Korean Tacos Are Here!

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, January 17th, 2011

The Korean taco trend is really starting to sink in here in Northern Virginia. It all started 3 years ago with the Kogi Korean BBQ truck in California and has since boomed across the country. I love tacos and I love Korean food (I have grown up eating it my whole life).  When I heard that there was a taco with galbi (beef short ribs) and kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage) and a kimchi quesadilla (kimchi and cheese are probably my two favorite things), my mouth started to water as I was trying to imagine how delicious these combinations would be. It is really the best of both worlds and I couldn’t wait till this trend hit NoVA. Now, I think it is safe to say that this Korean taco trend is officially here and also hitting restaurant chains.

I had personally never heard of Korean tacos available in this area until this past summer when I went to the restaurant DaMoim in Annandale.  Their menu offers galbi, jaeyook (spicy pork), dahk (chicken) tacos and jaeyook, buldahk (spicy chicken), and kimchi quesadillas (with cheddar and jack cheese). I was pretty satisfied and the tacos were filling. I could taste the “koreanness” of the taco because the marinades for the galbi, pork and chicken were similar to my mother’s.  The tacos (3) and quesadillas range from $8-9.

On Friday, I met up with a friend at California Pizza Kitchen and was surprised to see that Korean Tacos were new on their menu (small cravings menu). Of course I had to order it, and was a little disappointed to see how small they were (go figure- they were on the small cravings menu after all). They didn’t taste bad, but not amazing either. They are Korean tacos, but I felt like I was just eating regular soft tacos. I thought the only Korean thing on the taco was the spicy chili sauce. I can’t really complain though because CPK is a chain restaurant. Their tacos are made with grilled marinated Korean steak, fresh shredded Napa cabbage, Romaine, sweet onions, scallions, cilantro, and spicy chili sauce- two for $6.

Another chain that has included Korean tacos for a limited time in their menu at California Tortilla. Their tacos are made with signature marinated skirt steak, Korean barbeque sauce, spicy kimchi-style slaw, fresh salsa, toasted sesame seeds and chopped scallions- two for $6 or $8 with chips, cheese sauce and a drink.

Check out Korean Tacos at these places or locate one near you!

DaMoim
7106 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
703-354-3211

http://www.damoimrestaurant.com

California Pizza Kitchen
4200 Fairfax Corner West Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-222-8097

http://www.cpk.com

California Tortilla
12230 Fair Lakes Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22033
703-278-0007

http://californiatortilla.com

-Rebecca Kim

Tags: California Pizza Kitchen, California Tortilla, DaMoim, Gut Check, Korean Taco Trend, Northern Virginia Magazine, Rebecca Kim