Cupbop
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast casual dining, Food truck |
| Founded | 2013 in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States |
| Founder | Junghun Song and two friends |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake County , United States |
Area served | United States, Indonesia |
Key people | Junghun Song (Founder) |
| Products | Korean barbecue bowls, mandoo, kimchi |
Cupbop (presented as CUP-BOP) is a fast casual dining franchise from the United States, with locations in both the U.S. and Indonesia. The brand focuses on Korean barbecue served in a street-food format, known as cup-bop ().
Established in 2013 as a food truck based in Salt Lake County, Utah, Cupbop has grown to operate across several states. It is recognized for bringing Korean BBQ to the Utah market. By June 2024, the business managed 64 outlets throughout the U.S., six food trucks, and multiple concession stands, including one at the Utah Jazz NBA Arena. Globally, it runs more than 180 locations in Indonesia. In 2024, Cupbop reported annual revenues of $64 million.
History
Junghun Song launched Cupbop in 2013 after observing a gap in Korean food offerings at a Utah culinary event. Together with two friends who became co-founders and partners, he started serving Korean meals from a two-decade-old food truck.
By 2015, Cupbop had expanded its fleet of food trucks and opened a physical restaurant near Brigham Young University. Its unique branding quickly gained traction on social media platforms and among the BYU community. The company supported its expansion through participation in local events and targeted marketing initiatives. Since its founding, Cupbop has established over 64 locations across the United States, generating sales surpassing $64 million USD (approximately 30 billion won).
The brand has received notable accolades, including being listed among Yahoo's "27 of the Best Food Trucks in America" and earning recognition as Utah’s leading food truck in 2021.
In May 2022, Cupbop’s founders appeared on Shark Tank, seeking an investment of $1 million for a 3% ownership share. They ultimately secured a deal with investor Mark Cuban, agreeing to sell a 5% stake for $1 million. As of 2024, Cupbop operates in seven states: Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Menu
Cupbop's offerings primarily highlight bowls of steamed rice topped with Korean barbecue-inspired proteins such as chicken, beef, and pork, accompanied by vegetables and tofu. These dishes are served alongside rice and cabbage. The menu also includes traditional Korean items like mandoo (dumplings) and kimchi, designed to provide customers with genuine Korean tastes within a fast-casual dining experience.
In English
- Jin-Hai, Park "Korean BBQ food truck Cupbop captures American taste buds with fun flair", The Korea Times, April 23, 2024.
- Savannah Beth Withers Taylor "4 lessons from Founder Friday with Cupbop's Junghun Song and Dok Kwon", Utah Business, March 29, 2024.
In Korean
- 이지연 "컵밥(CUPBOP): "미국에서 한국의 나눔 '정; 실천- 노숙자 무료 식사 봉사", 데일리경제, December 12, 2022.