Jae Cho, the founder of Maguro Group, which owns the seven-strong Bunsik brand, revealed to Restaurant in an interview that the restaurant will take over the former Marks and Spencer store in Piccadilly Gardens.
It has subsequently been confirmed to MCA, Restaurant’s sister site, that the restaurant will be named Bullgogi.
Maguro currently operates a restaurant under the Bullgogi in London’s Notting Hill, but it is understood that the Manchester outpost will be different in concept.
Bullgogi Manchester will cover a 6,000sq ft site and is expected to hold more than 100 covers.
Cho’s decision to open the restaurant follows the success of Bunsik in Manchester.
He said: “We opened [Bunsik] in Manchester in 2023, which was our first outside of London.
“I wanted to see if it worked outside of the capital, and it’s been a big success. I really underestimated the market outside of London.”
“There’s less competition,” he added, discussing his plans for Bullgogi.
“That’s why we’re opening the biggest Korean BBQ restaurant in UK there.
“Manchester has around 14 Korean restaurants in the city, and only a few of them are run by Koreans.
“I’m confident I can do really good food there, and it will definitely do well.”
Cho launched Bunsik, whose name refers to inexpensive, quick and convenient dishes, often associated with street food, in London in 2021.
The group has subsequently grown to six restaurants in the capital alongside its site in Manchester.
According to Cho, the group’s plan is to expand Bunsik across the UK with a specific aim of eventually reaching 54 sites.
“I have a specific number of how many sites I’m aiming for in the UK, which is 54,” he told Restaurant.
“We got a company to do research for us. We gave them information about the business and our clientele, and they came up with a report of the best streets across the country where I could open. And 54 was down as the ideal number in the UK.”
As well as UK growth, Cho is also eyeing plans to take the brand overseas.
“I want to bring in a master franchisee to establish and grow the concept in France,” he added.
“If they succeed, then I think Spain and Germany would follow suit.”