A Korean-Chinese noodle chain with roots in Seoul is preparing to open its first Charlotte-area restaurant at 10400 Centrum Parkway in Pineville, with a planned opening date of Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. The spot, tucked into the Centrum Shopping Plaza, will also mark Paik's Noodle's first location anywhere in North Carolina.
The chain describes itself as a Korean-Chinese fusion concept built around noodle dishes that blend flavors from both culinary traditions, according to Paik's Noodle. Its story dates back to 2006, when it began in Seoul under founder Chef Jong Won Paik, per the company's own account. The Pineville opening was reported by the Charlotte Observer, whose CharlotteFive team found a Mecklenburg County permit request for construction and mechanical work filed at the address in June 2026, describing the buildout as a small Asian noodles restaurant.
What's on the Menu
The restaurant is known for jajangmyeon, a dish that includes noodles, stir-fried protein, vegetables and a thick, savory black bean sauce. The chain's own site calls it a beloved Korean-Chinese noodle dish built on that rich black bean base, per Paik's Noodle. Jjamppong, a spicy seafood soup made with pork, squid, mussels and vegetables according to DoorDash listings, rounds out the noodle lineup alongside chicken and seafood entrées and traditional rice dishes.
Beyond the noodle bowls, the menu according to DoorDash also includes sweet and sour pork, fried dumplings, garlic soy chicken wings and shrimp fried rice. Paik's Noodle says on its website that its offerings reflect Chef Paik's passion for creating meals that are both delightful and straightforward.
A Growing Footprint, With Some Fuzzy Math
Where exactly Paik's Noodle stands in terms of size depends on who's counting. The chain, based in Los Angeles and operating across 14 states, is described in the Charlotte Observer's reporting as having about 40 existing locations. But the company's own website claims a much larger global footprint, saying it has expanded to over 300 locations worldwide. That larger figure lines up with an earlier report from the Fresno Bee, which in February 2025 put the chain at more than 300 locations worldwide, including 13 in California. The two counts differ.
Other outposts offer a glimpse of what Pineville customers might expect. When Paik's Noodle opened in Houston's Asiatown in 2017, Eater Houston reported the menu was relatively small, with just six or seven dishes on offer, each priced under $10, and the shop stayed open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Fresno location, meanwhile, kept slightly shorter hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, according to the same Fresno Bee report, which also detailed a jajangmyeon built on thick noodles, pork, vegetables and that same savory black bean sauce.
Still Waiting on Confirmation
CharlotteFive reached out to Paik's Noodle for more information on Friday, but as of publication the company had not responded. That leaves some basic details about the Pineville location, such as its hours or whether the Oct. 1 date will hold, unconfirmed for now. Social media accounts listed for the brand include @paiksnoodle.clt and @paiknoodle.us, though neither had shed additional light on the opening as of this report.
