Ben Kim
President | Co-Founder, Kfire
Ben Kim is the President and Co-Founder of KFire, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in authentic Korean BBQ, with two locations in Chicago, Illinois. Before venturing into the restaurant industry, Ben spent over 16 years in finance. He began his career in the technology investment banking division of Citigroup in New York City. In 2004, Ben transitioned to the buyside, joining Joho Capital, a multi-billion-dollar, Asia-focused hedge fund where he worked as a senior equity research analyst.
In 2018, Ben decided to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. He relocated his family to Chicago, where he met his future business partner, Eddie Hwang, a professional chef. Their shared vision for Korean BBQ led them to co-found KFire. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, KFire opened its first location in July 2020. Fueled by strong demand for its catering services and Korean cuisine, KFire expanded with the opening of its second location in October 2023. Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from The University of Chicago and currently resides in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.
