Chi’Lantro BBQ Shark Tank Net Worth

Chi’Lantro BBQ was valued at around $3 million when it appeared on Shark Tank. Since then, the company has earned over $9 million and is now worth about $10 million.

The founder has also shared some insights into how the experience changed her life. In 2017, Barbara Corcoran invested $600,000 of her own money for 20% equity in Chi’Lantro BBQ.

What is Chi’Lantro BBQ and Who is the Founder of Chi’Lantro BBQ?

Chi’Lantro BBQ is a restaurant and food truck that offers a unique fusion of Korean BBQ and Mexican cuisines. Their menu includes items such as kimchi fries, Korean fried chicken wings, tacos, and Mexican-style rice bowls that are infused with Asian spices.

Jae Kim founded Chi’Lantro BBQ in 2010 in Austin, Texas, and his best-selling dish is the Kimchi Fries, which are caramelized kimchi fries topped with cheddar, onions, cilantro, sriracha, and a magic sauce.

After seven years in business and with several brick-and-mortar locations in the Austin region, Kim’s food truck and restaurant gained widespread popularity for its innovative concept of blending Korean and Mexican flavors.

The fusion of classic Mexican cuisines such as tacos with Korean cuisine was pioneered by California in the mid-2000s. Jae Kim introduced this concept to Texas, where it quickly became a hit with food lovers.

Chi’Lantro BBQ Shark Tank pitch

Jae Kim, the founder of Chi’Lantro BBQ, auditioned for Shark Tank three times before being chosen to participate in the show.

During his pitch, he asked for $600,000 in exchange for a 15% stake in his company, which was valued at $4 million. Kim had already established a fleet of food trucks and three brick-and-mortar restaurants, with plans to expand to four.

The Sharks were impressed with Kim’s Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine, particularly the kimchi fries, and Barbara Corcoran offered $600,000 for a 30% stake, which Kim countered with a 20% stake, and the two struck a deal.

However, the deal ultimately fell through, and Kim continued to grow his business, with eight restaurants, a catering division, and a truck fleet.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kim pioneered the concept of neighborhood pop-ups, where he parked a truck in a neighborhood for a few hours, allowing residents to access his food while adhering to quarantine protocols.

Despite the failed deal with Corcoran, Chi’Lantro BBQ is thriving, with annual revenues estimated to be $14 million in 2021.

Net Worth of Chi’Lantro BBQ

The company was valued at $4 million during the pitch, after Barbara Corcoran’s acquisition the company was valued at $3 million.

However, the company had made a lot of sales since then with annual revenue of over $14 million. This shows that the net worth of the company has increased in 2021.

Chi’lantro Bbq Shark Tank Updates

Chi’lantro Korean BBQ is a food truck and restaurant business that serves Korean-Mexican fusion dishes like burritos and tacos, as well as more traditional food bowls. The company was founded in 2010 by Jae Kim with a single food truck.

In 2016, Chi’lantro appeared on Shark Tank Season 8 and landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran. Kim asked for $600,000 for 15% equity, but Corcoran offered $600,000 for 20% equity, which Kim accepted.

After the Shark Tank deal, Chi’lantro’s expansion was indefinite, and the Korean BBQ brand became well known. Although Kim walked away from the deal, he told QRS Magazine that the experience taught him a lot.

As of 2022, Chi’lantro continues to grow, and its recognition has spread far and wide. However, there is no recent update on the company’s progress since 2022.

Table: Chi’Lantro BBQ Shark Tank

TOPIC	INFORMATION
Company name	Chi’Lantro BBQ
Founder	Jae Kim
Year founded	2010
Location	Austin, Texas
Cuisine	Korean-Mexican fusion
Best-selling dish	Kimchi Fries
Valuation during Shark Tank	$4 million
Valuation after Shark Tank	$3 million
Investment from Barbara Corcoran	$600,000 for 20% equity
Current worth (2021)	$10 million
Annual revenue (2021)	$14 million
Growth after Shark Tank	Opened 8 restaurants, a catering division, and a truck fleet
Recent updates	No update since 2022

Chi’Lantro BBQ FAQs

What Is Chi’Lantro, Founder, and How Chi’Lantro BBQ Work?

Chi’Lantro BBQ is a Korean-Mexican fusion mobile truck and catering service that was founded in 2010 by Jae Kim.

Jae Kim is the CEO and owner of Chi’Lantro. He started the business by maxing out his credit cards and taking out his total savings of $30,000 to pursue his dream of running a Korean Mexican fusion food truck business.

Jae Kim has been featured in Food and Wine, Cooking Channel, and Food Network with his creation, The Original Kimchi Fries. In 2017, Jae won a deal with Barbara Corcoran on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Chi’Lantro BBQ aims to reinvent traditional Korean and Mexican cuisine by combining two distinct cultural staples, kimchi and cilantro. The former food truck operation has opened ten restaurants in the Austin area. Chi’Lantro BBQ is an award-winning restaurant, mobile food truck, and full-service catering company.

What Happened To The Chi’Lantro After Shark Tank?

Chi’Lantro is an Austin, Texas-based food truck and restaurant business that serves Korean-Mexican fusion dishes like burritos and tacos, as well as more traditional food bowls. Jae Kim founded the company in 2010 with a single food truck.

In 2017, Chi’Lantro appeared on Shark Tank and landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran, who invested $600,000 for a 20% equity stake in the company.

After the Shark Tank appearance, Chi’Lantro continued to grow. As of January 2020, the company had grown to the point that Kim was considering a franchise program to expand beyond Austin. Chi’Lantro’s sales have increased since the show.

The food truck is still in operation, and Kim intends to open another restaurant with the same fusion concept as before.

What Is Chi’Lantro Offer On Shark Tank?

Jae Kim appeared on Shark Tank in Season 8 Episode 8 seeking $600,000 for 15% of his Korean-Mexican fusion food truck and restaurant business, Chi’Lantro BBQ.

Barbara Corcoran was the only Shark interested, and after some negotiation, they settled on $600,000 for 20% of the business. However, Kim later walked away from the deal.

Chi’Lantro BBQ is an Austin, Texas-based food truck and restaurant business that serves Korean-Mexican fusion dishes like burritos and tacos, as well as more traditional food bowls.

The company was founded in 2010 with a single food truck, after a failed venture in the coffee shop industry. When Kim went on Shark Tank in 2016, the company had grown to a fleet of trucks and three restaurants, with two more planned.

Did Chi’Lantro Get The Deal?

Yes, Chi’Lantro did get a deal on Shark Tank. Barbara Corcoran invested $600,000 in exchange for a 20% equity stake in the company.

At the time of the Shark Tank appearance, Chi’Lantro was valued at around $3 million, but the valuation changed exponentially to $15 million in 2022. Since the episode aired, Chi’Lantro has earned over $9 million.

After the show, Chi’Lantro continued to grow. As of January 2020, the company had grown to the point that Kim was considering a franchise program to expand beyond Austin.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the restaurant industry, and it is unclear how it has impacted Chi’Lantro specifically. As of now, the Chi’Lantro website still invites potential business partners to reach out about growth, licensing, and partnership opportunities.

Jae Kim, the CEO and founder of Chi’Lantro, walked away from the deal with Barbara Corcoran, but he told QRS Magazine that the experience taught him a lot about finance in the restaurant business.

Kim also wrote a blog post on the Chi’Lantro website about the five things he learned that changed his life one year after Shark Tank, including the importance of finding what he wanted in his business and personal life and the realization that money is out there.

Did Chi’Lantro Close The Deal?

Yes, Chi’Lantro closed a deal on Shark Tank with Barbara Corcoran. Chi’Lantro’s sales are now as high as $15 million per year. Even though Kim walked away from the deal, he told QRS Magazine that the experience taught him a lot about finance in the restaurant business.

As of January 2020, the company grew to the point that Kim was considering a franchise program to expand beyond Austin. However, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the restaurant industry, and it is unclear how it has impacted Chi’Lantro’s growth and profitability.

As of now, the Chi’lantro website does still invite potential business partners to reach out about growth, licensing, and partnership opportunities.

Is Chi’Lantro Still In Business?

Yes, Chi’Lantro is still in business. Chi’Lantro is an Austin, Texas-based food truck and restaurant business that serves Korean-Mexican fusion dishes like burritos and tacos, as well as more traditional food bowls.

Jae Kim founded the company in 2010 with a single food truck, after maxing out his credit cards and taking out his total savings of $30,000 to pursue his dream of running a Korean Mexican fusion food truck business. Since then, Chi’Lantro has grown to eight locations in Austin, Texas.

In 2017, Jae Kim won a deal with Barbara Corcoran on ABC’s Shark Tank, where she invested $600,000 of her funds in exchange for a 20 percent equity stake in Chi’Lantro BBQ. As of 2022, the Chi’Lantro website still invites potential business partners to reach out about growth, licensing, and partnership opportunities.

What Is The Current Valuation Of Chi’Lantro?

The current net worth of Chi’Lantro is about $10 million as of 2022. The valuation of Chi’Lantro was $4 million when it appeared on Shark Tank, and Barbara Corcoran invested $600,000 in exchange for a 20% equity stake in the company.

Since then, Chi’Lantro has experienced significant growth, earning over $9 million since the Shark Tank episode aired in 2020.

Where is Chi’Lantro located?

Chi’Lantro is in Austin, Texas.

Is his food tasty?

Yes, your food taste is very yummy and good.

What does Chi’Lantro mean?

Chi’Lantro means “Kimchi friend” in Korean.

How did he start the company?

Jae Kim launched his first Chi’Lantro BBQ food truck in 2010 after graduating from college with a degree in physics.

What is his Product?

Korean food served in restaurants and food trucks in Austin, Texas.

Who are his competitors?

Nothing much in Austin, Texas market only one restaurant in Austin called Seoul Grill restaurant.

Is Chi’Lantro kimchi vegan?

Chi’Lantro, known for its Kimchi fries, is a popular Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant in the Austin neighborhood.

The signature hot kimchi topping is vegan, and virtually every dish on the menu may be customized to be vegan or gluten-free. Chi’Lantro bowls, tacos, and burritos are all customized.

What is in Chi’Lantro magic sauce?

It made by mixing 2 tablespoon gochujang, a Korean chili paste add 2 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon and kimchi 1 tablespoon mayonnaise.

How successful is Chi’Lantro?

According to Kim, Chi’Lantro grossed an amazing $4.7 million in sales last year. “That is badass,” Kevin exclaims. “How much of that was due to truck traffic?” The money generated by the vehicles alone was between $300,000 to $400,000. Restaurants account for the remainder of sales, bringing in between $1 million and $1.5 million every year.

How many calories are in kimchi fries?

Fellow aficionados will concur with Wang when she expresses her fear of discovering the fat and calorie content.

Wang seems unsurprised, though, when I inform her that the kimchi fries have 1,183 calories and 86 grams of fat.

How many locations does Chi’Lantro have?

All five of our Chi’Lantro sites are easily accessible, with enough parking. I keep this in mind while selecting a site so that our customers feel comfortable entering the restaurant, picking up their meal, and returning to their business or home.

What is Chi Jeu Queso?

Chips with Chi’ Jeu Queso with crunchy corn tortilla chips, green chile queso.

What is the net worth of Jae Kim?

Jae Kim has a net worth above $7.72 million.