For galbi (BBQ short ribs):
3 pounds beef short ribs (flanken cut)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons honey (or use more sugar)
1/4 cup rice wine (or mirin)
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1/4 cup (about 1/4 of a large) Korean/Asian pear grated
1/4 cup (about 1/4 of large) onion grated
3 scallions thinly sliced (optional)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Kimchi salsa:
1/2 cup diced kimchi
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced red cabbage
1/2 cup diced Korean/Asian pear
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (more for garnish)
juice from 1 lime (about 1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons)
salt (about 1/4 teaspoon) and pepper to taste
Gochujang sauce:
1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste)
1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce (or your favorite hot sauce)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar (or to taste)
1 tablespoon ginger ale (you can use other soda or water instead)
10 – 12 4-inch corn or flour tortillas
Mix all marinade ingredients well. Rinse the meat to wash off bone dust. Pound the meat slightly with a meat tenderizer. Marinate the meat for at least 6 hours or longer (overnight for best results). For making tacos, grill the meat turning only once, 2 – 3 minutes on each side, until nicely caramelized, and then cut into small pieces. Or, cut the marinated meat into small pieces first and grill in a pan.
In a large bowl, toss all the salsa ingredients well.
In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is smooth.
Heat the tortillas in a skillet over medium heat, about 30 seconds each side.
To assemble, place the meat on a tortilla and top with a spoonful of kimchi salsa and cilantro. Serve with the sauce on the side.
diane goetz says
I love this website. My husband and I loved to go to our favorite Korean restaurant. I wish I had known about this before me passed. but my children will enjoy this with me.
Gloria says
I made this tonight and it was delicious!
Vickie says
I made this yesterday for dinner and it tastes as fabulous as it sounds. I usually make changes to recipes as I go, but I don’t think I changed anything on this one. This is the first of your recipes I have tried but I will be trying more. Thank you so much for sharing your talent.
Emily says
Korean Mexican/Latin fusion is one of my favorite fusions!! Tonight I had half a package of short ribs and needed to whip up a quick late night dinner. I searched your site and came across this recipe and had almost everything you asked for in the recipe. I had to make a few modifications -added gochujang to the marinade for some spice, used green apple instead of pear which worked well, whipped up a white sauce to drizzle on the taco also. Despite the meat only having 30 minutes to marinate, it turned out exceptionally well. Instead of grilling, I sauteed in a hot pan until the marinade cooked off and left this gorgeous caramel coating the short rib. The kimchi salsa turned out so much better than I expected. I don’t eat beef so I steam-sauteed a julienned russet potato with butter and salt. I used that as a base instead of the meat and oddly enough it was SO good with that kimchi salsa. This was absolutely delicious and I honestly didn’t want dinner to end. Thank you for this awesome recipe.
Hyosun says
Sounds all great! You’re a good cook, Emily!
Kevin Young says
Great recipe. Here in Portland, OR. we have a truck that does Korean fusion cooking and has a great bulgogi taco so I got a taste for the Korean/Mexican fusion which is fabulous. This recipe is fabulous and one that will be on my grill many times.
Hyosun says
Those Korean fusion trucks are great! Enjoy grilling!
Kevin young says
The one here is called Koi Fusion. It is very good but I think since finding your web page here he won’t be seeing me quite as much. What a treasure this site. My family will be eating a lot if Korean food now. Thank you for the time you have put into this.
Hyosun says
Glad to hear you’ll be cooking more Korean food at home. (Sorry Koi!) And I’m thrilled to be able to help!
Anonymous says
The only one’s I’ve tried are the ones at Duke’s Waikiki. Known as Kalbi Street Tacos, They must be similar to L.A. Anyhow, can’t get through Duke’s without an order. Great snack for two.
Renee says
This looks great! I’ve never heard of combining these two food styles. I’m going to have to try this!
Do you think this combo (mexican/korean flavors) would work using Korean bbq chicken in place of the beef in this recipe?
Hyosun Ro says
That will be equally delicious! Enjoy!
Anonymous says
what do we do if we have no asian pear? is there something else we can substitute it for? thank you so much for your recipe!
Hyosun Ro says
You can simply omit it, or use bosc pear. Thanks!
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen says
Wow! Just saw this recipe and chanced upon your blog via Facebook, through Namiko Chen. What a delish Galbi Taco recipe! Love this! I’ll try it this weekend. Thanks for sharing a very good korean tacos recipe!
live sports says
nice work
Elin says
Hi, Hyosun! This is truly something to look forward to, I love your idea, I’m gonna make a Galbi Burrito.
Susan Ma says
Yummy!! I bet galbi with a mango type of slaw would be good, too! 😀 Thank you for the fusion dish!
Suchi says
I wish this food truck would make its way to London! I love Korean food and this idea of Korean and Mexican fusion sounds really exciting….the taco looks awesome 🙂
Sissi says
I have never heard of Korean style tacos! Mexican and Korean fusion sounds very intriguing (I have never heard of the food truck either). They look delicious!
Kelly Siew says
Wow this looks really great! Fusion done right. 🙂 actually Korean food does very well with a lot of western cuisines, surprisingly.
Kitchen Riffs says
Really nice recipe. I found your blog through Roti n Rice, and it’s wonderful! Glad I found you – I’ll be back. Thanks.
Jieun says
I agree with muh muh maxwell! These tacos look delicious!!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Hyosun, this taco looks so good! My friends in LA all talked about the food truck. I so wish we have one in SF! BUT, now I can make this at home… THANK YOU!! Off to Biren’s site now.
Hyosun Ro says
Hi Name – I’m sure there is one in SF, although not by the same people. Thank you for stopping by!
RecipeNewZ says
I found this post though Pinterest. The photo was so beautiful that I just had to come here to read the recipe! Love it! And love your site :-).
I would like to invite you to share this post (and your other posts 🙂 ) on a new photo based recipe sharing site that launched in May. The idea is simple: all recipe photographs are published within minutes of submission. And, of course, the images link back to the author’s site.
It’s called RecipeNewZ (with Z) – http://recipenewz.com
I hope you get a chance to visit and to share some of your delicious posts with our viewers. It would be a pleasure to have you on board 🙂
My Little Space says
I just started to learn some Korean dishes lately and glad to have found you at Biren’s site.
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend.
Kristy
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you for coming over from Biren’s site! Hope you find some good dishes to try out here. Hope you’re have a great weekend as well.
Nasifriet says
Hi Hyosun
I’m hopping over to your blog after reading your guest post on Biren’s blog. Nice to meet you and being introduced to Korean dishes which is a mystery to me. I love mysteries, so I will definitely check out your blog now and then 😀
Cheers!
Hyosun Ro says
Welcome to my blog! I hope my blog will help you demystify Korean food. Thanks!
Sandra M. says
I think that you whole taco is working wonderfully together. Although kimchi salsa sound heavenly, I think that I will be in love with Gochujang sauce…one more on my must try list!
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend!
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Sandra! Hope you are having a great weekend too.
Katerina says
This kimchi sauce has intrigued me! I would love to try it!
Hyosun Ro says
Thank you, Katerina!
Anonymous says
Such an awesome recipe for summer! Thanks for sharing.
I also have a future recipe request for a simple, staple Korean side dish: Kong-jang! Braised black beans.
Thanks
Hyosun Ro says
Noted! It’s on my list of future recipes. Thanks for visiting!
Channie says
anyeong Hyosun 😀
What a wonderful pics of galbi taco you have here.
Perhaps you’re interested to submit your food photos on a food photography site that has tagline “Food Photography that will make you hungry” 🙂
http://www.foodporn.net
It’s free to submit, free to join, and a lot of members can enjoy your creation!
Fern @ To Food With Love says
That looks superb! Will definitely be a hit on a Kogi truck 🙂
I haven’t had time to try out your recipes recently. But this looks soooo good!!!
Hyosun Ro says
Hi Fern – Great to see you! Thanks for stopping by.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Wow, this looks amazing! Will definitely have to make this over the weekend. The boyfriend is going to be thrilled.
Hyosun Ro says
Please let me know how it turns out for you. Thanks for visiting!
Holly | Beyond Kimchee says
Hyosun, this is rocking recipe! I also heard and read about the famous Kogi taco but never had chance to try it. I like your kimchi salsa. Great job on the recipe!
Hyosun Ro says
Thanks, Holly!
muh muh maxwell says
holy crap this looks awesome
Hyosun Ro says
Thanks, Max! Great to hear from you!
Biren @ Roti n Rice says
Many thanks Hyosun for this very tasty recipe and informative post. Your galbi and kimchi salsa looks absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Hyosun Ro says
Biren – It was my pleasure! Thanks for the opportunity!