In a welcome addition to Jonesboro’s dining scene, Bonchon, owned by San and Rebecca Mirafuentes, is transforming familiar comfort foods into an unforgettable experience, serving classics with a bold Korean-inspired twist.

The couple’s journey to opening the restaurant in February 2025 began unexpectedly in 2021, when their family ate at a Bonchon restaurant, in Orlando, Fla., while on vacation. The restaurant chain began in Busan, Korea, in 2002 when founder Jinduk Seo dreamed of sharing his favorite flavors with the world. Bonchon, which means ‘my hometown’ in Korean, has since rapidly expanded with more than 490 locations worldwide, including more than 150 restaurants operating in the United States.

“We loved the food—especially the chicken—but at the time, we had no idea it would eventually turn into something much bigger for us,” said Rebecca. “In 2022, we began seriously exploring the idea of opening a franchised restaurant. We looked into several concepts, but Bonchon stood out—not only because we genuinely enjoyed the product, but also because the brand was in the early stages of national expansion. That combination made it a unique opportunity.

“We ultimately signed an agreement securing territory in Central and Northeast Arkansas. From there, things moved quickly, and we were fortunate to secure a location for our first restaurant—right here in Jonesboro, which made it even more meaningful for our family.”

Stepping into the restaurant world as new franchise owners has given both San and Rebecca the opportunity to showcase one of their greatest strengths: their adaptability.

San was born in the Philippines and moved to Arkansas shortly after graduating high school. Rebecca was born in Roswell, N.M., into a military family and moved around frequently, an experience that, she says, taught her how to adapt to new situations and connect with people around her. San and Rebecca’s paths crossed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where they both attended college and met at a church event. What started off as friendship grew into something more, and the two married in 2009.

After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock—San with a degree in electronics and computer engineering technology, and Rebecca with a degree in business– they moved to Jonesboro, where San served as director of network operations for Ritter Communications. While Rebecca currently works as a network engineer for Uniti, she says her favorite job is her role as a mom to Ian (13) and Mia (5).

“Life stays busy with our two kids, Ian and Mia, between soccer practices, gymnastics and church events, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said. 

When the couple opened Bonchon last year, they had no prior experience in the service industry, creating a significant learning curve along with other challenges associated with opening a new restaurant. However, they felt supported every step of the way.

“The process of opening a new restaurant was actually less intimidating than I had imagined—though I’ll admit I went into it expecting the worst,” said San. “I had zero experience in hospitality and had never worked in a restaurant before, so there was definitely a learning curve. That said, I truly enjoyed the journey. It gave me the opportunity to ask a lot of questions, learn from experienced professionals and gain a completely new perspective on the industry.

“Of course, like any project of this scale, there were challenges along the way—securing the right location, equipment delays, weather-related setbacks and labor shortages, just to name a few. But we were fortunate to have strong support from the Bonchon team, as well as great local partners like StoneBridge Construction and Haag Brown. Their guidance and collaboration played a big role in helping us navigate those obstacles.”

San and Rebecca say Bonchon brings a unique experience and flavor to Jonesboro.

“Bonchon is unique in several ways,” said San. “First, it really sits in that space between fast casual and full-service dining. Guests get high-quality, freshly prepared food that’s made to order, but without the long wait times you might expect from a traditional restaurant.

“Second, the menu brings bold Korean flavors to familiar favorites. Whether it’s our fried chicken, tacos or fried rice, we’re introducing something new while still keeping it approachable. That balance—comfort food with a unique twist—is what makes the experience stand out.”

While Bonchon is famous for its Korean fried chicken, which is double-fried for extra crispiness, they also offer other bold dishes, such as pork belly tacos, fried rice, noodle dishes and Korean donuts.

Rebecca and San each have their own personal Bonchon favorites.

“A few of my go-to favorites are the pork belly bao buns, the chicken spicy fried rice and our flat wings in the classic crunch flavor—they’re always a must for me, said San. “And, of course, I can’t leave out the Korean donuts. They’re the perfect way to finish a meal and have quickly become one of my favorite treats.”

“I love the bulgogi tacos—they’re loaded with coleslaw and have that drizzle of ranch and spicy mayo that just makes them so good,” said Rebecca. “And honestly, I’ll sometimes ask the chef to make me my own fried rice—it’s kind of my comfort go-to.”

For the entrepreneurial couple, their greatest challenges with opening and running a restaurant have to do with learning how to step into new roles and a new industry.

“The most challenging part for me has been stepping into the role of chief marketing officer,” said San. “Marketing and advertising don’t come naturally to me, and I’ve come to realize just how critical consistent brand awareness is to running a successful restaurant. It’s something I’m still actively learning and working to improve every day.”

However, what Rebecca and San say they find most rewarding and the most important part of the job: the people.

“We’ve had the chance to meet so many incredible members of the community, and hearing their stories has been truly meaningful,” said San. “Beyond that, being able to invest in our team and create a positive impact—both for our staff and within the community—has brought a great sense of fulfillment.”

Rebecca feels similarly.

“I’m definitely still learning as I go, but I think that’s part of what makes it meaningful. It’s not always easy but being able to support our team and be part of their journey makes it all worth it,” she said.

While the Mirafuentes family is exploring opportunities to expand into other markets, including Little Rock and Conway, right now their focus is on serving Jonesboro.

“Our main focus is continuing to get better every day—serving great food, delivering an exceptional guest experience, and creating a positive impact for our team and the Northeast Arkansas community,” said San. “If we can do those things consistently, everything else will follow.”

Bonchon is located at 2200 Red Wolf Blvd. in Jonesboro. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. To learn more about Bonchon, visit the Bonchon-Jonesboro Facebook page, visit bonchon.com or call (870) 604-1227.