California Pizza Kitchen Expands into South Korea

By: California Pizza Kitchen | 0 Shares 103 Reads

First California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant Opens in Seoul

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2007--California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) (Nasdaq:CPKI), home of the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and other innovative hearth-baked pizzas, made-to-order pastas, creative salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts, opened its first location in South Korea today. The new restaurant, opened by CPK franchise partner Iris Co. Ltd., is located in the financial district of Seoul, south of the Han River.

The new, unique, tri-level CPK seats approximately 200 people and is located at 1316 Seocho-dong Seocho-Gu, around the corner from the New York Bakery in the Kangnam shopping center. Tastefully decorated with warm colors and rich textures, the restaurant will open Sunday through Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

"We've been looking forward to this opening since signing with Iris Co. earlier this year and we are excited to see the doors open today" said Larry Flax, co-founder and co-CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. "The location of this restaurant is ideal," added Rick Rosenfield, co-founder and co-CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. "The people of Seoul have been exceptionally welcoming and fantastic to work with on this opening."

The open-exhibition kitchen takes center stage where guests can watch as all of California Pizza Kitchen's innovative dishes are prepared. The menu features a wide variety of innovative items including everything from the California Club Pizza and Jamaican Jerk Pizza to Kung Pao Spaghetti and the new Miso Salad. A special menu is also available for children 12 and under.

Using only the highest quality fresh produce and U.S. imported ingredients prepared daily, all California Pizza Kitchen pizzas are hearth-baked in an imported open-flame pizza oven.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain. Of the chain's 224 restaurants, 190 are company-owned and 34 operate under franchise or license agreements. There are 26 CPK ASAP locations, 10 of which are company-owned and 16 are franchised. Also included in the company's portfolio of concepts is LA Food Show Grill & Bar, which currently has one location in Manhattan Beach, California. The company's full-service restaurants feature an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, including the original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and a broad selection of distinctive pastas, salads, soups, appetizers and sandwiches. The company also has a licensing arrangement with Kraft Pizza Company, which manufactures and distributes a line of California Pizza Kitchen premium frozen pizzas. Children who dine at California Pizza Kitchen choose from an extensive menu, recently named "The Best Kids Menu in America" by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine. For more details, visit www.cpk.com.
CONTACT: California Pizza Kitchen
Sarah Grover, 310-342-5000

SOURCE: California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.