Korean Cuisine Startup Koriken raises ₹4Cr in seed round led by Rukam Capital

Koriken, a next-gen Korean Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) in India, has raised ₹4 Crore in a Seed Funding Round from Rukam Capital, a venture capital firm backing early-stage consumer brands. This strategic investment empowers the QSR to accelerate the next phase of growth while bringing the authentic flavours of Korea closer to India.

Koriken combines authentic Korean taste with a modern QSR approach, making it fast, consistent, and accessible to its consumers. The fresh capital raised from Rukam Capital will enable Koriken to expand its flagship and high street outlets across cities, drive product innovation, and enhance brand visibility. To ensure quality, the capital will also strengthen operational efficiency, which includes scaling kitchen systems for speed, consistency, and delivery while blending authentic Korean flavours with the richness of Indian culinary traditions. The expansion will also be supported via talent development, as well as growing its core team.

Commenting on the deal, Hasan Patel, Founder and CEO, shared, “At Koriken, we are on a mission to make Korean street food a mainstream dining choice in India. With India’s young population increasingly seeking new flavours and experiences, we see an incredible opportunity to build a category-defining brand. Our focus is on consistency, affordability, and innovation, while staying true to the essence of Korean food culture."

Koriken, founded by Hasan Patel, offers an authentic taste of Korea with its range of signature dishes, including Korean fried chicken, ramen, mandu, and more. Through this partnership with Koriken, Rukam Capital reinforces its commitment to nurturing startups that are reshaping consumer experiences with diverse, high-quality, and innovative products across categories.

Speaking on the investment, Archana Jahagirdar, Founder & Managing Partner at Rukam Capital, said, “We see a tremendous opportunity to build a category-defining brand as India’s young consumers increasingly embrace new flavours and global cuisines. The current funding will help Koriken turn the Korean food wave into an everyday dining choice and make it a lasting part of India’s food culture. This intersection of India’s fast-growing QSR industry and the cultural momentum of Korea creates a unique high-growth opportunity, the perfect blend to propel ideas that create momentum for long-term success.”

Positioning itself to capitalize on the rapidly growing Korean food market, Koriken envisions making Korean cuisine a household favourite in India, blending authentic flavours, rich aromas, and a modern dining experience inspired by Korea.

India is witnessing a powerful wave of Korean influence that began with entertainment and fashion and has now seamlessly extended into the food & beverage space, reflecting an evolving national preference for Korean cuisine. Interestingly, food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato report nearly a 50% year-on-year increase in orders for Korean food, underscoring the country’s expanding appetite for global flavours.The trend is led by Gen Z consumers, who now contribute to over a quarter of all Korean food orders. Korean restaurants and QSRs have also seen a 59% surge in demand, with the popularity spreading beyond major metros to tier-2 cities like Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Vadodara, Mysuru, and Mangaluru.

With this investment, Koriken is poised to scale its presence and redefine how India experiences Korean cuisine. Together, Koriken and Rukam Capital aim to make authentic Korean flavours an integral part of India’s diverse and vibrant QSR culture.