Chung Chun Rice Dog, also known as Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog and Chungchun Ssal,[1] is a
restaurant chain with more than 300 locations internationally.[2]
The global brand Chung Chun was established in
Seoul in 2017,[3] and has also been described as Canada's "first-ever Korean Hot Dog restaurant brand".[4]
Mochinut, established in 2020, has been described as a spinoff of Chung Chun. The first Mochinut location opened within a Chung Chun in
Southern California.[5]
Description
The
Seattle location's interior, 2022Rice dog and various sauces,
Seattle, 2022
The business serves hot dogs with various batters, dips, sauces and toppings such as
panko breadcrumbs, Korean ramen noodles, granulated sugar, potato, and
squid ink.[1][6] Its signature dish is a Korean-inspired take on a
corn dog, the rice dog. The dog-on-a-stick is dipped into rice flour batter and rolled in breadcrumbs before frying, which creates a crispier crust than the traditional
cornmeal-battered hot dog.[1]
History
There were 200 locations internationally, as of October 2019, in South Korea, Australia,[7] China, Japan, and elsewhere.[8]
In Ontario, the chain has operated in Toronto,
Guelph,
Hamilton, and
Orillia.[21] Following Toronto,[9] the Guelph location opened in the Harvard Plaza in mid 2022.[10] The Hamilton location opened in
Westdale in June 2021.[22] There are nine locations in
Quebec, as of mid 2022.[23] A location opened near
Concordia University's downtown campus in
Montreal in 2020.[24][25] A larger location opened in
Laval in 2021.[26] Another location opened in
Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, in 2022. The business has also operated in the city's
Chinatown neighborhood.[23]
In California, the business has operated in
Los Angeles[27] and
San Diego. The San Diego location opened in 2019.[2] In New Jersey, the chain planned to open a location in
Norwood, as of 2020.[28] In Texas, the Korean shaved ice shop Sul Bing Su in
Katy began selling Chung Chun in 2019.[29][30] In Washington, Chung Chun's first location in the
Pacific Northwest began operating in
Seattle's
Chinatown–International District in late 2019.[31][32][33] One hundred customers received a free rice dog at the shop's grand opening.[34]
Reception
Dylan Joffe, Maggy Lehmicke, Gabe Guarente, and Jade Yamazaki Stewart included the business in
Eater Seattle's 2022 overview of Seattle's best inexpensive meals.[35]