities also make it a place where Lotteria could try new dishes or concepts as it develops its regional presence.

The announcement has generated interest on social media and food forums, particularly among people who enjoy Korean food and culture. Food bloggers and influencers have discussed possible menu items, including whether the chain might introduce something exclusive to Singapore.

Some diners have compared the anticipated opening with the arrival of other international fast food brands. Others have focused on practical questions about pricing, halal certification and how Lotteria will stand apart from competitors already operating here.

Lotteria's ability to adapt its menu and use collaborations gives it several ways to attract an opening crowd. The longer commercial task will be to turn that curiosity into regular visits through a menu and dining experience that suit Singapore customers.

Key Points

• Lotteria plans to open its first Singapore outlet by February 2026 under agreements formalized by Katrina Group and Lotte GRS in August 2025.
• The first outlet's location, full menu, prices and Singapore halal certification plans have not been announced.
• The chain is known for bulgogi, kimchi and shrimp burgers, fried chicken, mozzarella cheese sticks and seasonal collaborations.
• Katrina Group operates eight food and beverage brands in Singapore and plans multiple Lotteria outlets.
• Lotteria also plans a Malaysian debut in late 2025, with Serai Group targeting 30 outlets over five years.
• The Singapore launch comes after more than 3,000 food businesses closed in 2024, amid rising costs and strong competition.