The Future of Fast-Casual Isn’t Italian, Mexican, or American—It’s Asian.
Business Plan
Asian Johns is a fast-casual restaurant brand built on bold pan-Asian flavors, operational efficiency, and deep cultural roots. With a proven concept, iconic branding, and a scalable franchise model, Asian Johns fills a massive gap in the U.S. fast-casual market—offering authentic, modern Asian cuisine with speed, affordability, and style. Inspired by a 32-year-old Korean family BBQ chain, we blend tradition and innovation to redefine what Asian fast-casual dining can be.
Competitive Advantage
What sets Asian Johns apart is our unique combination of heritage-driven flavors, rapid-service execution, and a brand that feels as fun as it is scalable. While legacy brands like Panda Express dominate the outdated Asian QSR space, we are pioneering a new category—modern Asian fast-casual. With an award-winning concept, secured IP, world-class advisors from Wahoo’s and Chipotle, and systems already optimized for franchising, we are poised to own the niche.
Traction
Winner of a national fast-casual pitch competition (200+ brands).
Brand & IP secured including name, trademark, social handles, and domains.
Menu testing and flagship location build-out in progress.
Investor interest active, with LOIs under review and $2M in funding sought.
Backed by advisors from iconic food brands and tech experts.
Why Now
The U.S. consumer is hungry for bold, culturally relevant food experiences. The pandemic reshaped dining habits, accelerating demand for delivery-friendly, fast, flavorful meals. Globalization has pushed Asian cuisine into the spotlight, yet the fast-casual space remains stale and underserved. With fast-growing Millennial and Gen Z demographics craving authenticity and affordability, Asian Johns is launching at the perfect cultural and economic moment.
Why Here
The $52B U.S. fast-casual market is ripe for disruption. Asian cuisine is the fastest-growing global food category, yet lacks a dominant fast-casual brand that speaks to modern palates. Asian Johns was built in Atlanta, a diverse food hub, with nationwide scalability in mind—from urban food courts to suburban centers. With low buildout costs, high-margin dishes, and real estate strategy baked in, we’re ready to grow city by city.
Team
John Maikke – Founder & CEO:
Third-generation restaurateur. Visionary behind Asian Johns and operator of a long-standing Korean BBQ brand.
Hyon Cha – Culinary Director:
Leads R&D. Brings over 32 years of culinary experience from the family’s original restaurant.
Michael Cha – Operations Lead:
Drives daily logistics, kitchen management, and supply chain.
Kevin Cha – Real Estate & Development:
Scouts high-potential locations and manages build-outs.
Advisors:
Wing Lam (Wahoo’s) – Franchise and brand growth expert.
Bobby Shaw (Former Chipotle Exec) – Fast-casual scaling strategies.
Ron Griffin (Former CIO of global food brands) – Tech & CRM.
Deal Terms
Valuation: $10M pre-money / $12M post-money
Equity Offered: 16.67%
Funding Target: $2M
Minimum Check Size: $100K
Use of Funds: Flagship locations, ops team expansion, marketing, tech stack, and franchise playbook.
Exit Strategy: Acquisition, royalties through franchising, or IPO.
Exit Strategy
Acquisition by major QSR groups (e.g., Yum! Brands, Chipotle).
Franchising royalties and long-term cash flow from licensing and branded products.
IPO as the brand matures and scales nationwide.
Founder buyback option at pre-defined multiple.
