Korean Kalbi Taco

If you live in the Los Angeles area, I am sure you have heard of Kogi food truck and its famed Kogi taco.

Kogi tacos pretty much launched the food truck culture and craze in the United States.

For the longest time, I have wanted to share the recipe here and finally I got to do it over the weekend.

I had Kogi taco once. The food truck comes to the Orange County area from time to time and I was lucky to have tried it.

I remember the line was as long as the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland as eager diners waited patiently for their turn to place the order.

I thought the tacos were delicious but I was mostly impatient with the long wait.

Kogi taco is basically Korean Kalbi taco, so I decided to create a similar recipe and share it with you.

I personally like my creation (Mr. Rasa Malaysia gave his thumbs up). For the Kalbi, I referred to the guest post from Diana at Eating Richly.

I might be biased but the end result was a lot more refreshing than Kogi taco.

I opted out the salsa in Kogi’s and serve it with diced tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.

Plus, the seasoned Romaine lettuce and the tangy dressing with a lemony note complement the tastes very well.

If you are making Korean Kalbi this summer, do save up a few pieces of the Kalbi and make them into this Korean Kalbi tacos.

I am sure the delightful flavor will entice your taste buds!

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 246 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Salmon Patties

Caprese Skewers

Apple Chicken Sausage Salad

Basil Butter Corn

Yield: 18 Tacos

Korean Kalbi Taco

Print

Korean kalbi (BBQ beef short rib) tacos. Amazing tacos with tender, juicy and the most delicious Korean kalbi.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 16 minutes

Total Time 36 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 pounds (1.3 kg) beef short ribs or Korean Kalbi, about 11-12 pieces
• 1/2 Romaine lettuce, thinly shredded
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 tomato, seeded and diced
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 18 small flour or corn tortilla
• 1-2 lemons, thinly sliced for garnishing

Marinade for Kalbi:

• 1 Asian pear
• 1/2 white or yellow onion
• 1 1/4 cups soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup citrus soda
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1/4 cup sesame oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Gochugaru, Korean chili powder
• 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Marinade the beef short ribs with the Marinade for at least 30 minutes, overnight is best. Refer to the Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs Recipe for the step-by-step instructions on how to marinade.
2. Prepare the ingredients for the Sauce and mix well. Refrigerate until use. Prepare the Romaine lettuce, red onion, tomato and cilantro in separate bowls.
3. Wrap the tortilla in aluminum foil and warm them in the oven at the lowest setting for a few minutes. Toss the shredded Romaine lettuce with 1/2 of the sauce. Save the remaining sauce for the tacos.
4. Grill the marinated beef short ribs, each side for 3-4 minutes. When all the ribs are done, cut the meat into 1/2 inch cubes.
5. Place the beef short-rib cubes on the tortilla. Add some seasoned lettuce. Top it with the diced red onion, tomato and cilantro. Drizzle some sauce on top, garnish with a sliced lemon and serve.

Notes

1. If you prefer spicier taste, you can add an extra 1 tablespoon Gochugaru to the Sauce to give it the extra zing.

2. Gochugaru can be purchased from any Korean grocery stores like H-Mart. Most Asian stores also sell them.

Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

18 tacos
Amount Per Serving Calories 246Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 3gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 32mgSodium 1189mgCarbohydrates 18gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 14g