Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (2024)

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Author: Jessica Formicola

Published: 09/09/2014

Updated: 05/16/2023

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This bulgogi recipe is an amazing way to make some delicious Korean Beef Tacos! With each bite you’ll taste mouth watering flavors that will definitely satisfy all your taco cravings!

Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (1)

What's In This Article

Korean Beef Tacos

A local food truck used to come to my office every Thursday. I looked forward to the change in pace and flavorful food compared to my usual cardboard frozen meal or lame protein bar. Much to my dismay, they no longer come.

Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (2)

Although this is helpful for my wallet and waistline, I just kept craving one of my favorite food truck delicacies, Korean Beef Tacos. My only choice was to replicate.

Baltimore is a big town for “eating your meat on the street.” The food truck boom hit and hit hard. We have everything from breakfast to dessert roaming the streets offering steamed food wrapped in aluminum foil.

Truth be told, I used to be scared of food trucks, but I guess my vision was of dirty hot dog water from the streets of Manhattan. Let me tell you, food trucks have changed. They follow sanitation codes, offer fresh and local ingredients and come up with some truly gourmet to-go meals, vegan to bacon galore!

Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (3)

I’m sure you’ve seen bulgogi beef listed as one of the ingredients in the recipe card, and I’m sure most of you are curious to know that it is. The word bulgogi means “fire meat” which is essentially what it is.

Bulgogi beef is thinly sliced pieces of marinated sirloin that is cooked on the grill or in a griddle on the stove top. From the meaning of bulgogi you’d think it would have a spicy flavor but it’s actually on the sweeter side. You can also make our Instant Pot Korean Beef for a shredded version with the same delicious flavors.

Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (4)

Bulgogi is one of the most popular Korean dishes and is usually served to non Koreans for their first Korean food experience. You’ll find it being served at Korean barbecue restaurants where you cook it yourself at the built in grills at your table. Make into tacos, serve over rice or even make beef bulgogi bowls!

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Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (8)

Korean Beef Tacos

5 from 1 vote

Korean Beef Tacos are stuffed with seasoned bulgogi beef, fresh veggies, and spicy sauce! These are the best Korean tacos you will ever eat!

Prep Time: 1 hour hr

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 12

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Ingredients

Bulgogi Beef:

  • 1 1/4 pounds sirloin steak , thinly sliced to 1/8 of an inch
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 3 garlic cloves , crushed
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

Chipotle Aioli:

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers , canned in adobe sauce (more or less depending on taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Easy Kimchi:

  • 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
  • 1/2 cup carrots julienned
  • 1/2 cup cucumber julienned
  • 1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds white, black or mixed
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar

Tacos:

  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 1/2 cup cilantro roughly chopped and large stems removed
  • 1 cup queso fresco crumbled
  • Sriracha
  • 2 limes cut into wedges

Instructions

Bulgogi Beef:

  • In a large airtight plastic bag mix sirloin steak, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic and rice vinegar. Massage together and into the meat.

  • Marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, but up to over night. While the meat marinates, chop and prepare the veggies.

Chipotle Aioli:

  • In a small food processor or using an immersion blender, blend together mayonnaise, chipotle peppers and salt. If you do not have either of these, finely chop chipotle peppers and whisk together. It will not be as smooth, but will taste the same. Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble.

Easy Kimchi:

  • Fill a medium saucepan half way with water and bring to a boil. Add apple cider vinegar, cabbage, onions, carrots and cucumber. Boil for 2 minutes, just long enough to soften, but not long enough for the veggies to be mushy. Remove and strain.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, toss vegetables with rice vinegar and sesame seeds. Set aside until ready to assemble.

  • About 15 minutes before you are ready to eat, heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Coat well with cooking spray. Remove sirloin from marinade, discard of remaining marinade.

  • Add to hot pan, tossing over 30 seconds or so. Due to the sirloin being so thin, it will cook quickly. For medium rare, it will only take 2-5 minutes. Time more or less depending on your choice of wellness.

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare 12 large pieces of aluminum foil. Assemble each taco with all ingredients. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Lay in a single file layer on a large cookie sheet. Heat for 5 minutes. Remove and serve by unwrapping aluminum foil, no utensils needed!

  • Enjoy your Korean Beef Tacos!

  • If you’ve tried this recipe, please come back, rate it and leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!

  • If you’ve tried this recipe, please come back and let us know how it was!

Nutrition

Calories: 226 kcal, Carbohydrates: 18 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 10 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 37 mg, Sodium: 829 mg, Potassium: 311 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 4 g, Vitamin A: 1065 IU, Vitamin C: 4.9 mg, Calcium: 111 mg, Iron: 1.6 mg

Author: Jessica Formicola

Calories: 226

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Korean, Mexican

Keyword: Beef bulgogi, beef tacos, korean beef tacos

Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Korean Beef Tacos - An Easy Korean BBQ Bulgogi Tacos Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is best for Korean bulgogi? ›

Boneless ribeye steak is our cut of choice for this recipe and the most popular because it is tender and flavorful with nice marbling. Sirloin is also commonly used to make bulgogi and is slightly leaner that ribeye. You can also use flank steak in a pinch with good results, but the texture won't be quite as tender.

What are Korean tacos made of? ›

These beef tacos are loaded with flavor! I toasted the tortillas right over my gas stove then loaded them with sweet strips of bulgogi beef, tons of crunchy purple cabbage, fresh cilantro, diced avocado and drizzled generously with a creamy Sriracha-lime crema that is over-the-top incredible.

What is the difference between bulgogi and beef? ›

Bulgogi generally refers to thinly sliced beef marinated in a sauce that is a mix of soy sauce, sugar or honey, sesame oil, garlic, onion, and often pureed Asian pear. Many Korean home cooks tend to marinate the beef overnight and then grill or stir-fry it with sliced onions, scallions, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

How long should you marinate bulgogi? ›

Add the thinly sliced beef, thinly sliced onions, and green onions. Mix and marinate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. Over high heat, add a tbsp of oil to a pan. Cook the beef bulgogi in batches until the water cooks out and the beef and onions are nicely caramelized, about 4-5 minutes.

What are Korean tacos called? ›

Korean Beef Tacos (Bulgogi) Recipe.

What is a Korean taco called? ›

The Kogi Korean taco was born in Southern California, with a strong Hispanic influence. A warm corn tortilla is topped with bulgogi (savory-sweet grilled beef), shredded cabbage and the spiciest kimchi you can find.

Why is it called Baja taco? ›

The fish taco as we know it today, however, has often been credited to Baja California, Mexico. This is the version that most of us picture when we think of a fish taco. This is filled with battered and deep-fried fish, drizzled with spicy mayo, and topped with shredded lettuce, salsa and a squeeze of fresh lime.

What are the three types of bulgogi? ›

noodles—mixed into the brothy sauce. bulgogi memories. There are three main regional styles of bulgogi: Gwangyang, Eonyang, and Seoul.

Why is beef bulgogi so good? ›

The savory beef combined with the sweet, gingery marinade is always a big hit. The word bul means fire in Korean, and goki means meat. So this is “fire meat!” Delicious bulgogi depends on three things: a good cut of beef, a delicious marinade, and the method you use to cook it.

What do you eat with Korean beef bulgogi? ›

It's super easy to make and takes less than 20 minutes of active cooking time, making it perfect for the weekdays and a crowd pleaser on the weekends! Enjoy it with some white rice or Korean purple rice, Korean rolled egg omelete, and japchae (Korean glass noodle stir fry) to complete the meal!

What is bulgogi sauce made of? ›

Mix some soy, apple juice and sugar in a sauce pan. Heat until the sugar melts. Mix in some ginger, garlic, green onions and sesame oil. Literally that's it.

What does bulgogi mean in Korean? ›

Bulgogi (불고기) is the name of a Korean dish, literally translating to “fire meat.” This famous Korean dish has existed for thousands of years, and it is now gaining popularity in Western countries like the United States and Canada.

What is Korean bulgogi in English? ›

Bulgogi (Korean: 불고기; American English /bʊlˈɡoʊɡiː/ buul-GOH-ghee; from Korean bul-gogi [pul. ɡo. ɡi]), literally "fire meat") is a gui (Korean-style grilled or roasted dish) made of thin, marinated slices of meat, most commonly beef, grilled on a barbecue or on a stove-top griddle.

Which part of beef is best for Korean BBQ? ›

If you've ever wondered what cut goes into everyone's favorite Korean BBQ beef dish of bulgogi, look no further than the sirloin steak. This often overlooked piece of beef is known more for its flavor than its texture, which makes it an excellent recipient for recipes that involve a little bit of marinade.

What kind of meat do you use for Korean BBQ? ›

Galbi (beef short ribs) and Bulgogi (thinly sliced sirloin, ribeye, or brisket) are the most representative form of the meat used in Korean barbeque. In the western world, Bulgogi, meaning “fire meat,” is the most popular type of Korean barbeque you'll come across.

What cuts are good for Korean BBQ? ›

What Are The Popular Meats For A Korean BBQ?
  • Pork Belly (Samgyeopsal) ...
  • Beef (Bulgogi) ...
  • Boneless Short Ribs (Galbi) ...
  • Boneless Chicken (Dak Galbi) ...
  • Thin Sliced Beef Brisket (Chadolbagi) ...
  • Short steak (jumulleok) ...
  • Flank Steak (Chimasal) ...
  • Rib-eye Stick Roll (Kkot Deungsim)
Jun 27, 2022

What meat do they use at Korean BBQ? ›

If you prefer non-marinated meat, you can have chimasal (flank steak), thinly sliced brisket (chadolbaegi), sirloin steak (deungsim), thinly sliced beef belly (samgyup), beef tenderloin (andeungsi), beef tongue (hyuh mit gui), pork belly (samgyeopsal), or pork chop (moksal), along with chicken varieties — but you can ...

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