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Kogi Korean BBQ makes first South County stop
October 27th, 2009, 11:39 pm · 33 Comments · posted by Niyaz Pirani
There was pretty much no way I’d be driving around Orange County trying to catch the Kogi Korean BBQ truck’s newest mobile kitchen, the O.C.-only Naranja line.
I was determined to eat Kogi, but had decided that I would only make the trip if the truck was close enough. Well, when I found out Kogi was coming to Lake Forest, my city of residence, I could no longer fight off the curiosity surrounding beef short rib tacos and kimchi quesadillas.
I had the anti-Kogi experience, meaning that all of the long lines you hear about were non-existent. Heck, the truck even showed up to the Gypsy Lounge way before its scheduled 10:30 p.m. arrival.
I ordered a taco and a burrito and then gave Wifey Nadia her chance to order. That’s when she lost her mind.
“I’ll take … (indecipherable rapid ordering ensues).”
The next thing I know, I’m standing in a parking lot with a quesadilla, three tacos, a burrito and a hot dog banh mi - Kogi’s latest, and most awesome, special menu item.
Here are a few thoughts: 1) The fusion of Mexican and Korean works, surprisingly well actually; 2) The short rib is to die for; 3) There’s just too much kimchi (or lettuce and cabbage in a Korean soy-chili vinaigrette, as they call it) on everything. Some people may love this, but I’m just not one of them and will order this condiment on the side next time. 4) This was definitely worth staying up late for.
I put together a slideshow with pictures of the food and my thoughts on each item. If the pics get you hungry, you can check out KogiBBQ.com or follow them on Twitter, @KogiBBQ. Either site will provide information about where the taco truck will be next.
For all of you South County residents, Kogi will return on Friday night. Where are they going to be? Laguna Niguel! Get the details here.
If you want more, visit the Fast Food Maven’s Kogi Korean BBQ coverage. Peep a video about Kogi after the jump.
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heheh…. I couldn’t resist, too!! I was 4th in line!!
Try Kogi Taco at Mania in Tusti. Much much better.
Being the 4th in line and only having to wait about 5 minutes for my food made the my short rib burrito taste WAY better. No it isn’t MIND BLOWING, but they’re good, unique and worth a try.
Personally, I think the ‘luncheros’ in Santa Ana churn out better fare with more flavor and texture. Example A: Tacos Acorazados by Alebrije’s Grill (http://www.yelp.com/biz/alebrijes-grill-santa-ana-3).
Rule of thumb: Try to go during the week. If not, don’t wait more than 20 minutes unless you come only moderately hungry and accompanied with good conversationalists.
What were your thoughts?
Is Kogi allergic to sunlight? Why does it only come out late at night?
great question, I have always wondered. oh well gotta find out the next time they’ll be near Tustin or Irvine so I can hit them up.
Nah, they’re not allergic. I’ve seen them make daytime appearances before. Though nobody got their tacos because the moment the sunlight hit the truck, it turned to dust.
I went to the KogiBBQ visit to the Bruery last Friday. Honestly it ended up being the biggest waste of time I’ve ever made for trying food. The food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t AMAZING like everyone always tries to make it sound. 1 3/4 of an hour for “meh” food. I guess I’m just not one of the cool kids. I’ll be writing a review soon.
I feel you on that. My homegirl Alex said the same thing after she waited forever-and-a-day in Eagle Rock. She said it’s good, but it’s not worth waiting two hours in line for.
I would have been angry had I waited in a super long line last night, but thankfull I didn’t have to.
I gave up on the insane line for beer at the Bruery last night and walked over to where Kogi was set up just over the line into Fullerton. Five minutes’ wait. Same last week at Luigi’s in Anaheim. I think you got unlucky.
I agree about the prevalence of that dressing. Go easy on it, sheesh.
It’ll be quite awhile before I try Kogi since I won’t wait more than 20 minutes for any type of food. Last time I waited any length of time in line was for dim sum at Elite in Monterey Park, and that was about 45 minutes. I have yet to find any food worth waiting over an hour to taste.
I only waited like 15 minutes total, if that. Try and check out the Laguna Niguel stop on Friday if you’re really wanting Kogi. I can’t imagine there would be too much of a rush, though it will be a Friday.
15 min. is reasonable for me. Perhaps there are less Kogi fans in South OC. I tried to get some at their first Costa Mesa visit a few months back at the Holiday Inn parking lot. Line was about 150 deep, and people about 80 away from the front had waited in line for at least an hour.
When they made their 2nd stop at the Huddle, I didn’t go, but my brother did, and said people waited 1-1/2 hours to get their food.
Both those visits were Saturdays, so maybe people have the time to plan their evening around it. Friday nights might be lesser crowds, as people may be less willing to wait 1+ hour after working a full day.
Definitely hitting up Laguna Niguel Friday. Hoping the hype (or wait) doesn’t kill it for me.
I’m intrigued to see what you think. When you’ve eaten them, comment back and let me know what you thought.
Kogi Taco at Mania in Tustin is so much better. It is the real thing.
No comparison.
It tasted better with beer or wine in a nice interior.
Is the place called Kogi Taco at Mania, or is Mania a market with Kogi Taco within? I’m confused.
Do they have permit to sell in OC?
I thought that there’s a licensing or permit required to sell from anything mobile in OC? Where’s the OC Health Department?
It’s just one of those latest trendy things in SoCal. I rather sleep or read after work than chase after some fast food trucks. The kids are just stupid. They spend all that money on cell phones and gas on chasing the food trucks.
I know they had that permit drama earlier this year, but I think they started working in OC earlier this month, and that the drama was cleared up. I’m not sure, but I’ll ask the Maven to clarify.
Hey there..Fast Food Maven here….I’ve been following the Kogi saga for awhile. The Kogi team applied for a permit way back in spring after O.C. officials booted them out for going rogue in O.C. streets. Permits finally secured, and , Naranja Kogi truck was born earlier this month:
See my story here: http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2009/09/29/video-kogi-to-make-daily-oc-stops-in-mid-october/35209/
As for the evening stops: I don’t know this for a fact, but I imagine Kogi is testing O.C. at night only, and may end up expanding to lunch service as well if they see demand.
One thing I do have to say is that they are combining alot of mexican recipes and ingredients with most of the beef being korean and some mexican. Good idea. Changing mode….but
It’s funny to see a crowd made up of asians, white people and white washed folks eating mexican grub and then later they end up saying racist comments about mexicans how we contribut nothing to society like they do all day in these blogs.
That’s why I say shut up gringo and eat you’re burrito mojado.
Why doesn’t one of this trucks come down to Santa Ana.
Are they scared or what?? Or they just go to white people neighborhoods.
How pathetic,,,,umm the next stop will be in laguna niguel…give me a break.
I guess Chad & Billy are going to have a big mexican burrito on Friday night. All right dude. Surfs up.
They’ve been to Santa Ana by now:
http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2009/10/12/kogi-to-make-regular-oc-stops-starting-tuesday/36495/
Once.
I guess I missed that one.
I want to try this refin to see how good it really is, as they say.
Wow you’ve been paying lots of attention. I’ve counted them in Santa Ana at least 4 times since they launched the new OC Truck, and I remember them going to Santa Ana countless times before Naranja existed. In fact they are at the Artist Village or whatever it’s called area like once a month…
KOgi. sucks Food is like poison to me
I saw roaches crawling out of the vehicle. nasty. good bye
Visited Kogi at the Burery last Friday. We did have to wait over an hour in line, then about 15 more minutes for our food. I must say, it was worth the wait! The Spam-A-Lot burger was AMAZING! But have to agree 100% with you that they put too many greens in the food. The Burrito was great, but would have been amazing with no greens.
I rather have un Caldo de Pollo con vegetables, garlic, onion and toritillas hechas a mano…so delicious.
As anyone tried a mexican birote with hot chocolate by abuelita.
Mmmm muy bueno.
Or chilaquiles verdes con su huevito y con quecito fresco or the harder one añejo that smells funky. I like.
Does anyone like MENUDO….not the band, the mexican soup dish eaten by many families on Sunday afternoon’s where it’s become a tradition. Contains PUERCO, ….disgusting I’ve never like this crap.
My jefa would want to make me eat this stuff and I would be like chales! that’s for wabs like yourself…I rather have HOT POCKETS!!!
LOL.
Last Weds was gonna try Kogi for 1st time in OC but they were about an hour late so I was too tired n left (it was 1/2 to midnight). Next day tho I tried again. This time the truck was on time. From the time I got there to the time I got my food was a total of 1 hour. Worth the wait! I mean who hates short ribs? But to put it in everything…genius
Don’t go n wait in line if u aren’t in the mood or pressed for time. Definitely somewhere to eat late nite and kill some time. I had the SpamALot Burger…reeeeeallly good. Also tried the chicken taco, yummy as well. Next time gotta try the pork taco…and there definitely will be a next time. I don’t understand the hate…it’s just a place to eat people, chill out…It’s not overpriced either.
I tried it a few weeks ago when it came to K1 in Anaheim. No line. I think a little bit of a wait would have made it more special. I thought the tacos were good. I will definitely eat again, but not with a two hour line.
I waited once when they came here to DB. It was fun meeting people in the LONG A** line,but other than that they’re overrated! I ordered the short rib tacos. I took one bite because I wasn’t hungry at the time. It wasn’t that great and I think it gave me diarreha too!
Two weeks I tried the Chefs Special which was a ham and cheese sandwich full of salsa verde and Mexican cactus. Didn’t go over too well with me so I need a 2nd opinion. This week they got a Halloween special with candy worms and chocolate “dirt.” Yikes!