Mexican cuisine combines the eating habits that indigenous Indians have eaten for a long time with the food culture that was introduced through the Spanish colonial period, and has a spicy yet pungent flavor. Corn is a typical food for Mexicans to the extent that the origin of humans was made of corn is transmitted in the theory that the god of corn was worshiped during the Aztec civilization and Mayan mythology. Various types of cooking have developed, such as using corn to boil, bake, and make flour. In particular, “octopus,†which is enjoyed by adding various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, seafood, cheese, and sauce to a tortilla made from corn flour, is considered one of Mexico's representative foods, just like Korean sundae soup. The tortilla, which spreads the savory flavor of corn, blends with a variety of ingredients to give your mouth a rich texture and intense flavor. Let's meet the 5 best new taco restaurants where you can feel the intense sun of Mexico and the splendid Aztec civilization.
Taco restaurants in Seoul include Hongdae Sangsu Gusto Taco, Itaewon Vatos, Samseong-dong Villa Guerrero, Gangnam Station Kuchara, Isu Olaabo, Hannam-dong La Cruda, Euljiro Takeria Stan, Guui-dong Mexicali, El Pino 323, Gyeongridan-gil, El Pino 323, Gyeongridan-gil Taco Chili Chili, Shin Nonhyeon Dos Tacos, Apgujeong Correano Kitchen, Songpa Songridan-gil Ghat, Sinsa Garosu-gil Lasitte, Sinsa Garosu-gil Rashitte, Sinsa Garosu-gil, Lasitte Deworld on the Border, Yeonnam-dong Salad Brothers, Sinchon Beer Merengue, Yeonnam-dong Mexican Restaurant Verde, Hapjeong Mexican Restaurant, Itaewon Taco Amigo, Itaewon Hacienda, Seoul National University Sharosu-gil Public Taco, Garosu-gil Gam Taco, Garosu-gil Masataco, Seongsu Ohaka, Sinchon Taco Loco, Hongdae Slow Taco, Hongdae Julio, COEX on the Border, Kumho-dong Tacos Canasta, Gangnam Station It has a nose, etc.
Taco restaurants around the country include Daejeon Yuseong Ricotta Taco, Cheongju Tasco, Daegu Dongseong-ro VSCO, Daegu Samdeok Black Taco & Grill, Changwon Todos, Uijeongbu Otako, Jeju Macho Grill, Yangyang Farmer's Kitchen, Busan Suyeong Fuzzy Nable, Ilsan Playground Brewery, and Ansan Dosmas.
1. 'La Cruda' in Hannam-dong, a homemade tortilla with a chewy texture
Image source: lacruda_corea's Instagram
Image source: lacruda_corea's Instagram
“La Cruda†was newly opened in Hannam-dong by the owner of “PACOLOCOâ€, who made a name for itself as a Mexican food in Gyeongridan-gil and Nonhyeon-dong. Decorated with colorful color combinations such as yellow and blue, the interior of the store exudes an exotic atmosphere. The signature menu, “Taco al Pastor,†is a homemade tortilla topped with pork, peppers, and pineapples marinated in spices. You can experience rich flavors and textures while the chewy tortilla wraps the rich flavor of pork and pineapple, which has a fresh finish. They also have a variety of alcoholic beverages that go well with food, such as beer, tequila, cocktails, and wine (red/white/sparkling).
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 2F, 36, Itaewon-ro 42-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-23:00, Saturdays 12:00 — 23:00, Sundays 12:00 — 20:00, B/T (weekdays) 14:00 — 18:00, B/T (weekends) 15:00 — 17:00, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Tacos al Pastor 5,000 won, Chilakales 16,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin): When I saw it from the outside, I thought it would be small because it looked like a house, but I was surprised that the store was larger than I thought. Also, there are a lot of foreigners in the store, and I feel like it's a steamed restaurant that keeps coming in. Hahahaha, the tortilla itself was delicious, so no matter what ingredients were put on it, the al pasto with pork was crisp as soon as it came out. LOL
2. Euljiro's “Taqueria Stan†with a hip sensibility that adds flavor
Image source: taqueria.stan's Instagram
Image source: taqueria.stan's Instagram
“Taqueria Stan†is a place operated under the second brand by “STAN SEOULâ€, a craft beer bar in Nonhyeon-dong. You can feel Euljiro's hip sensibility in the interior, such as the exterior wall with the company name written in red letters and the table made by piling up milk boxes one by one. The signature menu is “TACO†and “QUESADILLA,†which use 3 to 4 types of meat from pork loin, chorizo, pork belly, chicken, badger tongue, and offal. Every day, the types sold change little by little, so it's fun to pick and eat that day's menu. The “chorizo taco,†where finely chopped chorizo has a spicy flavor, and the “polo sal taco,†which combines pork belly and guacamole and has a rich meat flavor, are the most popular.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 5, Chungmuro 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: Monday to Thursday 11:30 — 20:30, Friday 11:30 — 21:30, Saturday 13:00 — 21:30, B/T (weekdays) 14:00 — 17:00, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: TACO 3,800 won, QUESADILLA 4,500 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Violet): There aren't many proper taco restaurants in Seoul, but the mochi is clunky, but it really tastes Mexican. The price is reasonable, and I'm even more satisfied with the green chili sprinkled on it. Cucumbers are unmistakable, but they are still delicious.
3. Guui-dong's “Mexicali,†a blend of local flavors
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
“Mexicali†is run by a couple who learned food in Mexicali, a city located in northwestern Mexico. In order to fully recreate the local flavors for customers, they named the area they lived in exactly the name of the area they lived in. The signature menu, “Fish Taco,†offers fried fish, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, guacamole, and sauce layered on top of a tortilla. Using white fish such as cod and catfish, the light-flavored tempura is mixed with various vegetables and sauces to provide a variety of flavors. “Papa,†which has baked potatoes, onions, cheese, and beef placed in a hot cast iron pan, is also a popular menu. You can break the potatoes into small pieces that are easy to eat, then mix them evenly with the ingredients to taste. The trifecta of potato's fluffiness, cheese's flavor, and beef's chewiness go together in harmony.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 56, Cheonho-daero 132-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:30 — 22:00 every day, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Fish tacos (2 tacos) 8,800 won, papa 7,800 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Yomiyomi Kiyomi): There was a Mexican food restaurant like this in the neighborhood! When I saw that it came from Mexican food, I ran right away, and the taco came out on a round plate, and the visuals were so pretty and the ingredients inside were crackling. LOL, and I tried a lot of Mexican dishes that aren't sold well elsewhere, but I really recommend Papa. hehe
4. Songpa Café Street 'Got Eat', a mecca for Mexican food beginners
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
“Got It†is a place where people who are new to Mexican food can enjoy it casually because it's not irritating to the liver compared to regular Mexican food. The interior of the store, which is filled with wooden furniture, creates a cozy yet warm atmosphere. The signature menu is “Brilliant Set,†which consists of a hearty combination of fajitas, 2 tacos, french fries, tortillas, and guacamole. Fajitas wrapped with shrimp, folded pork, pork, grilled vegetables, and sauce on top of a tortilla are fun to make combinations to suit your taste. You can choose from three types of tacos included in the set: shrimp, pork, and chicken, and the shrimp taco, which has a subtle flavor and is tempting with its plump flesh, is the most popular.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 4-14, Baekjegobun-ro 45-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 11:00 — 22:00 every day, B/T (weekdays) 15:00 — 16:10
â–²Price: Brilliant SET 34,000 won, Taco 4,500 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Madonna Stocking): I don't eat Mexican food often because it's too salty, but I really like Gatit because it's my favorite liver. If you go and order a set with a friend, it's completely filling, and on days when you add a little more, add 1 or 2 single items and keep eating it, you won't get tired of it!
5. 'Via Merenge' in Sinchon presented in an authentic Mexican style
Image source: viamerengue's Instagram
Image source: viamerengue's Instagram
“Via Merengue†is a Mexican food specialty store located near Exit 3 of Sinchon Station. You can find authentic Mexican food, such as salads that enhance your taste buds with addictive sauces, as well as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, and taquitos that fill your stomach. The signature menu is “carnitas,†made by adding salsa sauce, minced onions, and cilantro to pork that has been boiled for a long time and is soft and crunchy. The tortilla adds a savory flavor to the moist, juicy pork, and the onion is crunchy at the end, leaving a fresh finish. “Fresh Guacamole,†which is eaten by crushing avocado, coriander, tomatoes, and apples in a mini mortar, is also popular. It enhances the overall flavor of the food and is great to eat with various dishes.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 27-18, Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 12:00 — 23:00 every day; Sunday 12:00 — 17:00; B/T (weekdays) 15:00 — 17:00
â–²Price: Carnitas (2pcs) 8,000 won, fresh guacamole 9,000 won
â–²Testimonial (I'm amazed): It's a very good value for money, so it's a place I often go to when I think of Mexican food~ I order guacamole as soon as I go, and it's fun to grind it in a mortar to relieve stress. LOL I've tried a lot of different tacos, but I recommend the carnitas because you can really taste the meat!
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