When people say food trucks, the Kogi truck from Los Angeles immediately comes to mind. Anyone who keeps up with food knows about this mini-empire which pioneered the Korean taco movement, marrying Korean and Mexican cuisine by stuffing Korean-marinated meats into a tortilla. The concept leveraged social media tools like Twitter, creating buzz reaching across the country.
Ssahm BBQ takes this concept and makes it their own, integrating their unique marinades and sauces as well as (mostly) quality ingredients into the recipes. I’ll be frank and say it loud and clear: in my opinion, they are doing the best Korean/Mexican fusion in Texas right now. The nuances of hand-made tortillas are the only reason I’d put Kogi above them, but otherwise, they blow away the other competition in the Lone Star state and no one in Dallas has a product like theirs. The fillings used in their tacos can go toe to toe with the California juggernaut. Don’t take my comments on tortillas as harsh criticism though, as I do understand making them from scratch is easier said than done.
The truck parked at the Walgreens on Belt Line and Montfort, and I stopped there for dinner tonight. My order included two tacos with kalbi (beef) and dak (chicken), and an order of pork Kimchee Fries. Certified Angus shortrib is used in their savory Kalbi taco. The caramelized beef was nicely charred and beefy, and did not get overwhelmed by the piquant toppings of shredded lettuce with vinaigarette, onions, cilantro, and salsa roja with a pungent Korean twist from it’s base of gochujang. If you feel like eating something lighter, go with the chicken which also had a pleasant caramelization. Both tacos used two properly warmed corn tortillas from a bag that have a slightly oily and crispy texture while retaining their shape and sturdiness.
The real star for me were the Kimchee Fries. Chi’Lantro’s in Austin can’t even begin to compare to these. The hand-cut fries tasted like they were cooked twice similar to methods used by famed burger establishments like Mooyah or In-N-Out, giving them a remarkable uneven golden brown crispy exterior while staying puffy and earthy inside. Ssahm BBQ’s unique spicy mayo provides an initial slight sweet and caramelized taste, while an intense and penetrating heat slowly builds up, merging with the perfectly marinated pork and the fresh onion, cilantro, and cheeses to create a wild explosion of flavor in the mouth.
For those of you who subscribe to the “secret menu” school of thought, it’s worth noting that the spicy mayo is an available condiment for any dish on the menu if you desire to add a significant level of heat and excitement to your meal. To tame the heat, the truck also serves water, soft drinks, as well as canned Korean drinks like the rice drink shikhye and Milkis, a milk soda.
I’m very glad to have them less than five minutes away from home, and maybe within walking distance of my office if I’m lucky. Everyone in Dallas keeps saying they want food trucks, and this one totally deserves our support. I see why the Chowhound post noted they typically have a big lunch crowd when they park at the Walgreens location in Addison. The truck is always mobile, and can be found in the Design District, Arts District, North Dallas, and as of today, Irving and possibly Las Colinas. They also use the Square application on Android to take credit card payments. Keep in touch with them via their site, Twitter, and Facebook to know where they will park next.
Mmm you may have convinced me to try it! Is it better than Jinho’s mom’s cooking?
: P
What the heck is “pork Kimchee”?
Rob: You get to choose a protein with your Kimchee fries, so I went with daeji (pork).
Yea but never will they be in Lewisville close to the office here. Lunch wasteland up here!