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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a The Flame Broiler Franchise

Flame Broiler is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering Korean-inspired rice bowls from brick-and-mortar locations, founded in Orange County, California in 1995. The concept centers on a focused menu of white or brown rice paired with proteins including Angus beef, all-natural chicken, and organic tofu, topped with fresh vegetables and the brand’s signature Simply Magic Sauce. The kitchen operates without fryers or dairy, supporting a positioning built on healthy, affordable quick-service dining.

The brand has been family-owned since its founding. In 2024, Young Lee’s three sons joined the leadership team, continuing operations from the Santa Ana, California corporate office. Franchising began in 1999, and the system has grown to approximately 190 locations, concentrated in California and western US markets.

Flame Broiler operates a branded loyalty platform, Magic Rewards, which supports repeat customer engagement across the system. Since 2009, the brand has maintained a community mission of sponsoring two children in need for every new restaurant that opens, a commitment continuing under current leadership.

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Why buy a The Flame Broiler Franchise?

Korean cuisine ranks among the fastest-growing ethnic food categories in the United States, with cultural adoption bringing Korean flavors into mainstream dining. Flame Broiler’s position within this category, built around a health-focused menu identity, gives the concept appeal aligned with consumer demand for nutritious, affordable quick-service options. Buying a Flame Broiler franchise means entering a segment with a distinct menu character and growing consumer familiarity with Korean-inspired food.

The family-owned structure supports brand consistency, with long-standing values and a preference for multi-unit operators that makes this model better suited to experienced restaurant managers than first-time single-location buyers. The Magic Rewards loyalty platform supports repeat traffic at the unit level, and franchisees receive regional advertising support.

The Flame Broiler Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2023 data reported in the 2024 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1995

    • Franchising Since

      1999

    • New Startup Cost

      $411,278 – $714,774

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      50%

      of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Net Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      3%

      of Net Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      132

    • New Units Opened *

      1

    • Units Transferred *

      5

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2023 data reported in the 2024 FDD

The Flame Broiler – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Flame Broiler's training program covers approximately 12 hours of classroom instruction alongside 68 to 148 hours of on-the-job training, structured across roughly six weeks. Ongoing franchisee support includes field operations, online support, security and safety procedures, and regional advertising. The brand's Magic Rewards loyalty platform is available across the franchise system as a consumer-facing engagement tool. Resale buyers should confirm with Flame Broiler what transfer training and system access are provided to incoming ownership and any new management hires.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The Flame Broiler is built for hands-on restaurant operators with experience in food service or business ownership. The franchisor's stated preference for multi-unit operators reflects a model suited to managers who plan to build a restaurant portfolio rather than operate a single standalone location. Day-to-day success depends on strong people management, consistent execution of food quality and speed-of-service standards, and local community engagement. Candidates who connect with the brand's mission of providing accessible, affordable healthy food will fit Flame Broiler's operational culture as much as those with sharp restaurant management experience.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Flame Broiler has built its presence as one of the original Korean-inspired fast-casual restaurant concepts in the United States, with more than 25 years of franchising operation since 1999. The brand's community mission, including its child sponsorship program tied to restaurant openings, has contributed to positive local reputation within its operating markets. Customer engagement is anchored by the Magic Rewards loyalty program. For resale buyers, the specific unit's local reputation, customer review scores, and community standing are as relevant as system-level brand recognition when assessing an existing location's value.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US fast-casual restaurant market is one of the stronger-performing segments in the food service industry, with Technavio projecting growth at a 14% CAGR between 2025 and 2030. Consumer demand for convenient, health-oriented, and affordable dining drives the category, with Korean cuisine growing faster than most other ethnic food categories across the US as broader cultural adoption expands the customer base. For resale buyers, the category's growth potential matters alongside local factors: unit location, surrounding demographics, and competitive positioning within a specific market.

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