The Kimchi Taco Generation
by Guest Contributor Angry Asian Man, originally posted at Angry Asian Man
The New York Times ran a story last week on the now-famous Kogi truck, Los Angeles’ meal-on-wheels sensation: For a New Generation, Kimchi Goes With Tacos. The superdelicious mobile Korean fusion variation on the Mexican taco truck has been attracting Twitter-powered lines of eager eaters all around the city.
The article is interesting because it’s not just about Kogi, but the recent surge of second-generation Korean Angelenos who have played their own variations on traditional cuisines and taken it far beond the boundaries of Korean-dominated neighborhoods.
In addition to chef Roy Choi of Kogi, they talk to the people behind restaurants like Gyenari, gastropub Father’s Office (which offers what is possibly the best burger in Los Angeles), and popular ice creamery Scoops — all run by Korean Americans.
It’s a very interesting look at the changing culinary scene in L.A. What other city would dream up kimchi sesame quesadillas and bulgogi tacos? Now I’m hungry.
(Photo Credit (and additional review) over at My Modern Metropolis)
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
jen* wrote:
a kimchi taco sounds right up my alley – oh to live in a metropolis.
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 11:13 am ¶
Ugly Deaf Muslim Punk Gurl! wrote:
I’ve never had Korean food or Kimchi Taco, but yum that looks so good. Damn, I wish I live in L.A
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 11:26 am ¶
abby jean wrote:
Koji is SO DELICIOUS – and so interesting and innovative. As a white girl who subsists mainly on tacos, I was excited to be able to start learning about Korean food. I am now addicted to quesadillas with pomegranate sauce… yum!
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 12:34 pm ¶
Ruchama wrote:
New York has a bunch of Cuban Chinese restaurants. My grandfather (who grew up in Vienna) used to love Cuban Chinese food. (I haven’t been to any of them since I was a little kid, and I kind of remembered the food as being Cuban/Chinese fusion, but I’m looking at the menus now and it looks like most of them have a Cuban section of the menu, a Chinese section of the menu, and then maybe a few fusion dishes.)
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 2:13 pm ¶
broom wrote:
man i love LA. i want a bulgogi taco so bad i bet it costs like 4.50
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 3:26 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
I saw this guy in the NYT and started salivating on my keyboard.
I would like to thank Koreans for making me actually crave veggies.
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 3:32 pm ¶
JC wrote:
If I’ve lived in LA I would definitely try it… I wonder if it’s just Bulgogi in a taco wrap? Or do they have some new flavors?
For those who’s never tried Korean food… just FYI that many so-called “Teriyaki” places are run by Koreans… the style of Teriyaki they serve is a variation on Korean BBQ, not quite the same as the real Teriyaki found in Japan.
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 7:16 pm ¶
Justin wrote:
I have to say, having been in Korea for a year now, that doesn’t sound thaaaat tasty (there’s only so much kimchi I can choke down; I believe I’ve had my fill for life), but I like the ingenuity of it.
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 7:44 pm ¶
inkst wrote:
Thanks for this post! I love all the discussions on this blog that address different aspects of racism and racism in pop culture, but it just dawned on me that “the intersection of race and pop culture” doesn’t necessarily have to be racism.
I am an avid food lover (I try to avoid the term foodie, but it sticks), and I sincerely believe that food can be a great beginning to appreciating and valuing a culture that is different from your own. I value diversity in food almost as much as I value diversity in people. Many metaphors come to mind, but they are all a little played out, so I will just leave it at that.
And I cosign with everyone else! As a lover of both Korean and Mexican food, I want these tacos now!!!
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 7:46 pm ¶
anna wrote:
kimchi + tacos = i wish i had this RIGHT NOW.
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 9:02 pm ¶
jmn wrote:
Having just eaten dinner a couple of hours ago and then scarfing down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich just minutes ago, I am now hungry again after seeing that picture. Damn you Racialicious! *Insert Racialicious-is-Delicious-type comment here* :p
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 10:50 pm ¶
the real patriot wrote:
Great post. It’s hard to remember to balance the positive with the negative sometimes, but here you go. Mmm, made me drool (and I just ate).
Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 9:08 am ¶
Lakergrrl wrote:
Bulgogi tacos? Promising, especially with a tasty salsa (the key to making a good taco great). But kimchi tacos? Not so much…
Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 9:34 am ¶
stankerbell wrote:
can i also add that cabbage kimchi with hamhocks and greens… also major yummies…. i’m making myself hungry…..
Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 6:25 pm ¶
kristin wrote:
dude, kogi truck is MAD TASTY!!!! for folks in LA that want to stalk it/try it… it’s in little tokyo every thursday, parked in front of the japanese american national museum (you should go there too!).
Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 3:48 am ¶
red wrote:
I have got to stop looking at that picture… I have been scrolling down to it every time I’ve been on this site the last few days…
Mmmmmmmmm!
Posted 13 Mar 2009 at 12:35 pm ¶
broom wrote:
haha check this out! Kogi BBQ managed to break into the Taco Tourney 09 (an event which might have previously been a little xenophobic, only accepting tacos from Mexican/Latin American establishments lol).
http://www.lataco.com/taco/wp-content/uploads/tourney_09_taco-500×500.png
Posted 13 Mar 2009 at 6:28 pm ¶
broom wrote:
and good luck to Kogi against Tito’s in the quarter finals anyways…
Posted 13 Mar 2009 at 6:29 pm ¶
Michelle wrote:
Gyenari is a GREAT spot.
I was there for a Pan African Film Fest event and the food was ridiculous. And their dessert…what! They have a bananas foster creation that is off the chain.
I love that every time I go there it is a bunch of Koreans and Blacks partying! It is a cool spot!
Posted 15 Mar 2009 at 1:10 am ¶
elenamary wrote:
Here in Columbus, Ohio we have a Mexican-Cambodian restaurant (it is really good)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7946643@N05/1681854039/
Posted 20 Mar 2009 at 3:05 pm ¶