{
  "id": 17559197,
  "title": "American restaurant chain Chipotle to open first Southeast Asian store",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/american-restaurant-chain-chipotle-to-open-first-southeast-asian-store",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-01T07:46:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress Business",
    "slug": "vnexpress-business",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/american-restaurant-chain-chipotle-to-open-first-southeast-asian-store-5139351.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chipotle Mexican Grill, a restaurant chain known for its customizable Mexican-inspired dishes, announced plans to open its first store in Southeast Asia. The new location will be situated on the second level of a shopping mall, as reported by Channel News Asia. Customers will have the option to select from Chipotle's menu of burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and salads.\n\nThe Southeast Asian market was chosen due to Singapore's appreciation for high-quality ingredients and diverse food culture, according to Hee Soo Hur, president and chief vision officer of Sangmidang Holdings. Sangmidang Holdings is a joint venture between Chipotle and Big Bite Company, an affiliate of Sangmidang Holdings. Both companies will manage Chipotle's operations in Singapore and South Korea.\n\nChipotle has already established a presence in Asia, with its first restaurant opening in Seoul, South Korea on September 2, followed by a second location at Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam in Sweet Park on October 28. Singapore's market is seen as an exciting opportunity for the brand, thanks to its strong emphasis on quality ingredients and the ability for customers to customize their meals exactly as they desire.\n\nFounded in 1993 in Denver, Colorado, Chipotle now boasts over 4,200 restaurants across the United States and operates in several countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Mexico. The company's expansion into Singapore comes after the recent entry of other international food and beverage brands, such as American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A and Korean burger brand Lotteria.",
  "summary": "American fast-casual chain Chipotle will enter Singapore next year with a restaurant at Jewel Changi Airport, its first outlet in Southeast Asia.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}