A steak burrito, a bottle of Jarritos, chili sauce and a generous serving of gucamole from Cuchara in Suwon, South Korea. (David Choi/Stars and Stripes)
There are few things in life better than a good burrito or taco.
Fortunately for people in South Korea, a restaurant called Cuchara serves burritos and tacos to satisfy some of their cravings.
Cuchara, or “spoon” in Spanish, operates in 10 locations on the peninsula, most of them in Seoul. The restaurant describes itself on its website as “a healthy Mexican brand that cooks fresh ingredients daily” and prides itself in offering over a dozen toppings for your burrito.
Ordering is fairly simple: The menus come in Korean and English and most of the staff is bilingual.
Cuchara in South Korea serves diners through an assembly line that starts with a warmed tortilla or burrito bowl and continues onto a choice of white, brown, or cauliflower rice and pinto or black beans. (David Choi/Stars and Stripes)
Similar to the Chipotle Mexican Grill franchise in the United States, Cuchara serves diners through an assembly line that starts with a warmed tortilla or burrito bowl and continues onto a choice of white, brown, or cauliflower rice and pinto or black beans.
Diners have several meat options: chicken, steak, shrimp, al pastor, carnitas, tofu and galbi, or thinly cut short ribs.
Other toppings include romaine lettuce, mild and hot sauces, tomato and corn salsas and cheese.
Tortilla chips are thrown in a brown bag and come with salsa. If you opt to include guacamole with your chips for an extra 3,000 won, or $2.30, you will be served with a heaping scoop of green deliciousness that would likely get your server in the U.S. fired for wasteful practice.
Drinks include assorted sodas on tap, bottled beer and Jarritos, a fruit-flavored soda from Mexico.
Inside the restaurant, loud hip-hop and jazz music from the speakers amplify the room’s urban ambiance.
Despite Cuchara's obvious similarities with its American counterparts, its steak burrito fell short.
Cuchara, or “spoon” in Spanish, operates in 10 locations on the Korean Peninsula, most of them in Seoul. (David Choi/Stars and Stripes)
The white rice, which was dry and somewhat brittle, lacked the taste of cilantro that ordinarily punctuates the taste buds. The small portion of steak was also cut into smaller pieces, leaving me to wonder if I had neglected to order meat.
Cuchara is a valiant effort in recreating the quick, dependable burrito and taco normally found in U.S. cities — but diners in South Korea will be disappointed if they expect the same taste as its American equivalent.
If you are desperately craving American-style burritos and tacos in South Korea, Cuchara should satisfy some of your needs.
Cuchara in South Korea describes itself as “a healthy Mexican brand that cooks fresh ingredients daily” and prides itself in offering over a dozen toppings for your burrito. (David Choi)
Cuchara
Location: Ninth floor of the Galleria Department Store, Gwanggyo, Suwon. Nine other locations in Seoul and Seongnam.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday to Thursday; 10:30 a.m. 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Prices: Between 7,900 won and 20,000 won
Dress: Casual
Information: Online: cuchara.co.kr/about-cuchara
