Max Brenner “the baldy man” has opened its first stores in Japan and Korea as it expands its Asian footprint.

The first Korean store (pictured) was opened quietly in Seoul in late November.

In Japan, the brand made its debut in Tokyo’s upmarket Omotesando Hills retail precinct, and followed that with a second outlet which opened just before Christmas at the Skytree shopping complex in Tokyo Solamachi.

Founded in 1996, the now famous global chocolate brand Max Brenner came from humble beginnings in Israel, as a small shop selling handmade chocolates. Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner combined their names to form the brand, which is now a fully owned subsidiary of the

Strauss Group, Israel’s second-largest food and beverage company.

There are now over 40 restaurant and bar stores worldwide, including outlets in Israel, New York, and other locations throughout the US, in Australia, the Philippines and Singapore.

In line with the catering style of other Max Brenner Chocolate Bars, the Korean and Japanese stores were set up in the fashion of a casual counter-style cafe serving pizzas, waffles, crepes, and fondue.

Max Brenner’s fun and pop art attitude of serving chocolates, or “chocolate entertainment,” will also be featured in the Tokyo stores, such as in the chocolate-filled giant “syringes,” the cacao

bean-shaped cup filled with Max Brenner’s trademark hot chocolate known as the Hug Mug, and Chocolate Chunk Pizzas topped with toasted marshmallows and melted chocolate.

The interior of the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar is fashioned in the image of a chocolate factory, in chocolate shades of dark brown, milk, caramel, and white chocolate.