Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently joined stakeholders from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), ASUR Airports and Concord Collective to celebrate the opening of two beloved Los Angeles-based brands at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with performances by the Crenshaw Marching Band and 1500 or Nothin’ musical ensemble. The new dining concepts now open in Terminal 1 include Marathon Burger, an all-day restaurant specializing in Wagyu smash burgers and hot wings and built from the legacy of the late rapper, entrepreneur and activist Nipsey Hussle’s Marathon Brand by his brother Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom; and Kogi BBQ, an outpost of the Korean-Mexican fusion food truck founded by Chef Roy Choi and specializing in tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
“Marathon Burger and Kogi BBQ embody the best of LA’s culinary and cultural excellence. Now, visitors from around the world will be able to experience them the moment they land,” said Mayor Bass. “Our ongoing investments at LAX are centered on creating a world-class travel experience that introduces travelers to the best parts of Los Angeles. Today is a celebration of that.”
“We’re on a mission to put the ‘LA’ in LAX, and I can’t think of a better way to start than Marathon Burger and Kogi BBQ,” added LAWA CEO John Ackerman. “These brands are about more than great food. Visionary chef Roy Choi’s launch of Kogi helped shape LA’s street food culture, and Marathon carries forward Nipsey Hussle’s legacy of entrepreneurship and community pride. Bringing them to LAX gives travelers a real taste of our city.”
“We are honored to have this opportunity to bring Marathon Burger to LAX Terminal 1,” said Asghedom. “We are appreciative to be able to allow travelers to experience our burgers right when they touch down in LA. To be able to expand and have this be our fifth location is a huge blessing.”
“From the streets to the skies, Kogi is eternal. I can’t wait to see faces light up when they see Kogi at the airport,” said Choi. “And now travelers can bring a Kogi burrito in their jacket pocket back to their hometowns. We are a local family running a local company feeding a local community. We at Kogi always try to rep LA and our community to the fullest. So, what better way to ride for everyone than to represent street food at LAX as the gateway to LA. Thank you to everyone who got us here. We love you and hopefully you see a part of yourselves in Kogi at the airport!”
“We want guests to immediately know they’re in Los Angeles,” said Greg Plummer, managing partner and CEO at Concord Collective. “These are authentically local brands with deep roots in the community, and that’s exactly the kind of experience we want to create at LAX. This is our moment. This demonstrates what a local operator can accomplish when given the opportunity to think big and deliver something truly distinctive for LAX.”
“With bold flavors, powerful stories, and deep Los Angeles roots, Marathon Burger and Kogi BBQ embody the local authenticity we seek to deliver across our portfolio,” said Maral Matossian, ASUR Airports’ vice president at LAX. “Bringing these concepts to LAX not only gives guests an unmistakable taste of Los Angeles, but also showcases the local entrepreneurs, creativity, and culture that make this City second to none. In the lead up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we’re prouder than ever to collaborate with Los Angeles World Airports and our concessions partners to deliver new enhancements, experiences, and amenities that put the LA into LAX.”
