Kogi Taqueria
Asian fusion restaurant · Palms
3434 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Highlights
Korean-Mexican fusion tacos & burritos, Korean BBQ fries
Korean-Mexican fusion tacos & burritos, Korean BBQ fries
"The OG LA food truck now has a brick and mortar spot of its very own. Despite Kogi’s success, they’ve kept things low-key with this order-at-the-counter operation in a strip mall in Palms. The menu is a combination of the Korean-Mexican tacos and burritos you’ve probably had from the truck after day drinking on Abbot Kinney, as well as traditional items that are exclusive to this spot. There’s also a hot wings situation you definitely should get involved in." - Jess Basser Sanders
"When chef Roy Choi launched his first Kogi food truck in 2008, he not only kicked off a trend of mobile eateries that would expand worldwide, but he also added a new chapter to Los Angeles’ history of fusion cuisine. At the heart of Kogi is the short rib taco, which takes Korean short ribs and couples them with a mix of Mexican and Korean chiles, a chili-soy slaw, and griddled corn tortillas for a handheld taste of L.A. at its finest." - Vox Creative
"A Los Angeles-born Korean taco popularized in 2008 by Roy Choi’s late-night truck, featuring sweetly marinated galbi tucked into warm griddled corn tortillas and finished with salsa verde and bright scallions; it fused Korean and Mexican flavors, helped launch a wave of mobile food operations, encouraged chefs to embrace intersectional identities in their cooking, and left a lasting cultural imprint even as its media spotlight has dimmed." - Eater Staff
"The spicy pork burrito at Kogi BBQ’s food trucks is filling, delicious, and only $10 — no small feat in a city like Los Angeles. Short rib is also available of course, as are tofu and chicken, making this a one-stop shop for just about any Angeleno that wants to be bowled over by this enduring Korean Mexican flavor bomb. Head to the truck set up in Palms to also check out Roy Choi’s taco stand, Tacos Por Vida, which is serving up burritos alongside tacos." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"When Tacos Por Vida first opened, we waited three hours in line. We can safely say that nothing is worth holding your bladder for that long, even for tacos and a selfie with Kogi founder Roy Choi (surely he'd agree). However, the long lines have mostly subsided these days, and Tacos Por Vida has settled into what it was likely designed to be: a simple, solid taco stand with grilled meats and freshly made tortillas at a reasonable price. The menu at Tacos Por Vida is short, with just tacos and burritos, but you can confidently skip the latter, as the standard-issue rice and beans overshadow the flavorful headling meats. Plus, you’d be missing out on the delicately soft, slightly thick corn tortillas, which—along with the punchy salsas—are half the reason we’d send someone here. The other is the juicy, one-of-a-kind al pastor, which is pleasantly spicy from gochujang and has a nice pineapple tang. The other meats, including charcoal-grilled asada and chicken, are all fine, though nothing you couldn't find at most taco stands (aside from a smoky grilled mushroom option). If you live near wherever TPV is popping up or happen to drive by while hungry, stop by a perfectly pleasant street taco experience. But if you’re planning out a dedicated taco trip, there are other destination-level taco spots we’d point you toward first. photo credit: Sylvio Martins" - Sylvio Martins
