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Friday, June 26, 2009

Baja Kogi

Welcome to everyone coming from OC Weekly, Yelp, Food Frenzy, Midtown Lunch, and more. When you're done with this entry click around to find more great info on Mexican restaurants and food in Orange County. For starters, click here for the list of over 200 restaurants we have reviewed. For those from L.A., click through to our sister blog: Los Angeles County Mexican Restaurants.

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Perhaps you couldn't make it to the Kogi BBQ truck for one of its few Orange County stops before it retreated back to L.A. County but if you're still craving Korean-prepared meat served Mexican style I was just tipped off today (thanks, Brooke) to the fact that the Baja Fresh in the Gelson's shopping center at Alton and Jeffrey in Irvine is now serving Kogi style tacos and burritos.

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Available in Spicy Chicken or Korean BBQ Steak they are served in corn tortillas with kimchi and a sesame salsa roja with beans and cilantro lime rice on the side.

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So far this is the only location that has the Kogi items. I suspect if they are popular we will soon see them at other Baja Fresh locations.

(Also, you can click here to read our complete coverage of Korean/Mexican fusion all at once. There's more than one place that has Korean tacos. You can also read about the new Baja Fresh look and concept at the Fast Food Maven blog. NEW: Read about Baja Fresh possibly changing from the use of the word "Kogi" to "Gogi" here and more on this subject at the OC Weekly.)

UPDATE: Here's a slightly better picture from the second time I tried these:

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Baja Gogi

NEWER UPDATE: The transition from "kogi" to "gogi" is complete:

BajaFresh changes naming, & signage, in less than 1 week. Takes feedback seriously, power of twitter! on Twitpic

19 comments:

Blake said...

Awesome news. I work over by this Baja Fresh and I'll be there on Monday to try it out since my taco truck abandoned me.

ChristianZ said...

Cool. Leave us a comment when you get back.

BeachBumBob said...

What we really need to know is from someone who has eaten off the "Do they taste the same as the kogi truck?"

I also live near by and will check them out. I have not been able to eat off the kogi truck since they got wacked by the OC Health Dept for not having a permit to operate

ChristianZ said...

They actually taste pretty similar to the tacos from the Kogi truck.

Let us know what you think after you try them.

Melissa said...

I have to go try those. I think that's hilarious. I mean, Kogi actually spurred these new items because Baja Fresh saw they could cash in. I just find that terribly amusing.

ChristianZ said...

Yeah, I think there's an obvious connection. You know, if the truck ain't here to provide the goods then I say there's nothing wrong with Baja Fresh stepping in.

Blake said...

Just got back. Quite good actually. Not exactly the same as the Kogi truck, but for the price, and convenience, definitely worth it. Get $2 off my next purchase after the survey and I'll be heading back this week probably. Next up: Kogi Burrito.

ChristianZ said...

Thanks for the comment. Were there a lot of people there? Asking because a million people have been checking out my entry.

jonathans said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
jonathans said...

i went here today. i have never been to the kogi truck but if these baja kogi tacos and burrito were anything like the truck, then i wont bother tracking down the truck.

they were just plain average.

jonathans said...

also, someone was in there taking pictures of the menu when we were there.

i think it might be catching on.

ChristianZ said...

My entry was the first to mention these new items anywhere on the Internet and it has been attracting a lot of attention.

Anonymous said...

These tacos taste pretty average, it is no way close to a Kogi BBQ burrito. It's a cheap ripoff, it can't compare to the real deal. Can't blame baja for trying but it's pretty pathetic that they're stealing from a mom and pop shop.

I also heard that Kogi is coming to Orange County soon anyways. Save your money.

ChristianZ said...

I'm not sure that they are ripping off from a mom and pop shop. They are simply offering something that is hard to find in certain parts. BTW, did you read our report on the Kogi truck? Sounds like you might've missed it.

Chubbypanda said...

Baja Fresh is a corporate goon ripping off an innovative mom & pop and trying to muscle them out of business. It's reprehensible.

ChristianZ said...

They might be a corporate goon ripping off a mom and pop establishment but if the Kogi BBQ truck is not anywhere around anymore then Baja Fresh is not exactly ripping them off.

Unknown said...

it's easy to be ethical - pay for the recipe or franchise or whatever, or help the small business to thrive under the baja fresh umbrella. there are other options than being a big bully and doin the ripoff thing.

ChristianZ said...

"They might be a corporate goon ripping off a mom and pop establishment but if the Kogi BBQ truck is not anywhere around anymore then Baja Fresh is not exactly ripping them off."

Actually, I should've said: They might be a corporate goon ripping off a mom and pop establishment but if the Kogi BBQ truck is not anywhere around here anymore then Baja Fresh is not exactly trying to muscle them out of business.

eatinqueens said...

Fresh is not exactly ripping them off.