MEMPHIS, Tenn -- The franchise owner of the first Korean fried chicken restaurant in Memphis shares details about the business and its plans for the business that opened two weeks ago. Loay Abdallah and Zuhdi Abdallah, Bonchon franchise owners in Cordova opened the restaurant on Sept. 13. Abdallah is preparing for their grand opening on Friday, October 4. Bonchon is a Korean fried chicken restaurant founded by Jundsul Seo in South Korea in 2002. The first U.S. location opened in New York City in 2006. "Bonchon is a Korean word that translates to ‘my hometown, my roots,’" said Abdallah. "The name honors Seo’s hometown of Busan, South Korea, and reflects our brand’s desire to share Korea's unique flavors and culture with people worldwide." The brand says it anticipates growing from 130 to 500 U.S. locations in the next five years. “Living in Cordova for seven years, I am so thrilled to bring the joy of Korean comfort food to the community,” said Loay Abdallah. “I am involved in the day-to-day operations to insure everyone has a wonderful experience. Thank you to the Cordova community for your support.” The Abdallahs invite the public to its grand opening event on Friday, October 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The first 50 people will receive free t-shirts and wings. According to Loay Abdallah, her family chose to open a Bonchon restaurant because they wanted to share authentic Korean fried chicken with others. Their Korean fried chicken includes wings, drumsticks, strips, and chicken sandwich with signature sauces of soy garlic, spicy, and Korean BBQ. "We make Korean-style fried chicken wings that are famous for their double-frying technique," said Loay Abdallah. "We use commercial fryers that provide high and uniform temperatures crucial for crisping the chicken." She says it gives the wings an extra crispy texture on the outside while keeping the meat juicy and tender on the inside. Bonchon also provides different Korean dishes like bibimbap, japchae, tteokbokki, bulgogi, and more. Loay Abdallah says Bonchon is pivotal in expanding Tennessee franchise locations so that people across the state can experience Korean food and dive deeper into the culture. "We welcome expansion in the Memphis area. As with any market, we’ll do our due diligence to ensure they are positioned where customers are but at a smart distance from other locations," said Abdallah.