Kalbi Taco Shack

First off, Kim chi was delicious and spicy 😋! But the flavors of the bowls, like the Buffalo option, just didn't jive with the Kim chi or chili sauce or chips with salsa as a side. It was served concession stand style. There's good flavors here, they're just not quite cohesive 🤔

Oh man, I just got the birria quesadilla and it was one of the best things I've had in the Foundry so far. It was a little greasy but it was so delicious. The price seemed high but it's a huge portion that will absolutely fill you up. You'll probably struggle to finish it all. The staff were super friendly and my order was ready in less than 10 minutes. Highly recommend trying it. The birria quesadillas are on weekends only but i can't wait to come back and try some of their other options. DELICIOUS!

I hate having to do this, but it’s clear that the quality of this spot in the Foundry has gone down significantly. I was there today and ordered their burrito, which has gone up in price quite a bit. After a 20% tip, one sweet & spicy burrito cost around $20 and some change. To top it off, my burrito was almost 80% rice and one or two tiny pieces of pork and a bit of lettuce and carrots. When I went back up to complain about the quality, they offered to give me some carrots & lettuce and shove it inside the burrito myself. They were pretty dismissive and rude to say the least, and it used to be one of my favorite spots. It’s a bummer, but I’d highly recommend spending your money elsewhere.

Overall this place was good. The absolute best part and best deal is the Sweet potato tacos which come in a pair rather than single like the rest of the tacos. They had fantastic flavor, especially considering I'm not a huge fan of sweet potatoes. Everything else was just okay. I really love that they had multiple vegetarian options, but they weren't anything to write home about. The tofu and jackfruit tacos were both super lackluster. They had very similar seasoning so they tasted almost exactly the same, they were both very wet and they weren't prepped like these folks knew how to handle tofu and jackfruit as well as a vegetarian might. In other words, I can make better jackfruit tacos at home. I felt the lemonade was too sweet tho I did drink it all. The whole thing was very expensive. The total cost was over 30 dollars for a lemonade with popping boba and four tacos. I would return but only for those amazing sweet potato tacos and nothing else.

Okay… let’s talk about Kalbi Taco Shack because I think I just had a religious experience involving a pork burrito. The burrito? Massive. Flavorful. Emotional. I may or may not have teared up halfway through. Perfectly seasoned pork, the right amount of sauce, and a tortilla that held its life together better than I did during tax season. My husband went for the assorted tacos, and by “assorted,” I mean he tried to order the entire left side of the menu — and honestly, zero regrets. Each taco had its own personality: one spicy, one sweet, one probably judging me for inhaling my burrito too fast. The flavors? Explosive. Like a flavor rave in your mouth hosted by a mariachi band and a K-Pop group. And can we talk about the Foundry food hall? You’ve got a dozen choices, but Kalbi is the Beyoncé of the bunch — serving main character energy while the rest of the hall is still rehearsing. Huge shout-out to the team for keeping things fresh, fun, and downright addictive. One of the best meals we’ve had at the Foundry — and that’s saying something, because I’ve eaten my way through most of it. 10/10. Will dream about that pork burrito until further notice. Final Verdict If you’re in Midtown St. Louis and craving something that breaks the mold of “typical tacos”, Kalbi Taco Shack is a must-visit. The pork burrito alone is worth the stop — and if you’re with someone else, sample tacos so you can taste the range. We’ll absolutely be back. Highly recommend. PS there is no picture of the burrito since i dug in and made a mess before I remembered I needed the photo proof. LOL

Asian fusion sounded good but wow this place missed the mark. The person that took my order was grumpy. The only thing she had to say was that I would have to sign the display on the ipad and give her a tip LOL not happening! Next I waited just a couple of minutes for my tacos and what a disappointment! This was $10.75 !! $5.25 for each taco. I was expecting two tortillas because that's how street tacos come but instead got one dried up flour tortilla on each taco? A tiny bit of meat! What I got were the worst, smallest two tacos I've ever eaten! I still can't get over $5.25 for these tiny tacos!! To top off the horrible food experience I was in the bathroom all night with stomach cramps

Didn’t get an opportunity to eat. Placed an order and got the wrong order. The person taking the order was extremely rude and instead of owning upto the mistake blames it on me and mentioned that since she was new there it was ok. I was basically told to accept the tacos, they will bring out a sauce to add on top to make it another flavor and then the third flavor would be made new. But still a compromise for one of the flavor. They also do not give any refund and was emphasized on taking the tacos since I will not be getting a refund. After a very rude encounter I lost my appetite and didn’t want to eat the wrong order but also was offered only 50% refund. The owner/manager was present. She wasn’t rude, but just didn’t want to correct the error. She became emotional when my husband mentioned a bad review, but we still left the place without any food, refund, or an apology.

Food definitely didn’t disappoint! Of course I had to get tacos from the taco shack and BY FAR the roasted sweet potato taco was the best! They sweet potatoes had great flavor and cooked perfectly! Unfortunately they were out of sweet and spicy pork so I got the chicken instead and while very good there was absolutely NO SPICE! It was all sweet but I wasn’t mad at it just want better next time. The rice bowl was nice…pretty much pick the protein and tell them how you want it. The kimchi was a bit of an after thought. Feel like they need to do a bit better with that. Also, had the dessert chips and they were delicious! Tastes like they use more of a pita like chip because they were sooo addicting!

This was everything I needed in the moment, my usual Foundry go to seemed to heavy for this evening. I ordered a regular bowl, with veggies, sweet & spicy chicken. The chicken had a great flavor, for what it was, a perfect chicken to rice ratio. But I could see myself ordering the same thing on a day that I'm starving and thinking it was not enough food. I will definitely visit again for the chicken, but I might order the protein bowl, which is protein and rice only. Service was surprisingly quick, I feel like I've ordered her before and waited a long time. I always love the "just hang out" vibe of the Foundry.

I ordered the special, a delicious birria quesadilla from Kalbi Taco Shack! It was made fresh and came out piping hot. Plenty of cheese and birria meat I the four pieces. Tasty broth included for dipping. Highly recommend this restaurant in the Food Hall at City Foundry!

I guess things were different before in a former location, but overall my first experience eating food from Kalbi Taco Shack was just meh. First of all, the name is "Kalbi" and if you know what that means, it generally includes beef, but they do not have beef offerings for protein here. Also, they pretty much are limited to tacos and quesadillas, and I was really hoping to find a burrito here. They are also very pricey. Portion size is small for what you get too. Taste was okay, which was why I gave three stars. Just overall kind of disappointed.

Kalbi Taco at the City Foundry is the kind of spot you casually stroll into while exploring, and it just hits the spot. On my last visit, I tried the crab Rangoon, and wow--so delicious! Perfectly crispy, creamy, and loaded. #stlouispescatarianapproved It's definitely a snack I'd go back for. The menu is packed with options like tacos, quesadillas, and bowls, making it easy to find something for everyone. The city foundry is such gem. Check it out.

A simple no. Save your money. The concept seems great however the food was mid at best and the customer service was seriously lacking. The chicken was cold. The rice was room temperature. The egg was warm, but it added nothing to the dish. And there was absolutely nothing pickled about the carrots as described. You can tell the lettuce came right out of a grocery store salad bag as it was full of the flavorless corners of lettuce. Then to finish the transaction, I wasn't even offered a bag to carry my to go order away in. If I am in the mood for Asian fusion cuisine, I'll probably go to KBop or Seoul Taco, not this place.

Popped into City Foundry food hall to get something for everyone...got the special tempura shrimp tacos as my pick! It was a great pick! A simple cabbage slaw marinated in a tangy vinegar based marinade, garlic aioli, and a big, freshly made, tempura shrimp in each taco, and a fresh lime wedge. Yum! The menu had a dozen things I'm ready to try on our next visit. Downside- it was a slow night but I waited a while at the window to be helped and then the tacos took much longer than necessary to be ready (but they were definitely just out of the fryer- nice and hot shrimp!) Just hadn't expected such slow service on a night that was not busy (maybe they had a lot of delivery orders?). I'm definitely heading back to this spot in the food hall!

I ordered two tacos, one sweet and sour pork and one sweet and sour chicken. The tortilla seemed to be store bought mission tortillas. The meat and sauce were nothing special and very soggy, impossible to eat without getting sauce on your hands. Hardly any veg was included. The chips and salsa I ordered for $4.75 were advertised as "made in store" came from a plastic bag like you would get at a concession stand. I also got a green tea, for a total of nearly $20. Really terrible tacos in a town known for terrible tacos.

Oh my gosh this was so good!! The food was amazing, and the gentleman was nice nice! Cute & chill spot to eat, needed some time to kill during rush hour traffic. I don't live in the city, so I got a little confused where to find the food hall, but definitely not on the owner!

This is just a cute, little shop in the City Foundry that definitely needs to expand! It's a grab-and-go like other places in the Foundry. I am not usually a fan of fusion food, but the Premium Short Rib (kalbi) caught my eye. You can choose from an array of proteins + dish style. I opted for the kalbi taco version since it was popular. For two tacos, it cost around $14. The tacos included yummy marinated kalbi, slaw, and a sweet (gochujang?) mayo sauce on soft tortilla. Overall, I would say the kalbi part was good, but it just wasn't amazing especially with the price. The tacos were on the sweeter side, which isn't my personal preference. If the slaw had more acidity, bite, and even some spice, then I think the tacos would've been perfect in taste.

LOVEEEEE their burrito. So so good, I dream about this burrito. Highly recommend. The salsa isn't my favorite, has a bit of a mexican/asian twist so I recommend something else for an app. The foundary is such a fun atmosphere and there is often live music to watch while eating. It's pretty quick and generally not a super long line. Definitely check this place out!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to eat, so I went to the Foundry, walked around and decided to try this place. Pretty good prices, quick service, and a slightly different take on traditionally Mexican items. I had the sweet and spicy chicken as well as the buffalo zing chicken taco. With a side, in my case chips and salsa, this is a filling amount of food without leaving you a lot of leftovers. Of the two tacos, both were at least fine, but the buffalo zing chicken taco was way more flavorful. I'd get that one again, but probably not the sweet and spicy. I didn't feel like anything was particularly spicy, but my meal was tasty, if a bit messy. Good option if you happen to be at the Foundry

I usually don't like fusion cuisine (not as much a fan of Seoul Taco or Kimchi Guys) but wow Kalbi Taco Shack is *good*! We kept walking past this stall in the Foundry food court since they often sold out. But we finally were able to try their menu. We ordered the beef short rib taco and the rice bowl. The rice bowl really is just rice and meat. The tacos however are the highlight; very flavorful with a nice creamy aioli sauce and lime wedge, served over a flour tortilla (though you also have the option to pick corn). The beef is very well seasoned and not too chewy or tough. Probably my favorite spot in the Foundry! Would recommend getting the tacos over the bowl for a punch of flavor.

I absolutely love Kalbi Taco Shack. The protein box with a fried egg is outstanding. Their sweet & spicy sauce is top tier and I had to buy a bottle to take home. The owner is extremely helpful welcoming to everybody. Kalbi is definitely becoming a staple in my home.

I became a woman during the early years of the OG Kogi BBQ taco trucks that roamed California's Orange County, so Mexican-Asian fusion holds a special place in my heart. When I saw Kalbi Taco Shack at the City Foundry STL, I had to get something. This food reminds me of Kogi, but without the chore of having to stand in an OC business parking lot clutching cash. Kalbi offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas and rice bowls on their menu. I got the short rib rice bowl, which came with jasmine rice, lettuce and diced pickled carrot. It's a simple bowl, and honestly, I wished there were more things in it, but it was tasty. Sometimes, simple things are just right. It had lots of warm rice in it, and it was comforting, and just the right thing to eat at that time. From the time that I ordered to the time that I got my food, a little over 20 minutes passed. It takes a little while for your food to come, but I think it's worth it.

My boyfriend and I love hitting up the Foundry food hall before seeing a movie at the Alamo. I'd say about 90% of the time we end up eating at Kalbi. Their Rice Bowl with Teriyaki Chicken just does it for me everytime. Nice amount of chicken and rice, and their sweet & spicy sauce is great on top of it all. Sort of a simple meal, but it hits the spot.

We were at City Foundry an indoor food hall in St. Louis and visited the Kaldi's Taco Shack. We split the short rib tacos which were fantastic. I have always loved Korean tacos and this place hit the nail on the head. I could eat this every day. The Kalbi was cooked perfectly and it was served with love. The people were nice don't forget to tip!

The bowl that I ordered was good. I ordered the teriyake beef rice bowl with egg. If you ever visit the City Foundry STL, this shop can be one of the places you must try!

I'm not sure if there's a big problem with consistency, because reviews seem all over the place, but unfortunately my experience was very poor. First note: the chicken tacos were $4.50 each (higher than any other tacos I've had in the area). I apparently tried a sweet and spicy chicken and a teriyaki chicken but they appeared and tasted the same and used the same ingredients. I asked the person at the service window which taco each was and even they couldn't tell me. I would describe the tacos as soupy - each one had puddles of juice from the chicken in them. Flavors were muddled and just a sad mess. Of the 5 places I tried during my visit to City Foundry, this was by far the worst offering.

I had the bowl dish. Chose teriyaki chicken. It was cold, and not that good really... It was super expensive ($18, after $2 egg and taxes)

The staff is friendly. The food is presented nicely however the flavors just didn't pop at me like I would expect it to. I would imagine that at one point the food was probably a little bit better. It's not bad. If you haven't had anything else or haven't eaten at a lot of different places then you will probably think this is a 5 star. I gave him a three to keep it I know everything is going up in price One taco cuz $4.50 The rice bowl was $11 burrito was $14. With the competition the way it is, they're just too many other restaurants. I could have gotten more food or at least even better tasting food for the same price.

I tried two tacos, jackfruit and pork. I think the slaw was too watery for me so I wasn't a fan of the tacos but the jackfruit itself had a nice bite. I also wish you could kick up the heat level and balance out the flavors because it seemed just sweet. Wanted to like it but just wasn't for me. It's inside of a food hall plenty of parking and seating though.

Got two tacos from here on the food hall tour. The tacos were good but nothing too crazy. I think it was because it tasted only like the seasoned meats on the shell. I recommend the sweet and sour chicken taco and would say to skip the teriyaki chicken taco. The tacos need a topping of some sort.

Delicious vegan options! I had the taco bowl with jackfruit and a tofu taco. The food was flavorful and filling. Sometimes you wonder if tofu will have enough flavor but the tofu here does not disappoint! It was tasty and hearty. The jackfruit was good too. I'm used to having it shredded but here it was cut in chunks, which I learned is a more traditional Korean method. I only wish I thought to take pics!

Ive had the tacos before - very good. But this post is specific for the Vietnamese iced coffee....DELICIOUS!!! It carries such a natural sweetness. Not too heavy on the sweet, and not too heavy on the coffee. A very good blend. You also have the option to add boba. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the texture or the way it was made. It didn't "pop" like other forms of boba I had and was very thick. Overall, definitely one of top iced coffees!

This was the first time I'd tried Kalbi in their new location at City Foundry and it did not disappoint! Their burritos, sauces, flavor, and meat are all seasoned so well! I got the beef short rib burrito (they do tend to run out of these so go early!) which was delicious, a good size, and very filling. I do think it was overpriced ($20 for a burrito after tax), but I think most of the places at City Foundry are so it was understandable. The service was very nice and relatively quick - it's counter serve

I got the rice bowl with sweet and spicy chicken and it was pretty bland. They said they cleaned / turned their grills off before I got there at 6:45 so they weren't selling burritos or quesadillas which was annoying. Before touching my food, I asked the worker if she could take the chili sauce cup and trade it for the aioli. She refused and told me I'd have to keep it and pay for the aioli. So overall , my experience was disappointing.

This place was so good!!! You go up to the window to order your food and then wait down by the next window to pick it up! They made the food super quick! I got the sweet & spicy chicken tacos and they were soooo good! We will definitely be coming back for more. I loved the flavor of the chicken & the seasoning they had was yummy, not to mention the slaw! I'm big slaw girl, so these tacos were a hit in my book!

Made a quick stop at the foundry on the way through- this was great! They have vegetarian and vegan options- protein bowls and fusion- tacos and quesadillas with all sorts of flavor. They have boba in fun flavors and the staff is friendly and efficient. I got the spices tofu quesadilla. It was full of cheese and flavor with seasoned tofu packed inside and a spices aoli on the side to jazz it up. 10/10 will go again- and I think I will try the jackfruit rice bowl!

Uniquely delicious. This restaurant is located inside a food haul with tons of food options...I walked the whole strip checking out every restaurant and still came back to the first restaurant I visited. I was being drawn to this uniquely inspired Mexican Asian spot and I am glad I was ! It was soooooo good ! I got a sweet and sour chicken quesadilla and it was phenomenal! It comes with sour cream and their signature sauce. Yum! We also got a chicken rice bowl but it was mainly rice. The tacos are also flavorful but small. Be prepared for that lol. All in all I highly recommend if you ever in St. Louis !

Order: Chicken Tacos w/ House-Made Asian Slaw, Kalbi Aioli Sauce & Lime | Beef Burrito w/ Jasmine Rice, Jack & Cheddar Cheese, Romaine, Pickled Carrots, Sour Cream & Kalbi Aioli Sauce After circling the Foundry, Kalbi Taco Shack had the longest line & the most creative menu so we thought we'd give it a go & dayummmm it was so flavorful & satisfying!!! We loved both the tacos & burrito. Will definitely be back!

Love the food. The braised short rib tacos are to die for. I go to the location in the foundry which is a fun vibe, but I will admit the prices can be a bit high. But I know that kind of comes with the territory of being in a food hall. The service is usually pretty friendly (on most days).

OMG amazing food and amazing staff Can't recommend higher! The mix of Asian and Mexican fusion is perfect! Best rice bowl I've had in ages! Twice!!!

I very much enjoyed the vegan and gluten-free options of Kalbi Taco Shack in the industrial-chic atmosphere of City Foundry. I ordered these two vegan and gluten-free tacos: sweet & spicy jackfruit taco, soft corn tortilla, Asian slaw (left) $4.50 sautéed tofu taco, soft corn tortilla, Asian slaw (right) $4.50 It would be better if food and drinks from the different restaurants in the City Foundry food hall were served with reusable dishware and glasses, which would be both better for the environment and improve the dining experience. At least offer dine-in customers reusable glasses instead of disposable cups.

Fast. Great food. Felt healthy. They sell out of beef. Got the chicken. It was excellent. Wonderful service.

Wow! The food is so amazing. Everytime I go I get the tofu tacos and it is so refreshing to have such a great taco shop that offers great options for vegetarians. Every part of the taco is so flavorful including the tofu. Some places don't season and cook tofu correctly, but, Kalbi's knocks it out of the park every time! The service is quick and the overall vibe of the Foundry is quite lovely. I love that you can just explore and figure out what food you're feeling each day, but, even after exploring, I always come back to Kalbi's!!!!

My favorite spot in the foundry!!! Sooooo good. All of their tacos are top notch and I cannot wait to try more on their menu (quesadillas, bowls, burritos etc.) I loved the sweet & spicy pork & chicken tacos!! Service was awesome, the gal working gave us a few free stickers!

This is my favorite taco, and the best restaurant at City Foundry, and maybe one of the best in the world. Everything is good. If Michelin Guide were to rate this place I would push for 3-stars. With food this delicious and such unique offerings I think this establishment deservers recognition from the James Beard Foundation. You should treat yourself and check this place out, you are going to love it.

I've been a patron of Kalbi Taco Shack since they were located on Cherokee Street. I love their bobas and their many vegetarian options (love the tofu tacos the most! but the jackfruit and sweet potato are also incredible). Since they've moved to the foundry, the boba pearls themselves have changed (I prefer the old chewy tapioca pearls over the new chewy ones) and the menu did get smaller but the quality of the food and the flavors are still the same. It's my go to at the Foundry!

Food good, portion vs cost.. ridiculous!! $14 for a protein box which is basically a 1/2 cup of protein ( I had beef short ribs) which was great but ratio of meat was insulting.

Been really feeling love for Kalbi Taco Shack lately. The food is so great and always super fresh. I really appreciate their consistency with everything I have tried so far. I've done the tacos(don't overlook the jack fruit tacos),the bowls with spicy pork (my favorite!)and this last time I did a chicken teriyaki bowl. Every visit I make sure to grab a treat for myself with either a cookie from their neighbors next door at Whisk or a perfectly balanced bubble tea. I LOVE bubble tea and typically I find the boba at other places is either too chewy or very bland or hard. The boba here is awesome. Doesn't get mushy quickly and has a slightly sweet taste to them that has been a good compliment to every flavor they have! I love that they are offering curbside pickup due to Covid, and make it very easy to grab n go. Also their staff has always been extremely friendly and accommodating. I look forward to work next week so I have an excuse to get another great lunch from Kalbi's and that's about it.

Cool concept and good vegan and vegetarian options. The food was good but nothing mind blowing

Kalbi Taco Shack is one of my favorite spots in the Foundry there is a reason why the line is one of the longest but they do a good job of moving everyone through. I usually get the burrito which is really big with lots of great Asian flavors. This time I tried the quesadilla with Buffalo chicken option. It was really delicious and came with sour cream and a spicy sauce which were great for double dunking. I look forward to my next visit to Kalbi!

Got the sweet&spicy pork taco and sweet&spicy chicken taco. The food was okay, pretty average. The portions were fairly small considering the price.

I have been here on so many occasions and this is my first review! I love the food, the staff, and the service! The food is something to enjoy in any type of weather. It's very comforting and lives up to the status of "fusion." The food is not too spicy and you can really taste the freshness of each ingredient! I know from the owners themselves how they pour their heart and soul into making the food. It takes a lot of time to prep every fresh ingredient and dish, but they are willing to put in that time - that's what St. Louis food culture is all about! As you can tell by the photos, I am a huge fan of the sweet and spicy pork anything. I have had every single dish (from quesdillas to tacos to banh mis to the bowls!) with every single different type of filling (pork, beef, jack fruit, sweet potato, butternut squash). Whatever it is, whatever special they are having, I had gone to try! A must try would be the breakfast burrito that started off as a burrito exclusively made on the weekends. They have expanded their menu time over time and made that burrito an every day item! The portions are perfect and don't make me feel groggy afterwards. If you're really feeling hungry, then definitely grab a burrito because they will pack it up!! For drinks, you can never go wrong with the bubble teas because the boba is always plenty and soft. They also have a Vietnamese iced coffee that you must have if you're wanting a good wake up!

This is a required visit each time I visit STL. This place is so good! I've had the tacos and the blend of flavors is superb. I'm hooked!

Good but a bit pricey for what you get. One taco is $5 and is the size of a street taco. The teriyaki chicken had great flavor and wished they offered a beef taco. I prefer Seoul Taco for this type of fusion.

Stopped by Kalbi Taco Shack for a quick Saturday lunch. The drink (I think it was Vietnamese Iced Coffee?) was absolutely delicious! It wasn't too sweet and the boba added a nice texture to it. For my main course, I opted for the beef short rib burrito. I'm not a big fan of sweet flavored meat so I was hoping this wouldn't be but I was wrong. I think on top of the sweetened meat, there was some dressing in it that was also sweet. While certainly a decent meal, I'll try sometime else next time.

They refuse to answer their phone. Their policy is literally to not answer it. Customers be damned! Even Taco Bell fast food locations answer their phone. This is unheard of. It's also very weird to not offer online ordering in 2023.

Tried yesterday in our first to the Food Hall at City Foundry. Tried Kalbi as it was one of the few options offering vegan choices. Went with one each of the vegan protein tacos: sweet potato, jackfruit and tofu. Comes with aioli and slaw. At $4.50 each they were probably $1 more than I would have liked. But, I understand part of going to a food hall, especially in today's economic climate, means overpaying a bit. The tacos were good, but not one of them was great to the point where I need to come back. The salsa, however, was excellent. $4 for an order of chips and salsa and the salsa portion was big. It had a bit of a mango habanero flavor to it, not too spicy at all.