Mike L.
Yelp
Back when I tried KoJa Kitchen's truck for the very first time, I knew almost immediately I'd be giving them five stars. Quite simply, their food was just that good (they were my favorite truck for a while). Since then, they've lost a bit of that shine, and other trucks may have surpassed them, but my expectations for their their second brick and mortar location (their first is in Berkeley) were any less hopeful. Not that I was ever worried they would let me down. I mean, if the food off their truck was that great, why would it be any different coming out of a "real" kitchen?
Now, even though it has been a while since I've hit up KoJa's truck, the menu here looked all too familiar...and just as appealing as I remember. Not only were their signature KoJas and kamikaze fries listed, but they were joined by a few new additions as well, including a variety of rice bowls, tacos, salads, and sides. All together, everything looked so good, I made it a point of coming here twice before writing this so that I could make sure I try both their newer items, as well as their classic offerings.
-- STRAWBERRY MANGO MINT LEMONADE...$2.75
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/koja-kitchen-san-francisco-7?select=xXGkOgyhfhlpCGa8eBYx-w)
So refreshing! Between the mint and lemonade, I really liked how the drink had a rather crisp taste to balance the relative sweetness of the strawberry. That said, I didn't really taste much of the mango, but it was fine, as I don't think it was necessary either.
-- KAMIKAZE FRIES - Crisscut Waffle Fries, Minced Korean BBQ Beef, Kimchi, Japanese Mayo, Red Sauce, and Green Onions...$5.95
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/koja-kitchen-san-francisco-7?select=U8WKJHra-kDkbhjuMz0vEA)
The highlight of any meal at KoJa! Honestly, it's just a terrific mix of delicious flavors. The fries are hot and crispy, the beef is tender and lathered with a deep, flavorful sauce, and the mayo and sauce combining into a mildly spicy aioli. Plus, the portion is so generous!
-- BRAISED PORK TACO - Miso-Coconut Braised Pork, Arugula, Garlic Aioli, Masago, Fried Shallots...$3.55
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/koja-kitchen-san-francisco-7?select=d6NIS1RKqB41xz7sFktv3A)
While I didn't care for the tortilla (kind of dry, so I only ate one), everything else worked well. The miso-coconut flavors nicely complemented the pork, the aioli had just the right garlicky flavor, and I liked the bitterness of the arugula.
-- UMAMI FRIES - Criss-cut Waffle Fries, Miso-Coconut Braised Pork, Red Sauce, Garlic Aioli, Fried Shallots, Masago, and Green Onions...$6.35
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/koja-kitchen-san-francisco-7?select=qcWTINV7X80U8Z2F22DxWQ)
Pretty decent, but the kamikaze fries are definitely better. While the fries themselves certainly could've been crisper, this also could've used more pork. Not sure if my friend got more of it (we shared this), but it felt like I got more sauce and fries than meat. Still decently tasty, though.
-- THE ORIGINAL KOJA - Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs (Kalbi), Sesame Vinaigrette Lettuce, Katsu Aioli, and Sesame Seeds between Fried Garlic Rice Buns...$8.95
(see above)
Pretty solid, though I realized I meant to get the beef/bulgogi one, which was my go-to before. Not surprisingly, the kalbi had a lot of beefy flavor and was well seasoned, though it wasn't super tender, and I really liked the aioli. The rice "buns" could've been more garlicky, but that's just me.
Along with all of their solid food options, I also really like how warm and friendly the staff is here. If there was one (albeit minor) complaint to note about this particular location, it'd be with how the majority of seating is technically outside. Granted, they aren't exposed to the elements, thanks to the thick curtain and shades covering the frontage, and they do have overhead heaters to keep people warm, but you can still feel a chill when it's particularly windy and/or cold.
All in all, between the quality of the food, price point, and convenient location (parking can be tough, but it beats parking around Spark Social or hunting down their truck somewhere), KoJa Kitchen is a great spot in the area for a quick bite. Not to mention the fact that it's pretty cool to see another food truck open up a successful brick and mortar spot. I'll most definitely be back!