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Quite Decent Mexican Cuisine in Seoul
Last weekend, La Salsa Loca, a new establishment in the heart of the Yeouido business district, got as close to an official stamp of approval as a Mexican restaurant in Seoul is likely to receive. More than 70 Mexican Embassy staffers, expats and friends threw a dinner party there, and an elated guest later pronounced the fare "100-percent Mexican." I had to know whether the newcomer in Yeouido was as good. To help rate the food, I invited a Mexican friend along for a late lunch.
Scribbled colorfully overhead are "100% natural," "100% organic" and other such English phrases. Behind the counter was a bespectacled, diminutive Mexican chef, whom everyone called Carlos. My dining companion chatted in Spanish with the chef, and with a couple of Spanish businessmen who came into the place; my friend had met them before, and they said they'd had the best burritos they'd ever tasted in Korea here. The TGIFriday-style photo-book menu offers tacos, quesadillas and fajitas.
We also ordered beef burritos. The burrito was fat with rice, beef slices and beans; the combination was surprisingly tasty, with good texture. The tortilla chips served on the side were extra-thin, freshly fried in corn oil ¡ª not the artificially colored, MSG-laden factory version. Crispy and translucent, they went wonderfully well with the three dipping sauces, namely salsa ranchera, salsa verde and salsa ranchera.
Behind La Salsa Loca, I was told later, is a joint-venture company with a dream of conquering Asia. The company hopes to set up 15 La Salsa Loca locations in Asia within five years, and they are opening the 2nd unit in Apkujung in two months.
LA SALSA LOCA
English: A little spoken; English menu available.
Telephone: (02) 780-8133.
Web: www.lasalsaloca.com (menu and location map)
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays.
Location: 200 meters from Hewlett Packard Building in Yeouido
Subway: Yeouido station, line No. 5, exit 4.
Parking: Free parking for an hour.
Dress: Casual.
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