Maxican restaurants popping up all over the place (Uh, I’m making a joke ’cause half of these new restaurants spell Mexican with an ‘a’). So far, I’ve been disappointed. I can taste that you use canned tomatoes in your salsa, Tomatillos. An enchilada is not a soft flour taco covered in brown sauce, Taco Chili Chili. Why is there mustard in my tostada, O’Taco? Since I’ve yet to try Vatos Tacos (seriously, has anyone ever been able to get seated there?!), I took to the suggestion of a friend and scootered off to Gusto Taco.
Before I get into it, let me preface this review by saying, I was born and raised in Texas. Does that mean I know good Mexican food? I’m not sure. Up until high school, I hated Mexican food (and pork and chocolate and avocados and cucumbers and cream cheese and mayonnaise and the list just does not end on what I would not eat). I pronounced jalapeños, JUH-LAHP-PENOS, and of course, I wouldn’t eat them. This all changed in my last four years in Texas. I was in high school, and it’s just not cool to sit at Chuy’s with all your friends and turn your nose up at steamingly delicious Tex-Mex. So, I shed my food prejudices and pretty much ate everything in sight. Was it too late to build an understanding of good Mexican food? Never! Looking back, I realize the major component missing in Mexican food in Korea is time. The beautiful marriage of flavors that we so apprize in Mexican food is derived from lovingly layering flavors with patience. Now who wants to stand over this vat of hot lard for twelve hours while the shoulder o’ pork breaks itself down into the magic that is carnitas? I don’t imagine this is what goes down in the back kitchens of On the Border. Gusto Taco is another story.
At the suggestion of the owner/cook, we ordered the carnitas tacos (3,500 won) and the carne asada tacos (4,000 won). They come two to an order. Since I was hungry, I also ordered the chipotle chicken quesadilla (5,000 won). First, let’s talk about these prices. Grill5Taco in Sinsa charges 9,000 for their taco duo, that’s more than 2.5x the price of Gusto Taco. So what I’m trying to say is Gusto Taco is really cheap.
The Carnitas Taco
This is one great taco. The pork is packed with flavor in the spices it presented, but more impressive was the flavor it derived from whatever time-ridden rainbow it rode on to land on my plate. Full of porky tenderness from slow-cooking in a flavorful broth, yet crispy from frying in its own fatty juices in its final moments of doneness. Melting down a bedrock of cheese, topped with a simple pico de gallo, and nestled into a handmade corn tortilla, this sizzling tangle of pig really delivered.
The Carne Asada Taco
Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla
Though I was disappointed with the quesadilla, it in no way diminished my respect for Gusto Taco. They make their own corn tortillas. They commit to what goes into their tacos. Their carnitas and carne asada tacos alone would be enough to catapult this little hole-in-the-wall to Chipotle-like notoriety.
Delivery:
You can order Delivery from Gusto Taco via Shuttle (셔틀). The prep time is 15 to 35 minutes.