Press Release

Local Favorite, TaKorean, Joins Concessions Lineup at Capital One Arena

The Korean taco grill was among a short list of local restaurants chosen by Aramark to establish licensed locations within the Capital One Arena.

Washington, DC 一 TaKorean, the Korean taco grill concept that originally began as a DC food truck over a decade ago, is now available to patrons at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. There are two locations within the stadium in sections 107 and 432 levels.  

“We’re born in Washington DC and are still big in the DC community, so it’s exciting to be chosen as a vendor at the Capital One Arena,” said Mike Lenard, CEO of TaKorean. “It’s the hot spot for professional hockey and basketball — the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards play there. The ownership group for the teams in the arena essentially hand-picked several local concepts to partner with, and they identified us because the food is delicious and the operations are easy to execute.”

The TaKorean team conducted training and onboarding to ensure both locations within the arena are prepared to execute the TaKorean vision and serve as the primary taco vendor at the venue.

“This is a great stamp of approval for our momentum right now,” Lenard added. “This was not a process where vendors could submit a proposal; they identified and invited us to join based on the merit of our concept within the DC market.”

While it’s an honor to be chosen, the concept’s selection also serves as a strong indicator of its operational simplicity and trend-setting product offerings, as well as anticipated success as it emerges within the larger franchise space.

ABOUT TAKOREAN:

TaKorean, a fast-casual Korean-inspired concept with Latin-American influence, was founded by Mike Lenard in 2010 to bring a fresh twist on Korean flavors to the Washington DC food scene. Its “build your own” bowl and taco concept allows guests to create memorable meals, catered to their specific preferences by combining the restaurant’s colorful, fresh, and delicious ingredients. Originally founded as a mobile vending concept, Lenard and his team have grown the brand into a local chain of brick-and-mortar locations and, as of 2022, are eager to offer the opportunity to franchise the concept. The investment required to open a TaKorean restaurant ranges from $215,500–$781,500, including a $40,000 franchise fee.