With Coreano's Kitchen opening up their new second location in Itaewon/Noksapyung last week, here is a blogpost on a great Mexican fusion place - one of many overdue blogposts! (More to come on regular Mexican fusion favourites like Vatos and Cirilos too). The number one question I get is - which one is better/the best? To this I answer, there is no best one, but each has different menu items, flavours and different reasons I like certain dishes better than others. Sometimes, it might just depends what I'm craving or what atmosphere I am looking for. There is no better, just same same but very different at each Korean fusion Mexican place!
Coreanos flat out says Mexican fusion on it's menu and website, so don't be expecting authentic mexican - instead, expect tasty Korean Mexican fusion with great flavours, salsas and sauces.
The dishes below are from their first original location in Apgujung at the end of Rodeo.
Free chips and salsa that come at the table. Delicious green and red salsa. I could just eat these chips and salsa all day if they kept them coming!
A bottle of red and green sauce to go along with your tacos, burritos and whatever else you please. I am a sauce girl and these flavours were hitting the spot with just the right amount of spice and creaminess.
Their famous 3 Wise Fries - "Chicken, Galbi, and Pork + three different hot sauces served on fries, with onions, and cilantro." (Voted Best Fries in America according to Yahoo! Travel/ US News).
The onions are grilled on these, and there is a trio sectioned out of chicken, beef and pork spread across the fries. A bit more dry than the kimchee fries, but still flavourful with the sauces.
My favourite - Pork Kimcheese Fries "Al Pastor, cheese, caramelized kimchi, served on nachos, topped with onions, cilantro, and sour cream."
I love the sauciness and the combination of all the flavours together. The dollop of sour-cream on top brings it all nicely together. The onions are raw on the kimcheese fries, but they are thinly diced enough where they add a nice punch without being too strong. So good!
The same two dishes as above, but on top of nachos! Both also great, but I prefer the dishes over the fries better. When the sauces sat on the chips, the ones on the bottom got too soggy if you didn't eat them right away.
Three Wise Nachos - "Chicken, Galbi, and Pork + three different hot sauces served on fries, with onions, and cilantro."
Pork Kimcheese Nachos - "Al Pastor, cheese, caramelized kimchi, served on nachos, topped with onions, cilantro, and sour cream."
Chicken Quesadilla - "Quesadilla with cheese, pico de gallo, and chicken."
Love the pickled vegetables and jalepenos on the side.
Chicken Quesadilla - "Quesadilla with cheese, pico de gallo, and chicken."
Nicely toasted, great blend of savoury ingredients melted together inside with yummy sauces drizzled on top.
Galbi Beef Tacos - "Galbi marinated beef short rib with cabbage, onion, cilantro & sesame oil vinaigrette"
Good, but the galbi was a tad too sweet for my liking.
OG Burrito - "Galbi shortrib burrito with cabbage slaw, caramelized kimchi, sahm jang sauce, sesame oil vinaigrette & fries."
Again, the seasoning on the galbi was a touch too sweet for me, and overall the burrito itself was a little bit dry. The fries that were in here were a bit over-fried too. A great combination idea, but it wasn't my favourite menu item here. I much prefer the Vatos burrito over this one.
Citrus Chicken - "Spicy citrus chicken with onion, tomatoes, cilantro & scorcho sauce."
The chicken menu items have been great here (chicken quesadilla being great too). Juicy pieces of chicken seasoned nicely with the killer sauce!
A close up of the Citrus Chicken. Add a bit more of the green and red sauce they have in bottles and this is good to go!
Sulam’s Cookie Pizza - "Freshly made giant cookie topped with ice cream - Serves 3-4"
A giant double chocolate chip cookie "pazzokie" - a cookie the shape of a mini pizza! It looked and sounded like a great idea, but I didn't like the cookie itself. It didn't have enough flavour and tasted very buttery around the edges and bottom. There was a generous portion of plain vanilla ice-cream, but this pazzokie didn't blow my mind. I love the original chocolate chip cookie one they have at Left Coast Artisan Burgers.
The stairs leading down to the apgujung location - their first location.
Click to see enlarged version.
Went to check out the 2nd location of Coreanos they just opened up located at the end of Itaewon/Noksapyung.
Chips and Salsa
They had the same great green and red salsas, and creamy and spicy hot sauce - but this time in cute little plates with mini spoons. We were pushing the little spoons out of the way to double dip and get all the sauce out of the corners so we're not too sure what they are for haha. The sauces in bottles aren't available here, but you can get refills of all 4 for 1000won.
Soymilk Horchata
Clean and light tasting, not too creamy, but also not that flavourful. Could've used a bit more kick with some more cinnamon. They also had a Kahlua Horchata option but didn't try that this time.
Battered Cod Taco (only Itaewon location) - Crispy-fried cod, a cilantro-cream sauce topped with cabbage and tomatoes.
Grilled Shrimp - "Grilled shrimp marinated in a special citrus sauce
with pico de gallo, cabbage & a cilantro cream sauce". Delicious especially if you like flavour and sauce!
Galbi Taco - "Galbi marinated beef short rib with cabbage, onion,
cilantro & sesame oil vinaigrette." Still too sweet for my liking!
Close-up of the Battered Cod Taco
Sopes - fried handmade corn tortillas with ground meat, tomatoes, beans, onions, sour cream and cheese.
Huge servings - thick corn base with ingredients on top - tastes exactly like how it sounds and looks. Less flavourful than the other menu items. Order if you are hungry because this is def. a portion for 2-3 especially if you order other things.
Located right next to the building of Berlin and Buddha's Belly. Great location and view with fresh air coming through the open concept building. More trendy than their Apgujung location, but the food is just as good.
What? Coreanos Kitchen. Mexican Fusion with great sauces and flavours
Who? All ages, anyone who likes Korean Mexican fusion food. It's more enjoyable if you like spicy or flavourful foods.
When? Depends which location.
Apgujung location: Tue–Sat: 11:30 am-3:00 pm, 5:30 pm-10:00 pm. Sun: 2:00 pm–9:00 pm
Itaewon location: Daily: 12pm-11pm
Parking? Apgujung - yes, behind the corner where the Pascucci Coffee shop is. Itaewon - no, find pay parking in a lot nearby.
Cards Accepted? Yes
Where? See below for each location: Apgujung and Itaewon
Apgujung location: 강남구 신사동 657-11번지 지하1층. (657-11 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu)
Call: 02-547-4427
Directions: Take the subway to Apgujung Rodeo Station, Exit 6. Walk until you get to the Rodeo street which is just at a Paris Croissant. Walk all the way down until you reach the end of a 3 way and it will be in front of you. Go downstairs to enter the restaurant.
Itaewon/Noksapyung location: 용산구 이태원동 457-3번지. (457-3, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu)
Call: 02-795-4427
Directions: Go to Noksapyung, Exit 3. Cross the street while looking straight ahead at the huge neon sign. Go up the hill to the building beside Berlin to find the entrance.