The

5

best

Asian Food

franchises of 2026

Complete ranking by Growth & Profitability

Asian franchises operate primarily in the fast-casual and quick-service restaurant segment, focusing on concepts such as ramen, Korean BBQ, poke bowls, teriyaki, and Asian street food. These brands often balance strong consumer demand with higher build-out costs, making scale, growth, and capital efficiency key differentiators across the category.

Below are the top 5 Asian franchises in the market today, highlighting the brands that combine scale, growth, and efficient investment profiles.

Waba Grill

7.8
/
10

Fast-casual restaurant franchise offering teriyaki bowls, plates, and salads with a focus on fresh, healthy, and flavorful meals.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

186
+
1%
1%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$341,000 - $577,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$849,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.8
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Waba Grill is a fast-casual Asian franchise specializing in rice bowls with grilled proteins and fresh ingredients.
Its ranking is driven by strong unit economics, accessible investment levels, and large system scale.

  • Large system with 186 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$459K)
  • Attractive 0.54x payback, among the strongest in the category
  • Flat franchisee growth (~1%) reflects a mature but stable system

Teriyaki Madness

7.6
/
10

Fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in made-to-order teriyaki bowls, providing a fusion of Asian flavors and fresh ingredients.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

156
+
28%
28%
Franchise fee

?

$45,000
Investment

?

$376,000 - $976,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,123,000

+
19.2%
19.2%
Operating Profit

?

10.0%

Our score
7.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Teriyaki Madness is a fast-casual Asian franchise offering teriyaki bowls, noodles, and customizable meals.
Its ranking reflects solid economics paired with strong expansion momentum.

  • Large system with 156 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$676K)
  • Strong 0.60x payback supports unit-level profitability
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~28%) drives expansion

Bonchon

7.2
/
10

Bonchon is a Korean fried chicken franchise that offers crispy and flavorful chicken dishes with a unique blend of sauces and seasonings.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

143
+
22%
22%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$591,000 - $1,313,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,358,000

+
-14.9%
-14.9%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.2
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Bonchon is a Korean fried chicken franchise known for its double-fried chicken and global brand presence.
Its ranking is supported by meaningful scale and positive growth, despite higher investment requirements.

  • Large system with 143 franchisees
  • Higher average investment (~$952K)
  • Solid 0.70x payback
  • Strong franchisee growth (~22%) supports continued expansion

Panda Express

6.8
/
10

Panda Express is a fast-food chain that specializes in American-Chinese cuisine, offering a wide selection of dishes, including orange chicken, Beijing beef, and fried rice, served in a fast and casual setting.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

173
+
10%
10%
Franchise fee

?

$25,000
Investment

?

$515,000 - $3,276,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,187,000

+
5.3%
5.3%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
6.8
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Panda Express is a national Asian fast-casual franchise offering Chinese-inspired dishes at scale.
Its ranking reflects unmatched brand recognition and scale, tempered by weaker unit economics.

  • Large system with 173 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$1.9M)
  • Weak 1.60x payback limits upside
  • Positive franchisee growth (~10%) supports stability

Cupbop

6.6
/
10

Cupbop serves Korean-inspired rice and noodle bowls with a variety of flavorful toppings, offering customers a delicious and convenient dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

30
+
58%
58%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$296,000 - $664,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$669,000

+
-18.7%
-18.7%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
6.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Cupbop is a Korean street-food franchise focused on rice bowls with bold flavors and fast service.
Its ranking benefits from strong growth momentum, despite a smaller system size.

  • Growing system with 30 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$480K)
  • Solid 0.72x payback
  • Rapid franchisee growth (~58%) boosts ranking

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