The brand, which was behind the viral Korean corn dog craze, will open a site at Westquay Shopping Centre on 30 April.
The new venue continues the brand’s move into key regional cities as part of its franchise-led expansion. Its opening is the second site for franchise partner Will Bray, following Bunsik Bristol, which launched six months ago.
“The response in Bristol has given us a strong foundation to build from, and we’re excited to continue that momentum in Southampton,” says Bray.
“There is a real opportunity to grow Bunsik across the region, particularly in cities with a strong student population and appetite for something new. We’re looking forward to bringing Bunsik to the South Coast and seeing it become part of the city’s food scene.”
The new restaurant will serve Bunsik’s signature Korean corndogs, with mozzarella and chicken fillings, alongside tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes in spicy gochujang sauce), kimbap, Korean fried chicken, and cup bap rice bowls.
Bunsik is opened by Maguro Group, whose founder Jae Cho opened the first site in London in 2021. It now operates sites across the capital as well as in Bristol and Manchester. A second Manchester restaurant is due to open this summer.
The company has also earmarked Birmingham and Bath as potential target cities with Cho previously telling Restaurant he was aiming to open 54 sites in the UK.
“Following the success of our Bristol site, it’s been fantastic to continue working with Will as we grow the brand,” says Cho.
“He has a strong understanding of both the product and the customer experience, which is incredibly important to us as we expand. Southampton is a natural next step, and we’re confident this site will build on that momentum.”
