LA Culinary Excellence: Mayor Bass Celebrates Opening of Marathon Burger and Kogi BBQ at LAX

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LOS ANGELES - On Monday, Mayor Karen Bass was joined by City officials and LA cultural leaders to welcome Marathon Burger and Kogi BBQ to LAX. The two restaurants are LA culinary icons, with Marathon Burger being born out of the legacy of LA-legend Nipsey Hussle and Kogi BBQ starting as a Korean-Mexican fusion food truck by Chef Roy Choi. Photos available here.

"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. This grand opening is a celebration of that."

"Bringing Marathon Burger to LAX is a proud moment for South LA and the entire city," said Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. "Nipsey Hussle's vision was always rooted in community empowerment, proving that we can build a thriving business right here in South LA while investing back into our people. Having both Marathon Burger and Kogi BBQ welcome travelers at LAX showcases the unmatched culture, entrepreneurial spirit, and community strength that our city has to offer."

Born out of Nipsey Hussle's Marathon brand, Marathon Burger has become a defining institution of South LA, continuing Hussle's legacy of music, clothing, and entrepreneurship. Mayor Bass has a long-standing relationship with the family of Nipsey Hussle, reading his legacy into the Congressional Record when she was a member of Congress.

"We are honored to have this opportunity to bring Marathon Burger to LAX Terminal 1," said Samiel "Blacc Sam" 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."

Launched in 2008 as a food truck serving Korean-Mexican fusion food, Kogi BBQ has now expanded into a nationally recognized brand under the leadership of co-founder and LA-native, Chef Roy Choi.

"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 Roy Choi, Kogi BBQ co-founder. "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'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," said John Ackerman, Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles World Airports. "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."