-
Dining with Food Trucks
Where to find your favorite food trucks and the food trucks I've tried, good and bad.
-
Food Trucks Run Amuck!
Food trucks worth your buck... and some that are just yuck in alphabetical order.
-
2010 - Jonathan Gold's 99 Essential LA Restaurants
Listening to Jonathan Gold and eating my way through his list. I'll be lucky to get…
-
Truck it up!
I, too, have fallen victim to the food truck trend. I was a bit of an early-adopter,…
-
Los Angeles Food Trucks (aka LA, L.A.)
Visiting Los Angeles. Use this list to read about our famous food trucks. I've…
-
Los Angeles Street Food
probably one of the more robust street food cultures around! Here are some of the…
-
When hunting for food trucks...
Food Trucks. Fad? Hype? Hmm... whatever it is, it's booming right now. Shouldn't you…
-
The Tupac/Biggie Food Truck Battle
Both DC and Los Angeles sport some pretty amazing food trucks. Which city has the…
Kogi BBQ
Categories: Restaurants Food Stands Restaurants Asian Fusion Food Stands, Asian Fusion [Edit]
Azul TruckLos Angeles, CA
(323) 315-0253
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 6 pm - 12 am
Tue-Sat 12 pm - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1969 reviews for Kogi BBQ
Review Highlights
"I can't wait to try the short rib burrito next time."
(in 270 reviews)
"My favorite was definitely the spicy pork."
(in 612 reviews)
"yummies - kimchi quesadilla hands down."
(in 263 reviews)
Loading...
1968 reviews in English
-
Review from Matthew L.
Rowland Heights, CA
2/5/2012
There's a reason Korean tacos have become one of the most copied dishes in LA.
Kogi serves a variety of street food, mainly with a Korean or Mexican influence. The results are almost always delicious. The desserts are good too! The tres leches is probably my favorite cake. Some people complain that Kogi is too oily and greasy, but there are those nights where you find yourself in a random parking lot and you just kind of need it.
The specials can range from plays off already staples off the Kogi menu like the Pacman Quesadilla to these ridiculous, unthinkable items like the grilled cheazy weazy, a sandwich featuring bananas, peanut butter, and thai chili sauce. Roy Choi is truly some kind of mad genius.
The idea of KBBQ in a taco may sound weird, but it all makes sense after that first bite. -
Review from Julie F.
1/28/2012
I first tried Kogi three years ago at a catered event. Wow, it took me this long to eat Kogi tacos again!
I unexpectedly happened upon this truck at the Brig on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Parking wasn't bad at all on the residential street and the food line wasn't long at all.
I got a short rib taco. It tasted a bit different than I remember, but it was still good. It was definitely spicier.
I know lots of places try to imitate Kogi tacos, but Kogi is definitely the original and most popular for a reason. -
Review from Michael T.
Malibu, CA
1/26/2012
-Wow, all I can say is that Kogi was one of the most unique and wonderfully awesome tasting lunches I have ever had! Today was my first Kogi BBQ experience. I had been waiting for this day for quite some time my friends. And today was the day. Checked out their location for the day, they were on Olympic and Butler, The ROJA Truck! I Called my boy up and said meet you there at Noon! I was pumped, and it did not disappoint one firkin bit!!.
-We went to Town!!! We each ordered the Short Rip Burrito and Two Spicy Pork Tacos to start! After we demolished these without saying a word to each other except a few happy moans, we decided, you know what, we're here, we gotta try a few more things! We opted for the Kogi Sliders and the Black Jack Quesadillas!! Here is the Breakdown!
-The Spicy Pork Tacos were awesome. A very unique taste for sure. They are pretty small so getting 2 of them is highly recommended if you ask me. The Korean Spicy pork with their homemade coleslaw was just outstanding. I mean these were just very good. They were gone in like 2 minutes flat!
-Short Rib Burrito- Damn. I mean this was Da Bomb Daddy! I really don't know what to say about this guy. The flavors were just unreal. The short rip literally melts in your mouth. It is so friking juicy and moist and wonderful. Mixed with the scrambled eggs and the korean bbq mixture and slaw and rice and whatever else was in this thing was insane! I mean!! Literally think of one of the best most authentic Mexican Burritos you have ever had but instead of chicken or carne asada, sub in the best Korean BBQ Short Rib and mix it with some spicy whatever they use and, ok, you should get the picture. Damn amigos, This was outstanding!!
-The Sliders. Well these may have been my favorite and that is hard to say because everything was so fucking good, sorry had to drop the F Bomb to emphasize how good this was. This thing literally melts in your mouth. I would have opted for like 7 of these and nothing else! Enough said.
-Then The Black Jack Quesadilla! Ok I really don't know what they did to these things but again WOW WOW WOW!! The Green sauce that they put on top of them was like the best sauce I have ever tasted. I know I have said that now like a hundred times, but I don't know how else to describe it! I mean I have not ever had a quesadilla like this before. It was just insanely good!! Like holy cow. At this point my buddy and I were super full, but It was so good, I had not trouble taking it all down. We split the sliders and the quesadilla, he tapped out on the last quesadilla and was like "Do you want the last one" I didn't even hesitate. Was like F Yah bradda!
-What was very cool about the whole experience was that the Mr. Kogi himself was there just kicking it! The Old G himself who stared it all, the pioneer, was sitting right next to us messing around on his phone. I told him how pumped I was and how good it all was, and he just started cracking up, like he has never heard that before. He was like "thanks dude glad you liked" and he hooked my buddy and I up with one for their Desert like Cup Cake things. Damn I don't know what it was but it tasted like a melt in your mouth chocolate cupcake/brownie with some sort of cream filler and a bread crumb topping. It too, yes, was ridiculously good!
-This was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my young culinary career. It was a messy one, but was so worth it! Cannot emphasize that enough. I have never been one to need 5 star restaurants and fine dining to woahhh me. Yes a 5 start restaurant are "Usually" better but are also like 100% more expensive. After my Kogi BBQ Experience today and spending just shy of $20 to literally eat like a king and truly Indulge in some of the best and most perfectly blended flavors I have ever had, I am truly stoked! I have always known there was something like this out there!! Truly Grateful for places like Kogi, and for the guys who took the time to take their culinary ideas to the next level!
-Graciiiiii From the bottom of my heart! -
Review from Karen C.
1/25/2012
After trying this truck out multiple times I say go for the Short Rib Burrito! It's the best value for your dollars, loaded with marinated meat it will fill you up much better than their tacos. =D
The Spicy Pork and Chicken Tacos was just OK, could have been even spicier but then I like it hot! My main problem with the tacos is size, they're very tiny! For what they are priced at it's not worth it. In my experiences with the Kogi Truck I didn't have to wait TOO long, but you sure build up a mighty hunger just waiting in line with the smell of BBQ wafting over you. @_@
The sliders are good, but wish Kogi offered a normal sized burger that way I can have a filling meal instead of snack. Good job on keeping the buns soft and proportional, so when you bite into the slider the enjoyment of juicy-tender meat isn't hampered.
The kimchi quesadilla was quite enjoyable considering it's just pickled spicy vegetables between a couple tortillas. I will try making this at home since it's so inexpensive and simple to make. Props that Kogi came up with this, less overhead means more money for them! Perhaps the long wait time is another genius business strategy, by the time you are finally able to order you feel obligated to try everything since you wouldn't want to repeat the ordeal. -
Review from Angie K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2012
The OG Korean-Mexican fusion truck. I come across one if I'm lucky, and when I do I make sure to get my share. I used to go look for these trucks feeling excited and adventurous but those were the happy days when all I had was time. The top three on my list are:
-Short Rib Taco
-Spicy Pork Burrito
-Kimchi Quesadilla
I do think it's a bit overrated, but I am proud of Chef Roy for popularizing Korean fusion food to the southern california market.Listed in: Delicious Cheap Eats!, LA/OC's Best of the Best
-
Review from Keesy S.
1/19/2012
I would follow this food truck to the ends of the earth if I had to. Luckily I don't have to, that would be quite silly wouldn't it?
SHORT RIB BURRITO!!!! OMG that's all I have to say. This sucker is so flavorful... The friends I've introduced it to have become believers. I've tried the Blue Moon mulita and the tacos and really none have made quite an impression as the short rib burrito has. I don't know what they put in the sucker, must be crack, cuz for a while I was hooked and it took all my will power to kick the habit.
Nowadays I don't hunt this truck down. I wait patiently til it finds me and we reminisce as only old friends can *tear* -
Review from Jason C.
1/19/2012
Like all others first timers, I was excited to try the taco's and other offerings from Kogi truck.... When the plane landed, I got on my phone to find the nearest truck... luckily there was a truck few blocks from the airport... deplaned, got to the rental car agency, got my car and headed to experience my first kogi taco!!
I got in a line, waited about 20 minutes to get a chance to place my order... I got six kogi taco, six spicy pork taco and four steak burritos... I had 40 minute drive to my sister's place so I drove as fast as I could so I could enjoy the tacos!!
Got there and shared the feast with my sister's family... while the food itself was good, I couldn't get over how salty the food was... even my brother-in-law confirmed this... but I wasn't sure if it was because I waited forty minutes to eat this or not, so I said, I'll have to try it again before I can really write a review.
Fast forward a year... I went with a friend, got kimchi quesadilla, calamari taco and kogi taco.... again the food was salty and I was disappointed.... Not sure if I'll be visiting the trucks again.... unless they can work on the saltiness of their food.
Is it worth trying it? If its your first time, give it a try... but frankly speaking... after trying the taco's the second time, all I can say is, 'overrated'.... -
Review from Rachael K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
Occasion: Late night dinner with friends freshman year at SC on The Row
What I Had:
Shortrib tacos
Kogi Kimchi quesadilla
Food Review: The shortrib tacos were okay, but I wish the meat was more substantial for the price. The tacos were kind of small! The kimchi quesadillas were GROSS and this is coming from a Korean. I am usually pretty open to try anything and embrace new foods, but kimchi and cheese are NOT meant to be together.
Service Review: Nothing in particular about the service. It is fast food!
Venue Review: It's a taco truck. Semi-long line (like 20 people?) when we were there, but the wait was manageable.
Overall Impression: I never had Kogi BBQ again after this experience. Usually forgiving of overhyped places if the food is still decent, and I LOVE Mexican food and LOVE Korean food, but I'm just not a fan of Korean and Mexican foods combined. For sure did not create synergies. -
Review from Jones D.
Cathedral City, CA
1/22/2012
I was pretty excited to try the original korean-mexican fusion bbq tacos. The food pretty much lived up to its hype. Pretty interesting and creative mix of Korean and Mexican flavors.
But the waits are just way too long to make it worth my while. Definitely would try this again if the waits were cut in half. -
Review from Elvin C.
Monterey Park, CA
1/4/2012
I finally had a chance to try this place one night and I gotta say, it's really not that great.
The wait is long (luckily I came a bit late and some friends were in line for me already). The food isn't all that cheap either. Actually it's kinda pricey for what it is.
The food is also not even that great. I had the Short Rib Burrito and the guy told me what was in it. I WAS SO EXCITED. Hash browns?? I love that shit. Short rib? Love it. Korean salad? Ehh...okay why not. Upon taking my first bite, it was salty as hell!! The hash browns weren't that great (I hardly noticed them) probably because the flavor was masked by how salty the short rib and the marinade/sauce was. The Korean salad: let's just say I ate around those parts after a few bites of warranted disappointment.
I also ordered a Blackjack Quesadilla. Salty. Excessively greasy. Very cheesy though, which is just a slight plus taking into account how greasy and messy it was consequently. I think there was some short rib in there, hard to say, there wasn't much of it and even then, it was also too salty I hardly could tell what I was eating.
I couldn't finish either of these items. Not because I'm a lightweight because I'm not. It was just inconvenient, messy, salty, and greasy to say the least.
One last thing to mention: I HAD DIARRHEA FOR 5-6 DAYS AFTER EATING THIS HYPE FOOD. It's funny because as I was downing that burrito, I mentioned to my friend that I could tell this won't sit well with my stomach and he ENTHUSIASTICALLY AGREED. I wonder how it treated him...
Anyway, overall, I would probably give it one more shot if I was on a date with the hottest girl I've ever seen and she was paying (lol). Oh you know what? I don't wanna get diarrhea on a date so I take that back. I think people just like the idea of this establishment and how well it's marketed instead of how the food actually is. -
Review from Yuhi K.
1/2/2012
Kogi Truck is all HYPE. They were actually one of the first food trucks to "make it." I think people have just made a big deal over nothing. Korean-Mexican food is somewhat difficult to find and after trying this place, I'm not a fan.
LOCATION: We followed them on twitter and the location in Rosemead was WRONG. The address listed on the webpage was slightly inaccurate. We, in addition to 4 other out-of-state cars were lost. We asked a local and they pointed us in the right direction.
SERVICE: Slow. Although we planned ahead, trying to find this place set us behind schedule. The line was long and slow-moving. It took 2 hours to get to the front. Just so an employee can rudely take our order.
FOOD: There are certain things that just don't mesh. Korean Food & Mexican Food should not be melded together. We sampled a variety of burritos, tacos, and a quesadilla. We came to the conclusion that there were too many flavors going on in each item. There's no reason kimchi, kalbi, and cheese need to be in the same dish.
OVERALL: Not worth the wait.Listed in: Food Trucks
-
Review from Marielena S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
I love Kogi. I love the sweet and tender short rib meat, fresh cheese, and fresh vegetables. A little greasy? Yeah, so what? That's the best part about street food. STREET FOOD IS NOT HEALTHY and that's how it should stay.
Sometimes I do find a lot of fat in my short rib burrito. Just take it out. Ehh.
You must try: the Pac Man Quesadilla and Sliders.
Kogi prices are going up which I think will bring down the hype a lot more.
Overall, I gave 5 stars because I absolutely love the taste and quality of Kogi's food. -
Review from Amy L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012
Maybe Kogi isn't the be-all and end-all of food (or even just fusion street eats), but who is asking it to be? It's damn tasty and no one should be complaining about that.
Today was my brother's last day in LA and I wanted his last meal here to be something quintessentially Angeleno. Lightbulb: what could be more LA-esque than Korean-Mexican fusion truck food? And what do ya' know, one of the trucks was going to be literally right down the street from my apartment during lunch time.
It's a greasy, messy, in-your-face and all-over-your-hands flavor explosion, and I say all of that with the highest regards. The tacos are bomb and even though the prices have gone up a bit ($2.10/taco), it's still cheaper than any other gourmet taco I've come across. I also tried the Kogi Sliders (2 little burgers for $5) for the first time and they're forever going to be a must-have.
Kogi is the real OG and amidst all of the gourmet/fusion/food truck craze it started, it is still the only one I truly enjoyed and will come back to. -
Review from Tammy T.
Claremont, CA
1/29/2012
Korean BBQ and tortillas may not have been born together, but they sure are meant to be. I had Kogi first at a catered event and probably downed at least 7 tacos. I tried the spicy pork, chicken, tofu, and short rib. My best advice is to just go with the classic (short rib). It's basically a flavor explosion in your mouth. And, the fact that the tortillas are toasted on the flat top with the meat only makes it tastier. The tacos are double-tortilla-d and stuffed with meat and an asian coleslaw (no mayo and lots of sesame seeds). Don't forget to squeeze some Sriracha. I don't know if I would actually pay $2.29 a taco but they're definitely tasty and worth trying at least once in your life.
-
Review from Madeline T.
Santa Clarita, CA
1/9/2012
I've never understood the hype of food truck food. While my friends and family flock to the food truck festivals to sample all the cutesy, creative, fusion places (some with really interesting names; I'll give them the point here), I just hung out on the couch and waited for any kind of leftovers brought home to me. One time, my sister brought back a quarter of her short rib burrito from Kogi, and maaaan, I remember that first bite being heaven.
So years after that small encounter, I finally head to the truck that started it all for my first Kogi meal. Thankfully, I had a buddy saving me a spot in line so I got to order right when I got there. "Short rib burrito, please."
"That's it?" the guy taking my money asked. I guess people all out when they go here, but I just wanted another taste of that delicious burrito I once had.
I was thrilled when they called my order. The burrito was bigger than I thought it'd be, and like the Kogi veterans around me were doing, I asked for a side of the "orange sauce."
First bite was good, albeit not as good as the first one I had years before. Second and third...still pretty good. But as I got closer and closer to the end of the burrito, I was left with feelings of "meh." Maybe I had bad luck, but my burrito was just waaay too salty to taste the beef (what I did taste was delicious) but maybe that was because there was more Korean salad then meat. On top of that, my meal was sooooo greasy. I know Kogi really just a high end roach coach, but still. Regardless, I still kept eating it...if that was because I wanted to agree with all the hype or if it was ACTUALLY that good, I don't know.
And the next day I wake up with the worst food poisoning I have ever experienced. Boyfriend, who also ate Kogi, occupied the other toilet. Yeeeeeah, I should have kept my impression of Kogi from that one bite I had once. -
Review from Alre H.
12/10/2011
Eat It OR Beat It?
**EAT IT!!**
w/ caution
So after ALLLLLLL the hype of this food truck craze, which I believe Kogi started, I knew I had to make a twitter account just to track this truck down! ... which I later found out you could just go on their website to find their next location (silly me)!
My first time trying the Kogi truck was at The Brig in Abboy Kinney on a Saturday afternoon. I was expecting long lines but I was fortunate to only have to wait for 10-15 minutes; apparently it gets more crowded at night for all the late-nite snackers, etc.
So before ordering, I was checking out what others had ordered and by the looks of what I saw, it was well worth my money to go for the $5 burrito instead of the $2 taco. The burritos were much larger and had more content inside than did the tacos. So I say, if you're having a big appetite, go for the burrito, if not, go for the tacos.
Short Rib Burrito:
This was tasty and interesting to say the least. Inside the burrito were some eggs mixed in with Korean-style mild mixed veggies (similar to Kimchi but more finely diced). It was tasty, but nothing that "wow-ed" my hopes, dreams, and expectations.
Spicy Pork Burrito:
This was a little more tasty than the short rib burrito. The pork inside was marinated with Korean-style spices (similar to kimchi spices) in addition to the same veggies put inside of the short-rib.
CONCLUSION:
Overall, Kogi is definitely an experience and food worth trying but definitely not to die for. The flavors are intricate and innovative and understandably amazing if you are hungry or have the munchies or drunchies at 12am midnight. For many people, this is a different style of food and for some a whole new world. It's a shame that this kind of commercialization is what it takes to start the whole food truck frenzy when in fact I've always LOVED "roach-coaches"; as food trucks were once referred to as.
If you want real tacos from the originators of food trucks, try the authentic Mexican taco trucks found alongside the roads of Los Angeles. And for all my non-Korean folks out there... please don't go around telling people or yourself that you've tried Korean food just because of this truck! If you want real authentic Korean food, go down to Koreatown!
So, I say... "EAT IT" w/ caution (just because you have to try it ONCE!) -
Review from Elaine H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012
DELISH. Mexican-Asian fusion? I'm there.
Tangy Mexican flavors with sweet Korean BBQ meat. The combination is incredible! -
Review from SHAWN C.
Anaheim, CA
1/23/2012
Nice late night eats. Wait isn't fun though if you are hungry. Korean BBQ burrito was awesome. My girlfriend even finished hers, and she isn't a big eater. Just make sure you have some water on hand, probably because of the salt that keeps the meat preserved.
-
Review from Matt C.
Glendale, CA
11/30/2011
Wow factor.
How many times do you eat something and walk away wowed?
Kogi wows. The kimchi quesadilla is a godsend. The blue moon mulitas, kogi sliders, pac man burger, and short rib anything are superior food options in this modern day economic climate. Any climate for that matter.
I will chase down the Kogi truck through the end of time. My favorite food truck hands down. -
Review from carlos c.
12/2/2011
ah Kogi, the grandaddy of them all..
This was my first gourmet food truck experience, and it's been a while since I've had you, but every single time was nothing short of amazing.
The Kogi truck is simple, take korean recipes, fuse it with mexican preparation and bingo! you have an instant hit!
I will always say, get a burrito instead of the tacos because I can't get enough of their grub, the black jack queso, or the kim chi queso, and always the short rib burrito. If they still do the tres leches cake, get it, freeze it, forget it, and have it the next day, ..turns into ice cream cake!
YUM!! -
Review from Tim B.
Van Nuys, CA
11/20/2011
I've been following Kogi since they first burst onto the scene 4ish years ago. I don't remember when they started but I remember when there was only 1 truck and they hadn't come down to the valley yet. Following twitter to see where they would be each day was an adventurous scavenger hunt that made the food treasure at the end all the more delectable. Hour long lines weren't in comparison to the 3 hour lines of the past. But worth the wait everytime! I've seen people give mixed reviews on Kogi and to each their own but I can't compare them to anything else out there. If you love Korean BBQ, then there is no way you can go without trying Kogi out. It would be downright foolish to not.
Kogi offers the following basic menu. tacos, burritos, kimchi quesadilla, and a slider. Tacos and burritos come with the following meat choices: kalbi beef, spicy pork, chicken, and tofu. You can't go wrong with either choices. The tacos come with an asian slaw that complements the meat very well. I personally love kimchi and the kimchi quesadilla is a must for those who love kimchi as well.
The lines are no longer as long due to the amount of extra trucks they offer now compared to when they first started so getting a taste of their food is easier. DO yourselves a favor and give it a try. If you don't like it, that's fine but I'm sure if you try it you"ll become a fan like me. With all the food truck craze nowadays, I agree with another reviewer in saying that Kogi was one of the first, if not THE first of the gourmet food trucks in So Cal to make it. They paved the way for many and they continue to grow. -
Review from Samantha L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012
What my sister, Vittoria said below me. xD
Haven't tried everything yet...I keep getting the short rib burrito because it's only $5 and it's definitely the most filling. Wish they'd come down to the southbay area more often. This is definitely the most tastiest food I have ever eaten in my life. I feel sorry for my friends that haven't tried it, I really do. -
Review from Andy S.
Anchorage, AK
12/30/2011
Went to LA for a weekend just to try this. It didn't disappoint. They were located in at the Yahoo Center in Santa Monica that day. There was a street with at least 6 food trucks but Kogi was at another spot by itself. I had the Short Rib Burrito, spicy pork taco, and calamari taco. The calamari taco was great! Unique and flavorful. The spicy pork taco was what I expected. Korean food in a taco. The short rib burrito was huge. Packed full of meat. I would actually pick a short rib burrito over Arizona's Carne Asada burrito. My friend got the kimichi quesedilla. That was a mistake. Kimichi with cheese and a sort of sweet sauce was terrible. That's the only reason I didnt give the 5th star. But I would move to LA just for the food trucks.
-
Review from Randoll C.
Orange County, CA
9/15/2011
First Kogi experience.
Ordered a combo: $8 - comes with a burrito, a taco and a drink. Not too bad. I heard that these lunch trucks can tend to be expensive. I've had less food, for more at other places.
Waited in line for less than 20 minutes. That's counting the moment I got in line to when I got my order. I've heard the stories about outrageous waits - but I've also waited longer at other places just to be seated.
Opted for a Short Rib Burrito, a Spicy Pork Taco and a drink. I really enjoyed the Short Rib Burrito. It's a decent size as far as portions go and it was flavorful enough that I didn't add any condiments. The Spicy Pork Taco was ok. I don't know if I'd order it again because I really enjoyed the Beef that much.
I'm not saying that this was the best lunch truck experience of my life but it definitely didn't suck. I'm sure it wouldn't have been as enjoyable if I had to wait forever in line and then not find seating right away.
It wasn't the healthiest food I've had recently but every so often, just gotta say ... WTF. We gotta eat.
For me - it's a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Food was good - not great. -
Review from Randy T.
9/30/2011
Finally got the chance to try the innovator of the food truck revolution that is sweeping the nation. Kogi BBQ has spawned so many imitators that I wanted to sample the truck that started mobile cuisine.
We were still stuffed from Bruxie's waffle sandwich but given our limited time in LA, we decided to at least eat a couple of tacos to see what they were like.
We ordered one Spicy Pork and one Short Rib taco ($2.10 each). I enjoyed the spiciness from the pork and the punch of the acidic kimchee that topped the abundance of meat. The short rib had a mild tang and sweetness but the kimchee overpowered it. All in all, a couple of solid tacos with an abundance of meat and I guess you can call veggies.
It'll have to be 3 stars for now until I can eat some of the other items on their menu. -
Review from Dogz B.
Long Beach, CA
11/4/2011
I am a regular customer. I have practically tried almost all of the items on their menu.
Bottomline, they are the king of (gourmet) food trucks period. They started it all (gourmet) but it doesn't mean the food does not get old. From the tacos, burritos, sliders and their specials, they need to at least add 2-3 new items and somehow, roll back the prices. I am not sure if it was just me but I thought that the food got saltier. Either way, I will pick this food truck over all the other "copy cats".
Best fusion burrito and taco in LA, period. -
Review from William W.
Astoria, NY
1/3/2012
I love the food from this truck but it is a bit overpriced. I always get the sliders, which are a must try!
-
Review from Alex C.
Long Beach, CA
9/30/2011
Kogi is the OG gourmet foodie truck and as far as roach-coaches go, it's pretty legit. Back in the day, when you use to have to drive miles and miles to hunt down their one and only truck, just to wait in line for a hour to get your food, it was a hassle. Now, since they have a few trucks scattered around the city, it's much more convenient - still, I wouldn't go too far out of the way... As with all food trucks, it ain't all that.
Personally, their tacos are my favorite. Their burritos are OK too, but they use too much scrambled egg as filler and it dilutes the bold seasonings Korean BBQ is famous for. I wasn't a fan of their quesadilla either - had a funky taste I just couldn't get down with. Nevertheless, their tacos are bombdiggity - get a bunch, cuz you won't be able to eat just one and you will definitely regret having to get back in line for more. -
Review from Ernest Y.
Rowland Heights, CA
10/29/2011
Kogi is my favorite food truck and I have tried other food trucks that just didn't match up to what kogi offers you in terms of price and portion. That is probably kind why Kogi deserves a 4 because it's probably the best food truck out there no matter how many new food trucks there are.
Also I've been liking Kogi more due to the fact that it's a bigger business now so they come to my area more and there are many different truck location meaning there is a less wait. I remember back then when i wait for an hour and 30 mins and that just killed my experience. Now I just have to wait 20 mins and i get my food ready and leave.
It's "cheap" in terms of Food truck price. Other food truck places that offer tacos are $3 now and Kogi(even though it was only $2) is now $2.10 but it's like the same portion but taste possibly around the same or better than what other food trucks are willing to offer. Portion wise for how much you are paying at a food truck it just wins.
Anyway I honestly just recommend you to get the burrito because I find the burrito worth it a lot more than the tacos. $5 for a satisfying, semi big, burrito that is fill with ingredients and tasty. -
Review from E W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/15/2011
The Kogi truck is outside my office every Thursday. My office gets excited and I've been a few times. I've even planned lunches around the truck.
I consider the Kogi truck to be THE truck that started the current food truck fad in L.A. However, there's often not a line so maybe it's made out its welcome.
After going several times, it's just ok. My big beef (pun intended) is the chicken is all big chunks of dark meat only with smaller bits of white meat. Dark meat is not as healthy and cheaper so are they cutting corners? The burrito is just a bunch of veggies sauteed with sauce and the mixed chicken.
Tofu items are much better. Delicious really.
The service is just ok. They can give an attitude like hurry up and order even when there's no line!
For $5-10, it's a lot. I'll probably go to a traditional brick and mortar restaurant more often on Thursdays.
I'll keep trying this truck but I don't have big expectations. -
Review from Desiree T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 12/5/2011
for crying out loud white people, kogi is pronounced with a hard G (as in "GGGGGet it right, fools")
now that i've schooled you once, i'll school you again with this formula for life:
2(spicy pork tacos + short rib tacos)=1 orgasmic experience for your taste buds.
class dismissed.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/16/2009
I just got back from being in Europe for 3 months. The entire time I was there I was craving tacos.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Andrew F.
9/12/2011
Although roach coaches, taco trucks and food-mobiles have been around since.. forever.. I feel that Kogi was the one that really put specialized food trucks on the map. They took full advantage of social networking and pioneered the 'up to date - here I am' method of marketing.
The followings for these trucks were ridiculous. They knew they were popular, for the 1st year they were around, they served a unique and quite tasty product, so they decided to charge an arm and a leg for what they made. Now with so many different food trucks, their novelty has long disappeared. There are better offerings for cheaper elsewhere.
But I do have to give credit to Kogi for breaking the mundane mold and revolutionizing what food trucks are today. Sure, there may have been other food trucks that did it before them, but I think Kogi is what made following and pursuing food trucks a big hit in SoCal.
Their short rib tacos, and short rib burritos are the only things I've had from the trucks. The tacos were good, the slaw was a good complement, but I believe the prices they were charging at were a little too ridiculous. The rice in the burritos was consistently undercooked and annoying to eat - I wanted my money back.
I will always respect Kogi for the influence they had on the young foodie crowd, but they also pioneered the 120/80 rule. 120% of the price for 80% quality of what you can get in a restaurant. But hey, it's off a food truck - what do you expect?
They are no longer original and have certainly lost their wow factor. I believe my days of pursuing the Kogi trucks are long gone. Cuz seriously, why wait for an hour on foot for overpriced food? -
Review from Lauren H.
9/29/2011
I was lucky to find out one of the trucks (yes, they have multiple) was outside of my apartment one night. How convenient! As a result, this is now one of my favorite food trucks. I was expecting it to be overhyped but it definitely was not.
After reading through as many of the thousands of reviews here that I could stand, I decided that I would try the sliders and the quesadilla. Others mentioned that the tacos are too "normal" and most people that got them seemed slightly disappointed.
Both the quesadilla and the sliders were so unique and extremely flavorful. It took me a while to decide which I liked better, but in the end the sliders took the crown. Their meat is just so delicious (though I can see where some said it was too fatty if you got the wrong section of meat.. this was not the case with me). Their choice of sauces and flavor combinations is complete perfection. I definitely recommend the short rib... but the pork was so good too. Your best bet is to go with a friend and split things like I did. Oh, we also tried the tres leches cake which was really good, but a little overpriced for the size.
All in all, completely delicious and a must-try. -
Review from Jana S.
9/4/2011
First heard about this entrepreneur in a Time magazine articles years ago... how he single-handedly launched the food truck frenzy into outer space... yup.
Right there on W Olympic on Friday... parked just a block away from Ramen Ya.... oh yeah..... finally get to revisit after a long time away (last I had was at Alibi in Venice)
Kalbi tacos, and those little spicy, juicy, meaty sliders....
and Crush!!! Crush GRAPE, to be exact!! That was the icing and cherry on top.
Hilarious how Calbi taco truck comes and parks directly across the street from them. Kogi kicks butt every time! -
Review from Johnny K.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011
Back in Februrary 2008, we were bumbling out of the Golden Gopher after a night of drinks. As we were stumbling down the street in search of a cab, we came across what seemed to be a taco truck.
As we took a closer look, we noticed that they weren't just serving normal tacos, but korean tacos! Immediately, I had to bust out the wallet and get me some korean tacos.
These tacos were amazing. I may be a little bias because I am a huge fan of korean food, but this was something that I had never seen before. Korean meat and kimchi with this special sauce blew my mind. In my inebriated and elated state I quickly took out my phone and texted 10 friends back home to let them know of this discovery.
Little did I know that they would be the ones that began this food truck craze we see today. I have been back plenty of times since my initial visit and will continue to bring my business. Kudos to the team at Kogi BBQ for changing the food truck game. -
Review from Stephanie H.
Pasadena, CA
10/11/2011
The Kogi truck is my favorite of all the food trucks out there. I love their Korean BBQ/Mexican flair on food.
My favorite item is the Blackjack Quesadilla. Spicy pork with carmelized onions along with a citrus jalapeno salsa verde on top is such a good combination. It's a large item and can definitely be enough for one person as a meal but it's always nice to share so you can try other stuff!
The Kogi sliders is another favorite of mine. It has beef short rib, sesame mayo, cheese and a salsa roja. The flavor combination is to die for! And the buns are slightly sweet as they look like Hawaiian bread rolls.
Their tacos are also good as well as their Kimchi Quesadilla.
The only disappointment about this truck is their burritos. I would probably skip that since there isn't anything that special about it. Other than that, I love KOGI! -
Review from Romster R.
Los Angeles, CA
9/2/2011
You have to try the Kogi truck at least once. Ya, the wait CAN be bad but I've been lucky each time I go. The sliders taste great! So does the Short Rib Burrito. There are a couple menu items that I do not like at all. The Sweet Chili Quesadilla has too much sauce that overpowers what could have been a great tasting twist on the traditional quesadilla. The Kim chi Quesadilla has an interesting taste-Good on the first bite then goes a downhill from there. Tacos are very good! Small, but still great for the price.
I've been here twice so far. I will go back again. I hear the Blackjack Quesadilla is great! -
Review from Kimberly C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/13/2011
I appreciate Kogi for its concept and being the first of the gourmet food trucks to really make it. Lines are, 80% of the time, ridiculous, but that never really stopped me before. I'd hate it when we'd spend about 2 hours in line, they'd aallmoosstt run out of food, and my burrito would be about 2 inches tall. But the service is always great and they were always so appreciative of their customers. It is fairly expensive, but you just gotta know what your favorites are because they ARE worth it. My favorites are the short rib burritos, tofu burritos, and the tres leches of course. It's safe to say I usually love any of their specials that involve short ribs. Wow, I don't think I've had Kogi since last summer. This needs to change.
Although lines are sometimes a pain and the quantity of the food does not always live up to expectations, the quality does. There is nothing I could eat that would come close to reminding me of the goodness that is a short rib breakfast burrito from the Kogi truck. You can't get those flavors anywhere else. -
Review from Olivia S.
8/17/2011
Waited a whole almost 2 hours for this bad boy in NoHo with some friends and it was my first time... Restless.... and hours later I finally dove in to my first korean bbq burrito and quesadilla...
It was heaven in my mouth! I have had many trucks and nothing has beaten the flavors that kogi puts out. I'm impressed with the business, people following its next location on twitter and facebook.. it keeps their fans excited. I saw a while back they had some kind of smoked salmon thing going on as a special, wish I was in town to give it a try.
If and when I am in LA... I will go out of my way to make a stop at one of their locations. Lines will not stop my mission to get some kogi! -
Review from Helen S.
11/12/2011
My friend and I chased down the Kogi truck when I was visiting LA over break (first food truck experience), and we found it outside Santa Monica College. The line was fantastically long, building our expectations that it would taste amazing, and we waited maybe 45 minutes before we finally ordered. We got tacos and burritos with various fillings: short rib, spicy pork, and chicken. Maybe my expectations were too high but they all tasted pretty similar. Also, the flavor was just a little off and I can't quite place my finger on why, but it just didn't suit my fancy. I wish I had tried something off their favorites menu to see if I would like those better, alas I didn't :(
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1)
