CJ Foodville's Common Eats: a healthy quick lunch spot opens near Gangnam

Quick lunch or healthy lunch? CJ Foodville says you shouldn't have to choose. The company announced on 10 November that it will open the first store of its new brand, Common Eats, near Gangnam Station in Seoul in early December.

The brand targets the fast-growing ready-to-eat market. CJ Foodville, a restaurant operator in South Korea, says it wants to end a daily dilemma: grabbing something fast often means poor nutrition, while eating healthy can mean less flavour and less fullness.

The company points out that habits like blood sugar management and high-protein diets have moved beyond a passing fad into everyday life. Yet office workers still have limited options at lunchtime. Burgers and sandwiches come with refined carbs and heavy sauces, while traditional salad shops rely on cold vegetables that leave you hungry again soon.

The name Common Eats is meant as a statement: a new meal standard that anyone can enjoy easily, every day.

It isn't CJ Foodville's first new concept lately. In December 2025, it opened its Italian bistro brand Olive Pepe, with a first store near Gwanghwamun Station. Common Eats arrives about a year later.