This Korean BBQ chain deep-fries its chicken using extra virgin olive oil

When Genesis BBQ first introduced their “golden olive oil fried chicken” back in 2007, people didn’t think much of it.

Olive oil was just another cooking oil, blending in with the rest like corn oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil.

But their chairman, Yoon Hong-geun, saw its potential.

He discovered the nutritional benefits of olive oil in 2002 while planning to expand the company to Spain.

Impressed by its qualities, he made golden olive oil fried chicken the company’s signature dish.

And boy, did it pay off.

Today, golden olive oil fried chicken has become synonymous with Genesis BBQ.

As the company’s local chains grew to over 2,000, the largest number in the fried chicken industry, they also expanded internationally.

With over 700 shops in 57 countries across North America, Central America, and Southeast Asia, Genesis BBQ has truly made a name for itself.

Chairman Yoon celebrated their success just recently, despite the challenges faced last year.

Their franchisees managed to expand to 26 US states, overcoming obstacles like high market prices, interest rates, and rising raw ingredient costs.

And they owe much of their popularity to olive oil.

It’s what gives Genesis BBQ’s fried chicken that irresistible crispy texture, all while being a healthier option.

However, using olive oil for deep-frying wasn’t an obvious choice.

It was more expensive than other oils and had a low smoke point, causing foods to blacken when fried.

But Chairman Yoon was determined to make it work.

He partnered with Lotte Samgang, which later became Lotte Foods, and spent three years developing a method to raise the smoke point to 230 degrees Celsius, preventing the oil from burning during the frying process.

This innovation even earned him a patent.

“We countered the deep-rooted belief among consumers that deep-frying oils are full of trans fat and bad for health by introducing olive oil,” an official from the company explained.

And it paid off.

Despite the extra cost of using extra virgin olive oil, which amounted to tens of billions of won, Genesis BBQ stuck with its recipe.

And this recipe is now yours to try if you spot a franchise outlet near you ;)

Enjoy your K.F.C. (Korean Fried Chicken).

Read more Korea-related stories here 👇👇👇

If you’re seeing this as a video, find my full post here:

medium.com/@celesteelle