Taiwanese restaurant group Wowprime plans to take a share of the continuously expanding American restaurant market.

Wowprime has forged a joint venture with American company Panda Restaurant Group, which will represent Wowprime’s barbecue restaurant brand Yakiyan in the US.

The JV, with paid up capital of US$1.5 million, is 75 per cent owned by Panda and 25 per cent by Wowprime.

The partners plan to open the first Yakiyan restaurant in the US in the second quarter next year in California.

Wowprime plans to continue expanding abroad and is in early discussions with potential partners in Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.