Fast Casual Nation
The $600K gamble: Why Jae Kim nearly walked away from the Sharks
Jae Kim, founder of Chi'Lantro, joins Fast Casual Nation to share how he built a Korean-Tex Mex fusion brand from a single Austin food truck in 2010 into a 13-location Texas fast casual empire.
March 26, 2026
Jae Kim, founder of Chi'Lantro, joins Fast Casual Nation to share how he built a Korean-Tex Mex fusion brand from a single Austin food truck in 2010 into a 13-location Texas fast-casual empire.
He discusses his three Shark Tank auditions, his experience pitching Barbara Corcoran, the unit economics that drove his growth strategy, and why people, not menu or marketing, remain the foundation of everything he builds.
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