Kogi: Overrated Waste of Time
Don't get me wrong, the food was tasty but I did the 2.5 hr wait hoping to eat what was supposed to be these amazing tacos and burritos....and was really let down. Korean BBQ is known for VERY distinct delicious flavors. Kogi managed to kill that. With the tacos, the dressing they put on was so overwhelming that it killed any distinct flavor of the meat. I had each of the tacos and I had no idea which taco I was eating. They all tasted almost exactly the same.
Fine...so if I am going to wait for 2.5 hrs I'm going to try the burritos too...I got the pork burrito and short rib burrito. Again, tasty but with no wow factor. The flavors of the meat really didn't stand out. The short rib was definitely better but I've had better short rib at cheap Hawaiian BBQ places and that's sad.
Ok...burritos are done and I am full...but damnit I waited all this time and I want to try the Kimchee quesadilla. This was ok...had its own flavor. The sauce that was on top was pretty good and went well with the cheese, but the kimchee inside was soggy. Since they were so busy they didnt have a chef's special but having eaten pretty much everything else on the menu, I dont think I really missed anything.
Most of the time if I tell someone about a meal, I'll get hungry thinking about it but not this place. It is however making me want to go to some great AYCE Korean BBQ places and get some GOOD Korean BBQ and not the stuff Kogi is selling. I do love taco trucks and especially because of the value for what you get for your money but this was another area Kogi fell short. They charge $2 for a TINYYYYY taco (about 3 bites) and $5 for everything else. The Burritos are small and you get taxed on everything too.
I guess people had to find something else to wait in line for after Pinkberry....lame.
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I totally agree. Not all it's cracked up to be. And I was not even frustrated by a long line. I waited maybe 10 minutes tops. The tacos were good, but did not blow me out of the water. I certainly would not have waited more than 30 minutes for them. If I had, and tasted the end result, I would have been more disappointed.
If it's near you and the line is short. go for it. But don't feel you have to chase these trucks all over town. You won't be missing a thing, really.
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re: Adsvino
thank you!!!! no hassle makes food taste a lot better.
having not waited, i liked it - but i definitely would not bother going out of my way for it.
short rib taco was the best. it was hard to tell the difference b/w that and spicy pork - but it had a bit more char/chrunch on the meat. it's definitely ok bar food.
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re: lotta_cox
After taking a look at lotta's blog...It doesn't sound like you know what a good taco truck should be. To quote your blog "...miniature Mexican tacos and sold dirt-cheap (a taco costs $2, a burrito $5)." and..."I wanted to try one of everything. At these prices one can afford it."
This is NOT a cheap taco truck...in fact they are over priced. The tacos are small and at any other Mexican run truck should cost around $1 (I've been to some where you get two tacos for that price or less). Also the burritos are TINY and for $5!!! please...typical taco truck price is about 4.50 and they are about double the size. To top it all off the big Thank You Kogi gives all of us for waiting is an extra 9.25% tax on top of the already high price of their food. This ruins the culture of the cash only taco truck. The quality of everything in on par with other places so its not like they can justify the prices, especially when they are selling the quantity they do.
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re: lotta_cox
streetgourmetla
Apr 7, 2009 11:50 AM
Lotta Cox is right.Not a Mexican truck, and cheap is not what defines a taco as Mexican.Baja fish tacos are sold for more because they cost more to make, as do other tacos.Most taco stands and trucks selling tacos for a dollar are boring at best.
This is the second or third thread about the long line, I don't get the fuss.Those who don't mind the wait will wait, those who don't shouldn't, but it doesn't change the flavor. If the OP likes 'em but not the wait, the problem is easily solved.Go to the Alibi, or go on an off time.
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re: lifeon2whls
OMG, they charge sales tax?!?!?
They are a legitimate business. Of course they're going to charge you tax.
On top of that, they're delicious. Why are people such haters of successful enterprise? Why aren't you hating on on Cheescake Factory? I saw a ton of people waiting at the Cheesecake Factory in Brentwood last weekend, probably waiting for over an hour! For that? And at those prices!! <gasp!>This is just asinine.
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re: ns1
ronnie_gaucho
Apr 7, 2009 01:15 PM
LOL! Seriously...
I think Kogi has crossed over from a foodie niche into a full blown hipster fad. I didn't wait but 7 minutes for my food at the Alibi Room and I can't say I was missing Kogi last night while i ate my azada tacos on Lincoln and Rose.
It's a cute concept and some of the flavors are nice, but the execution is poor. The tacos are DRENCHED with sauce it's nearly impossible to taste the meat. The tacos are beyond messy. I needed to ask for a fork since 25% of the meat and spilled onto my plate.
I don't agree with people who say their food is "delicious." I really wonder if they would hold the same high opinion of Kogi if they weren't drunk?
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lotta_cox
Apr 6, 2009 05:45 PM
I have never waited longer than 45 minutes and every time the food has been outstanding.
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re: lotta_cox
Foodandwine
Apr 6, 2009 05:54 PM
Lotta, did you read my post? what do you think about the soggy factor along with the over power on the dressing? I normally agree with what you write but we disagree here and I am curious to know why?? Thanks..
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re: Foodandwine
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re: Foodandwine
lotta_cox
Apr 7, 2009 06:37 AM
With regard to the tacos? No, I haven't experienced overly damp or over-dressed tacos. They do seem damper than the tacos at El Parian, or my local on Sunset across from El Chubasco. Last week when I was at the Gopher (purely by chance, I had already had dinner. I am going to get fat!) I ate half a kogi burrito and there was quite a bit of sauce running down my arm and into my bracelet. It was delicious, though.
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Foodandwine
Apr 6, 2009 03:56 PM
Life, I kind of felt the same way as yourself. I had gone to the Torrance location near Toyota about 10 day ago. Lots of people on line before the truck arrived ( actually 2 trucks were working 1/ tacos burritos and 1 quesadillas did not know this till you kind of get up there next to the trucks an someone from the crowd shouted it out ) most people liked the line up and I had fun with it. I was in and out in about an hour or so. Had 2 tacos 1/tofu 1/short rib 1/spicey pork and 1/shortrib burito ( taken home and did not travel well, very juicy from the slaw killed the tortilla ). The slaw they put on top has a very citrus type flavor and its very wet. It took away from the meat as you said (an after thought did not taste much meet only the slaw and dressing) All items did taste kind of the same. I too was thinking of some KBBQ AYE or not.. Im glad I went to see what it was all about. I posted before on the sense of community with KOGI but that was way better then the food..
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re: Foodandwine
Actually the same thing happened to us. We got up to one truck and they only had tacos and Burritos...after we ate those we got in line at the other truck (which at this point it was 1am and the line was only 10 min) and got the quesadilla and extra burrito.
My "sense" of community only goes so far after standing for that long.
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re: Servorg
no comment!
I had NO wait, and I thought it was good, but there's been too much hype. Some places live up to the hype (Langer's), some places can't even though they're good (Mozza) and for Kogi, there's ain't nothin' that could live up to that amount of hype. I'll go to their restaurant, but waiting? at night? for 90 minutes?
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re: karynx78
Skunk2Racer
Apr 6, 2009 03:50 PM
Next time I'm at my favorite AYCE korean BBQ i'm gonna sneak in some tortillas & Chili
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