The 9 Best Asian Food Franchises of 2025

The popularity of Asian cuisine in the U.S. has surged in recent years, with consumers increasingly seeking out diverse and flavorful food options. In this context, investing in an Asian food franchise provides access to a thriving sector with established business models and brand recognition.

In this guide, we’ll explore the 9 best Asian food franchises of 2025, covering key details like startup costs, franchise fees, and potential earnings to help you make an informed decision.

The Best Asian Food Franchises of 2025

The most profitable franchises to own in 2025

We have compiled the list of the top 400 franchises across 9 industries. Download the report below.

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Bonchon

Franchising Since: 2006
Franchised Units: 127
Initial Investment: $462,000 - $1,159,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Royalty Fee: 5.00%

Bonchon, meaning “my Hometown” in Korean, is a South Korean international fast-food restaurant headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

The chain was founded in Busan, South Korea, in 2002 by Jinduk Seo. It offers Korean fried chicken, starters, desserts, sides, and sauces.

Bonchon’s franchising journey started in 2006, when its first location in the United States opened at Fort Lee, New Jersey and now has 120 stores in the US

Jinya Ramen Bar

Franchising Since: 2012
Franchised Units: 43
Initial Investment: $1,409,000 - $3,081,000
Franchise Fee: $50,000
Royalty Fee: 5.00%

Jinya Ramen Bar is a Japanese-inspired food concept headquartered in Burbank, California. Its menu focuses on Japanese-style ramen and noodles slowly simmered for over twenty hours.

Jinya Ramen Bar was founded in 2010 by Tomo Takahashi, who introduced his authentic Ramen with traditional Japanese charm to California. It began franchising in 2012, and currently, it has opened 51 franchises in the US.

With a unique menu, Jinya Ramen Bar has positioned itself competitively for passionate entrepreneurs who want to join the growing craving for Asian food restaurants and is an ideal franchise with the model and potential to scale their businesses.

Manchu Wok

Franchising Since: 1989
Franchised Units: 15
Initial Investment: $476,000 - $788,000
Franchise Fee: $30,000
Royalty Fee: 6% - 7%

Manchu Wok is an authentic Chinese quick-service food restaurant that specializes in American Chinese cuisine. Its menu features a variety of Asian delicacies, such as orange chicken, honey garlic chicken, etc.

Manchu Wok was founded by Dr. Jack Lew and other Hong Kong immigrants, and the first location opened in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1980. It began by offering quality Chinese cuisine in a quick-service setting and soon expanded into other locations and gained greater exposure in non-traditional markets, such as universities and airports.

Manchu Wok began selling franchises in 1989, and as of 2018, it had opened over 185 locations in the US and Canada, 70% of them being franchised.

Today, it has developed into one of the largest franchises of Asian restaurants owned by the MTY Group, which operates over 40 banners through national and international expansion.

Noodles & Company

Franchising Since: 2003
Franchised Units: 93
Initial Investment: $747,000 - $1,423,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Royalty Fee: 5.00%

Noodles & Company is a chain of fast-casual restaurants headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado. Its menu features international and American noodle dishes, pasta, salads, soups, baguettes, desserts, and customizable kids’ meals.

Noodles & Company was founded in 1995 by Aaron Kennedy in Broomfield, Colorado, after realizing a gap in restaurants that served noodle dishes. His idea worked, and for almost 30 years, Noodles & Company has offered quality foods made fresh, bringing families and communities together and opening hundreds of locations in Colorado and its neighborhoods.

The brand has continued with its mission to nourish and inspire every team member, guest, and community it serves, bringing inspired flavors and guest-friendly operations into more states across the US. Noodles & Company began franchising in 2003 and currently has 93 franchises in the US and 369 company-owned locations.

Pho Hoa

Franchising Since: 1992
Franchised Units: 18
Initial Investment: $333,000 - $680,000
Franchise Fee: $30,000
Royalty Fee: 4.00%

Pho Hoa is a Vietnamese restaurant chain headquartered in Sacramento, California. It serves Vietnamese rolls, pho bowls, vermicelli, and rice dishes.

Pho Hoa was founded in 1983 by Binh Nguyen, who wanted to make a healthy bowl of pho using Vietnamese flavors and spices in San Jose, CA. It began franchising in 1992, and as of 2021, it had opened 63 locations globally, including 23 franchises in the US.

From humble beginnings, the company has grown into a leading franchise in the fast-casual Vietnamese food industry. Today, it provides potential opportunities for passionate franchise owners with standalone locations or co-branded options, and interested franchisees can establish and scale their businesses into multi-units.

The most profitable franchises to own in 2025

We have compiled the list of the top 400 franchises across 9 industries. Download the report below.

Download now

SanSai Fresh Grill & Sushi Kitchen

Franchising Since: 2002
Franchised Units: 11
Initial Investment: $441,000 - $801,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Royalty Fee: 5.00%

SanSai Fresh Grill & Sushi Kitchen is a Japanese fusion quick-casual cuisine concept headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It is best known for its grilled-to-order meats, and sushi is made right before your eyes with fresh fish and traditional Japanese ingredients.

The first SanSai Fresh Grill & Sushi Kitchen opened in 2002 in Glendale, California. It soon became a popular spot for customers to enjoy SanSai’s fresh salads and grilled teriyaki salmon. The company began franchising in 2002, and as of 2013, it had opened 21 locations in the US.

Through its growth, SanSai Fresh Grill & Sushi Kitchen has perfected its unique and differentiated model with a fresh-driven menu, and today it provides a great opportunity to own a business that is exciting and has great possibilities in the quickly growing fast-casual market.

Teriyaki Madness

Franchising Since: 2005
Franchised Units: 138
Initial Investment: $351,000 - $977,000
Franchise Fee: $45,000
Royalty Fee: 6.00%

Teriyaki Madness is an American fast-casual food chain headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

The brand serves flavorful Asian cuisines, such as Japanese-style teriyaki bowls of grilled meat with your choice of rice, noodles, or vegetables. Also, it offers chicken, salmon, beef, and vegetarian dishes, as well as sauces and sides.

The chain was founded in 2003 by Eric Garma, Rod Arreola, and Allan Arreola in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It began its franchising journey in 2005, and now it has over 125 restaurants in 18 states in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Thai Express

Franchising Since: 2004
Franchised Units: 0
Initial Investment: $353,000 - $911,000
Franchise Fee: $30,000
Royalty Fee: 6.00%

Thai Express is an Asian fast-food franchise headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its menu features made-to-order Thai cuisine from fresh ingredients, such as spring rolls, fried rice, and red, green, or yellow curries.

Thai Express was established in 2004, becoming a top Asian QSR in the country and one of the most recognizable restaurant brands in Canada. It began franchising in 2004, and by 2018, it had grown to over 300 locations, including six franchises in the US.

Thai Express has become one of the fastest-growing Asian brands in the U.S., offering franchise owners a great opportunity to capitalize on the ever-growing demand for authentic, healthy, affordable, and fast Asian foods and a model that has done well in food courts, shopping centers, universities, and as a stand-alone and is coveted by millennials across the country.

Waba Grill

Franchising Since: 2006
Franchised Units: 184
Initial Investment: $341,000 - $577,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Royalty Fee: 5.00%

Waba Grill is an American fast-casual franchise chain known for its Asian-inspired, healthy lifestyle menu.

It offers a variety of healthy options, such as rice bowls, plates, and salads. In addition, it serves boneless, skinless, fat-trimmed chicken, rib-eye cuts of steak, as well as salmon, shrimp, and tofu.

The chain was established in 2006 by Kyle Lee, Brian Ham, and Eric Lee in Southern California, where it is headquartered.

Its franchising journey began in 2007, and today it has over 200 locations in the US.

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