Kogi BBQ – Korean BBQ To Go
Knowing that I would be headed to Los Angeles, CA, I had to set aside some time to check out Kogi BBQ (Korean BBQ-To-Go). I had heard of the Kogi food trucks so I wanted to experience them for myself. For those who haven’t heard of Kogi BBQ, they are a fleet of food trucks based in the LA area and I would say they are one of the pioneers of effectively using social media (Twitter and YouTube) to spread information about their locations and offerings. Kogi BBQ has been recognized by various Foodie establishments which helps to perpetuate their following.
Looking at Kogi BBQ’s web page, I noted a couple spots where we might be able to check them out. We ended up hitting up the Kogi Verde truck in Pasadena, CA on July 5th, 2012 around dusk. The line wasn’t too bad since it was a little later in the evening and not prime dinner time. We ended up ordering:
- Short Rib Tacos
- Spicy Pork Burrito
- Kogi Dog
Kogi BBQ – Short Rib Tacos
I’m going to rant for a bit because we were behind some folks that were hardcore vegetarian and hitting up the Kogi BBQ food truck. Ok, I understand you have dietary restrictions but seriously? Why would you hit up a food truck known for their meat items to try and order vegetarian items? “Kogi” in Korean means “meat”. Kogi BBQ has even blogged to clarify things for diet-restricted folks looking to try out their food. Sure, there are veggies in kimchi but even kimchi, made with fish sauce, isn’t actually vegetarian! I understand you want to check out the ambience and experience of Kogi BBQ but please don’t get frustrated when they only have limited vegetarian options.
Anyhow, once we did get our order we were ready to dig in. The portion sizes were good and priced competitively based on the market so you won’t feel like you’re overpaying for what you get. As you can see from the pictures of the tacos and Kogi dog, there was a generous amount of veggies topping the meats to help get one’s dietary fix of greens. The veggies were refreshing and I appreciated that they weren’t soggy or led to the carbs getting soggy.
All in all, the food was good but my tastebuds weren’t blown away. Perhaps since I had heard so much about Kogi prior to trying it I had higher expectations for the food. Don’t get me wrong, the food had some good flavors and was a nice fusion of Asian and Latin cuisines. My wife had mentioned that she thought the food from Kogi is overhyped and I might have to agree. Even so, it’s great what they have done with the food and for the food truck industry as a whole, and I would still hit up Kogi again for a meal. Next time I want to check out the Kogi Kimchi Quesadilla and the Kogi sliders.
For the most up to date information on trucks, locations, and menu options, check out their webpage as they are all over the greater Los Angeles area.
Kogi BBQ | Korean BBQ-To-Go
21 S El Molino Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
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