vatos urban tacos

December 19, 2011 sarah lee

3 boys. 2 months. 1 dream.

By now I think most folks around Seoul have been to Vatos, or have marked their calendars to drop a visit. Vatos isn't really just your local taco spot. It's your second home. It's the place you go to when you just crave a few tacos and a negro modelo after a long day...this is where I come.

So what's their story?

The dream: It started off with Kenny Park, originally from Los Angeles who moved to Seoul 2 1/2 years ago. His passion for good food was the seed that planted Vatos. The boys: Kenny later met partners Juweon (Jonathan) Kim and Sid Kim through a kickstarter project he started back in March.
It took two months of love and labor: After several name changes, tweeks on the concept, and multiple tastings inside their home kitchen, Vatos opened its doors early November of this year.

If you're from the states like me, a few things that you will really miss is good Mexican food. Prior to Vatos, I have been disappointed countless of times scoping out different Mexican restaurants around Seoul. Now having Vatos on the Seoul food map, it just comes to show that Seoul is getting it...slowly.

ghetto gourmet: dining in the rough, part 3

September 26, 2011 sarah lee

I would love to re-introduce Sue Park as our featured guest blogger for our 3rd ghetto gourmet-
“Tail-End-of-Summer Foods: Barbecue and Beyond”. One of my closest friends, we both love to get our hands dirty in the kitchen, and fill our stomachs with all the good eats Seoul has to offer!

Sue has a daily show on TBS EFM (101.3) here in Seoul (which you must check out!), loves to pick our brains for what we like to eat, because she will try to figure out a way to cook for you! Sue continuously shares her positive energy wherever she goes!

For me, there is nothing more pleasurable and satisfying than being surrounded by good friends, drinking wine and sharing a truly delicious meal. The simple act of gathering at a table and partaking in a communal meal has the power of binding people together like no other. And, you can learn so much about a person simply by observing their habits at the dinner table as well as how they move and work in the kitchen.

in search for 'the taco'

March 13, 2011 sarah lee

al pastor taco @ taco sinaloa

The comfort food of all times: Tacos!!!

My Soul food...in search of the best tacos, I apologize that this post features just Chicago and Los Angeles. I didn't realize how difficult it is to find descent tacos, until you actually leave the U.S.! My short trip to the states, I took advantage of eating every taco in sight...sometimes even three times a day!

last days in chicago....

February 23, 2010 sarah lee

As most of you may know, I left Chicago recently to pursue my next adventure-working with celebrity chef Edward Kwon in Seoul! I will be posting more entries regarding my stay in Seoul, but I wanted to share a few things I will so miss in Chicago...

water tower and the john hancock building-chicagocoffee at julius meinl-chicago

chicagoans know how to eat!

December 30, 2009 sarah lee

I have a few months left in chicago, and my goal is to check out new restaurants or places I have not been too...and of course some of my favorites as well. Last week, I checked out Rick Bayless' new restaurant-'Xoco.' It's the sister restaurant to his 2 other restaurants (Frontera Grill & Topolobampo), all connected in the same building on Clark St. This spot is somewhat of a fast food/inexpensive restaurant, featuring the 'street foods' of mexico. They are known for their bean-to-cup hot chocolates, and their amazing homemade churros!

Ahogada-golden pork carnitas, black beans, tomato broth, spicy arbol chile sauce, pickled onions at xoco