Korean Fusion Shines at Kogi Food Truck

The Kogi food truck is the grandfather of the LA food truck scene. Ten years after the birth of a revolution, Kogi food trucks (notice now plural) are still going strong and feeding the greater LA area.

Despite the longevity of the Kogi brand, this week was my first time eating at one of their trucks. We went to the website to track down the one nearest us and headed to Pasadena.

In order to get the most from our visit we ordered all of the following: the Kogi dog; three short rib tacos; a kimchi quesadilla; and the sliders. This cornucopia of street food ended up costing around $36 dollars, expensive but that is the way of the food truck.

I enjoyed Korean fusion aspect, although the flavor of each item tended to blend together.

A look at the cheesy goodness within the kimchi quesadilla.

In particular, I did not find anything outstanding about the kimchi quesadilla. Kimchi is a Korean specialty that is made from fermented vegetables, such as cabbage, radishes and other vegetables you might find in a slaw.

The short rib sliders. Very similar in style and taste to the short rib tacos.

Although I ventured to try the quesadilla, I am usually not a fan of kimchi due to the strong taste from the fermentation process. I was strangely disappointed and relieved to find the taste absent from the quesadilla. Surely the kimchi quesadilla should have been more than just cheese?

Additionally, I was a little disappointed that the short rib sliders only provided two sliders for $8. They were tasty, but if you were planning on getting any of these items as a dinner replacement, it would be much better as a late night snack or light lunch.

The Kogi dog was fine. It definitely had a unique identity, combining a plain hotdog with Asian-style slaw. It was a good combination, but I am not sure I would order it again because there was one item that stood out above everything else.

The tacos.

The famous short rib tacos topped with a very delicious Asian slaw on top.

Oh my god, the tacos.

The short rib tacos were easily the best thing we ordered and will definitely encourage me to come back despite the rest of the shortcomings.

The Kogi food truck was definitely a fun trip to make, and I would encourage those reading who haven’t tried it to give it a shot. Obviously my feelings towards it weren’t fantastic, but it is a piece of LA history and culture, which definitely helps to make the trip worth it.

 

All photos by Julian Mitchell

Modern Indian Flavors in Old-Town South Pasadena

 

The bright red colors blended well with brilliant flavors this dish offered.

Radhika Modern Indian is a small and chic spot in South Pasadena.

Although I am familiar with Indian food, I’ve never actually sat down and enjoyed the cuisine. Radhika couldn’t have been a more fun spot to try for the first time. The modern interior and tasty food brought the whole restaurant to life.

I decided to go with a classic and ordered the chicken tikka masala. “Masala” is a Hindi word that translates to “blend of spices” while chicken tikka is a dish that involves chicken cutlets cooked in a clay oven.

The fluffy naan bread served as an excellent spoon to get all the last drops of the masala.

The dish came with garlic naan, a very fluffy bread used for dips, but also is more than great by itself. Fresh vegetables were served as a side, but be warned pea-haters, this dish is chock full of peas and tastes like it.

All that food, as well as a serving of rice, came in at $13 dollars and was surprisingly much more than I could eat.

 

All Photos by Julian Mitchell