Chipotle is bringing its burrito-led fast-casual concept to Southeast Asia, with Singapore becoming its first market in the region in 2027.
US fast-casual restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill will make its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore in 2027, opening its first restaurant at Jewel Changi Airport as it expands its international footprint through regional partnerships.
The restaurant will be located on Level 2 of Jewel Changi Airport and will introduce Chipotle’s signature menu of burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas and salads.
The Singapore entry will be managed through S&C Restaurants Holdings, a joint venture between Chipotle and Big Bite Company, an affiliate of South Korea-based Sangmidang Holdings.
The partnership is overseeing Chipotle’s expansion in Singapore and South Korea, combining the American chain’s restaurant model with its partner’s regional operating experience. The agreement was originally announced in September 2025, when the companies outlined plans to introduce the brand to both Asian markets.
Singapore follows South Korea, where Chipotle opened its first Asian restaurant on Gangnam-daero in Seoul on September 2, 2026. A second location opened at Sweet Park inside Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam on October 28, with two additional South Korean restaurants planned by the end of 2026.
Founded in 1993, Chipotle has built a global network of more than 4,200 restaurants. Its third-quarter 2026 figures reported 4,287 restaurants worldwide as of September 30, comprising 4,267 company-operated outlets and 20 international partner-operated restaurants.
The company has traditionally relied on company-owned restaurants rather than conventional franchising, particularly in the US. However, its international expansion increasingly involves partnerships with established regional operators to enter new markets.
In the Middle East, Chipotle signed a development agreement with Kuwait-based Alshaya Group in July 2023 to expand across the region. It also partnered with Mexican restaurant operator Alsea in April 2025 to develop its presence in Mexico, opening its first restaurant in Nuevo León in July 2026.
Its Asian expansion partner, Sangmidang Holdings, brings an established foodservice network to the arrangement, operating approximately 7,000 locations worldwide across its portfolio. Its brands include Paris Baguette, Paris Croissant and Coffee@Works, alongside experience introducing international restaurant concepts to South Korean consumers.
Chipotle’s Singapore entry will mark its first move into Southeast Asia, giving the company access to a competitive foodservice market with an established appetite for international dining concepts. The opening will also test how its American fast-casual model translates to Asian consumers as the company continues to explore partnership-led international growth.
