South Korean fried chicken chain makes US debut

Mom’s Touch, a popular fried chicken fast casual concept in South Korea, opened it’s first U.S. location in Gardena, California.

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(Mom's Touch)
(Mom's Touch)

Mom’s Touch, a popular fried chicken fast casual concept in South Korea, opened it’s first U.S. location in Gardena, California.

"We are extremely pleased to begin our journey in the city of Gardena, a community with a unique mix of history, diversity and an authentic feeling of belonging. At the heart of Mom's Touch is a deep sense of care — for our customers and for the food we serve — and we're looking forward to forging lasting relationships with our new guests while serving the community, not only as their new go-to chicken and sandwich spot, but also supporting the local organizations that matter most to them, for many years to come,” said Mike Lee, Director of Marketing & Finance at Mom’s Touch.

The fast casual chain uses fresh, never frozen chicken seasoned for 24-hours in a Cajun marinade and hand-dipped in a proprietary wet batter for an extra thick crunch. The menu at Mom’s Touch featured classic chicken sandwiches, zesty chicken fingers, chicken wings covered in sauces like soy garlic, cheese onion and Hot Apple Zing and a variety of sides.

The specialty at Mom’s Touch is a thigh meat sandwich, fried with the skin on for a crispy outside and juicy tenderness on the inside. Thigh meat has recently become popular with U.S. consumers, and Wingstop and Golden Chick have both recently added chicken thighs to menus nationwide.

“Just like Mom wants what’s best for you, so do we. At Mom’s Touch, we have set high standards on quality and service. Rather than taking shortcuts to save a cost and time, we take those extra steps and invest in the best equipment, processes and ingredients, like buttery brioche buns from our exclusive baker, to ensure our guests have the best chicken and sandwich experience possible,” Lee added.

“We’re firm believers that you should eat what makes you happy, and at Mom’s Touch that’s the only kind of food we serve … all in a warm and welcoming environment.”

Mom’s Touch, founded in 1997, currently has more than 1,300 locations located in Asia across South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. WaBa Grill, s restaurant chain best known for its rice bowl concepts, acquired exclusive rights to develop and operate the fast casual chain in the U.S., with additional locations in Long Beach and City of Industry, California, scheduled to open soon.

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