Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

Apparently, the popular Vietnam Pho-Hoa (sp?) restaurant chain has split off in Korea. Basically, my friend said that the Korean restaurants no longer wanted to pay royalties to use the US chain name. Instead, they kept the menu basically the same, changed the name of the restaurant slightly, and are continuing to operate unhindered.

We ate at the one in daehangno today. I don't know if I will be eating there again, just because I'm not impressed with their business tactics, if the above is true.

Anyone know more?

[wylies99]

You;re talking about this chain?

http://www.phohoa.com/

We've eaten at the one in Myeong Dong (two blocks from Lotte Dept. Store). It's expensive and the food is bland.

[alphakennyone]

Didn't some Subway sandwich locations shut down because they weren't paying royalties?

It's too bad, as Pho Hoa, while overpriced, is one of the more authentic pho places. A lot of the Korean joints add fish cakes and such. I just want plain beef (pho tai) or chicken pho (pho ga).

I guess Pho Hoa isn't big enough to enforce its trademark overseas...might have been foolish of them to allow franchises to open in Korea to begin with.

[climber159]

I heard this is the same thing Mister Pizza did. Mister Pizza is originally a Japanese company and at some point the Koreans decided to say bye-bye to the Japanese and go on as if the whole venture was born and bred in Korea. So, for the Pho places to do the same isn't surprising in the least. Phohoa is Korean. Mister Pizza is Korean. After all, if you are zealous enough in your belief, then it's true. Dae Han Min Guk!!!

[Snake Doctor]

Common Korean business tactics. Didn't LG do the same thing when it partnered up with IBM on laptops awhile back?

[bassexpander]

Well, the place was not busy like it once was, and the shrimp in egg rolls was rotten. I had vowed never to eat at that restaurant again, even though I like the taste, because they often leave their back room door open (you can see it from the hall) and it's horribly dirty. It had been so long since I'd eaten there, I'd forgotten when my friend suggested it.

[bassexpander]

The name, by the way, is now Pho-Roi.

[robot]

The Subway shop near Seoheyon Station in Bundang has now become a "Some Big" sandwich shop.

Same owner, basically the same decor and menu -- the only difference is the name, really.

I won't complain, though, as their subs are amazing. As opposed to other Subway joints, they PILE on the meat and toppings.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[seoulsucker]

I don't know if it's still there, but a few years ago the Pho Hoa in Mok-dong changed its sign to "For Ya" with the same color scheme and branding.

They continued using Pho Hoa bowls, glasses, menus, etc.

It's very "cunning."

[gypsyfish]

The guy who had the Wendys hamburger franchise did the same thing. Changed the name to Winners, kept the square burgers and baked potatoes. It crashed and burned in about a year.

Too bad, I liked Pho Hoa, but won't patronize the 'new' Pho Roi or For Ya restaurants. Dicks.

[ReeseDog]

Pho Hoa in Atlanta is outstanding.