Eating places will characteristic Korean elements in tacos, burritos, quesadillas and salad bowls.
How does this sound? Gogi nachos pairing Korean pork, Seoul sauce and tortilla chips. Loaded bulgogi fries topped with barbecue beef and roasted kimchi. Sticky Chicky with Korean fried rooster and apricot glaze.
These are just some of the dishes on the intriguing menu at Takko, a Korean taqueria, which shall be opening two branches in Tallahassee. The primary is scheduled to open on Aug. 11, mentioned co-owner Mark Haidet. The quick informal restaurant shall be situated in the Magnolia Grove procuring heart at 218 Magnolia Dr. (Mission BBQ, Taziki’s Cafe, Which Wich), in the previous dwelling of Oishii Bento sushi. A second location shall be coming to Market Sq., the procuring heart nonetheless beneath improvement at Thomasville and Timberlane roads.
The restaurant is predicated on an idea created by Chef Tomas Lee, who pairs Korean elements with Mexican staples like burritos and tacos — however don’t combine it up with fusion. Tomas and Mark personal one taqueria in Atlanta and one in Dunwoody, Georgia. In Tallahassee, they’re becoming a member of forces with Eric Jenrich, chief government officer of Island Wing Firm and founding father of Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
I hate that Tallahassee misplaced the adventurous RikSha Tacos this 12 months, however I’m conserving fingers crossed for Takko, particularly after talking with Mark.
He talked rather a lot about Tomas, who moved from Korea along with his dad and mom when he was six years outdated. His household settled in Oklahoma, the place he grew up “in an Americanized family,” Mark mentioned. Tomas went to the Culinary Institute of Arts and later honed his craft as a fantastic eating chef at eating places in New York, Dallas, San Francisco and Atlanta. He was the chef on the well-knowon Buckhead Diner in Atlanta.
Tomas went out on his personal and turned again to his Korean roots. At the moment, the Korean Mexican taco motion was taking off, with Gogi meals vehicles arising throughout the nation.
“There are loads of distinctive flavors in Korean delicacies that individuals aren’t acquainted with,” mentioned Mark. “Korean meals hasn’t been as mainstream however it’s getting extra so. Put these flavors in extra acquainted objects like tacos, burritos or rice bowls and there’s extra entry to the plenty.”
Different menu decisions embody salads and quesadillas and drinks made with Soju, a transparent spirit from Korea, sangria, margaritas and beer.
Tomas has appeared on Man Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and Alton Brown featured Tomas Bibim-Bop on the Meals Community present — “Greatest Factor I Ever Ate Bang for the Buck” at his Hankook Korean Taqueria in Atlanta.
The Tallahassee menu at Takko has a number of classes together with road snacks, chef’s combos (you select protein or veggie), Chef Lee’s specialties, children’ menu and sides like sesame fries, kimchi and rice and beans.
You order on the counter and your meals is delivered to the desk.
One early problem: Atlanta has one of many greatest Korean populations in the nation, so there are many markets with genuine elements. It’s been a bit more durable to seek out these elements in Tallahassee, however Mark famous they’re making progress in making that occur.
The restaurant “will certainly be distinctive,” he mentioned, calling Takko’s repertoire a world of taste, a world journey now in your personal yard.
Welcome Takko! Like many different adventurous diners, I’m wanting ahead to making an attempt the restaurant and I’d like to share your experiences as nicely.
Takko Korean shall be opening Aug. 11 at 218 Magnolia Dr.
