A Korean barbecue bowl chain that got its start out of a single food truck in Salt Lake City has now planted its first Oregon flag in Medford. Cupbop opened its doors at 1251 E. McAndrews Road, Suite 113, inside the McAndrews Marketplace shopping center, serving up customizable rice bowls loaded with marinated meats, kimchi, potstickers, and Korean fried chicken.
The Medford store is owned and operated by local franchisees Jared and Sarah Blake, according to Medford Alert. Sarah Blake grew up in Medford, and the couple has lived in the Jackson County community since 2015. Before bringing Cupbop to their hometown, the Blakes had already tried their hand at franchising, launching a Crumbl Cookies location in California back in 2021.
As KOBI-TV NBC5 reports, the new Medford shop shares its plaza with Sicily's and Rogue Salad, and it's open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, staying closed on Sundays. Cupbop first launched as a single food truck in downtown Salt Lake City back in 2013, founded by Junghun Song, and has since expanded well beyond Utah.
From a $13,000 Food Truck to a Multi-State Chain
Song's beginnings were modest by any measure. He spent roughly $13,000 of his own savings on a 20-year-old food truck to introduce Korean street food to Utah, according to Wikipedia. Song, a former breakdancer, reportedly used his dance background to draw curious crowds to the truck in Cupbop's early days.
By 2024, the company reported operating six food trucks and 57 restaurants across the United States, per its own company reporting, alongside 170 locations in Indonesia — figures that underscore how far the brand has traveled from its single-truck roots. The same year, Wikipedia's entry on the chain put its total footprint at 64 U.S. stores and more than 180 Indonesian locations, generating $64 million in annual revenue, with former hedge fund investor Dok Kwon having joined as partner and COO in 2020 to help build out the systems behind that growth.
A Shark Tank Boost and a Signature Spice Scale
Cupbop's national profile got a considerable lift in May 2022, when founders Junghun Song and Dok Kwon appeared on ABC's Shark Tank and walked away with a $1 million investment offer for 5% equity from Mark Cuban, after fielding proposals from all five investors on the panel, according to Food Republic. The founders reportedly chose Cuban's deal specifically for the national publicity and growth support that came attached to it.
The chain's menu structure is part of its appeal: bowls layer rice, cabbage, and sweet potato glass noodles known as japchae, topped with a choice of protein and sauces graded on a spice scale running from 1, described as sweet, up to 10, extreme heat, as detailed by Tasting Table. The outlet notes that the chain's most popular sauce level sits at 7.5, which Cupbop markets as “Korean spicy.” The Medford menu carries that same format, along with kimchi, potstickers, and other Korean-inspired sides.
Why a Mid-Sized Market Like Medford Now
The Medford opening arrives amid broader momentum for Korean cuisine nationally. The global Korean BBQ restaurant market was valued at $6.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a 7.6% annual rate to reach $13.2 billion by 2034, according to Dataintelo, with the firm attributing much of that growth to the global popularity of Korean pop culture and a rising appetite for experiential fast-casual dining.
Younger diners appear to be a major driver behind that shift. Research published in January 2026 by MTY Franchising found that 65% of Gen Z consumers actively seek value in their dining choices, and that Asian flavors have overtaken traditional European cuisines in popularity among younger North American restaurant patrons, with fermented staples like kimchi and condiments like gochujang seeing rapid adoption on menus nationwide.
The McAndrews Marketplace location gives Cupbop a visible perch in east Medford. The 41,331-square-foot retail complex was built in 2006 and already houses tenants including See's Candies and Mucho Gusto, per a LoopNet listing, sitting near the Biddle Road and Poplar Drive corridor that funnels regular traffic past the center's storefronts.
