November 4th 2024.
In South Korea, there is a fast-food chain called Lotteria that has been dubbed as "living in 2050". It's not just any ordinary chain, it's a place where fans cheer with excitement when their order number is announced, and where one bite of a burger can bring back memories of the past. It's hard to believe, but in some parts of the world, the iconic golden arches of McDonald's are not as significant. In fact, there are 123 countries that do not have a single McDonald's restaurant. And in South Korea, while there are McDonald's locations, Lotteria takes the crown as the most popular fast-food chain in the country.
Lotteria first opened its doors in Tokyo in 1972, two years before McDonald's made its debut in the UK. However, despite being around for almost 50 years, Lotteria's restaurants are not outdated. In fact, they are quite the opposite. TikToker Lauren Wolfe recently gave us a glimpse of one of their locations in Seoul, known as Lotteria L7. It is the first unmanned "smart-store" in the chain, located in the hip neighborhood of Hongdae.
Upon entering the sleek automatic glass doors and walking down a red corridor, Lauren was greeted by self-serve screens where she could place her order. The machine then printed out a receipt with her order number, just like any other fast-food chain. However, here's where things get interesting. When her order was ready, a loud "ding-dong" sound alerted her to scan her receipt's barcode, which directed her to a box in the wall. After knocking on her designated box, it opened, revealing her food neatly placed on a tray. There are also vending machines for sauces, a self-serve drinks station, and a contactless machine for hand sanitizing after eating. The whole process involves zero human interaction, which Lauren enjoyed, and her viewers loved it too.
Lotteria L7 may be the most high-tech location, but all Lotteria branches have a similar menu. And for all the McRib fans out there, Lotteria has a similar offering with its Pork Rib Sandwich, which costs significantly less than McDonald's version in the UK. Other unique menu items include taco-flavored fries, consommé-flavored fried chicken, and a Shrimp Burger with a special tartar sauce. They even have pasta-inspired burgers, such as the Ultimate Spicy Chunky Bolognese Burger. And for those with a sweet tooth, Lotteria offers a limited edition Chestnut Cream Pie and churros, along with hot and cold flavored drinks.
As for the possibility of Lotteria coming to the UK, there have been rumors in the past about the chain expanding to the US. However, nothing has been confirmed yet, and there is no indication of any branches opening in the UK at this time. But who knows, maybe in the future, we'll get a taste of Lotteria's futuristic dining experience.
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