The Kitchen @ Next Door

Went for lunch last Friday and thought everything was average.
The set up is not very comfortable and I personally thought the tacos were worth about $ 2 vs the three they were charging. In fact I would be willing to go back if the tacos were 2 for $ 5.00.
The quality if the food was ok. I wish they would have offered some sides even if it was a basket of chips

Ordered the Korean BBQ Brisket Burrito with «hot» Korean salsa and it was delicious! It was definitely spicy but not too spicy. Brisket was nice and sweet and the rice is a little on the sweet side too… but was very good!
It’s a little dark in there (to be expected) and empty. The seats are obviously not really made for dining but they were comfortable enough. Most got their food to go. My friend and I sat and ate on the couch.
It would be nice if it could be made a little more inviting on the inside, but the food makes up for it. Packaged in a way that makes it very easy to eat! not messy at all, which is a huge plus!

I’ve had korean tacos before, and these were some good competition although they need a little bit of work still yet. The BBQ Brisket tacos were cooked properly and I was lucky enough to get the burnt crispy pieces which are my favorite, but the taste of the meat was sub-​par and not appealing so I most likely would not eat those again. The chicken was my favorite and was cooked to the right consistency and flavor. I gave away my carnitas taco because Im not a huge fan, so I couldnt tell you how it tasted but according to the person that ate it, they were impressed.
Some suggestions I would have would be to add in some cilantro to give the tacos a better kick. The spicy hot sauce wasnt really that spicy and didnt have a good taste to it, but the avocado sauce was spectacular. Definitely squeeze the lime on the tacos because that is what really makes the taste pop in your mouth.
In addition to the tacos, I had the nacho salad with the avocado sauce, which was a great vegetarian option and quite filling although at $ 6 I’m not sure its worth the price, but if you add $ 2 for the meat of your choice, I can see that. I look forward to the future specials that they offer and any menu additions that may be made.

Although the world may not be quite ready for beautiful Mexican-​Korean children, the world is definitely ready for Mexican-​Korean food. Think how delicious pickled jalapenos, marinated beef and pork tacos,
The chef is Sam H. formerly of Ka and the Wandering Palate food truck. Partnered with Leroy G. they have a simple menu with only a few items but each is executed with care. They just released an «expanded» menu this week (5÷9÷13) adding a «taco salad» and a burrito.
You can pick the meat in your burrito! BBQ Beef Brisket, Carnitas Pork, or Tomatillo Chicken.
This is the taco salad, chips, shredded lettuce, guac, meat of your choice, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese!
Burrito. Choice of meat, «rice and beans», lettuce.
Korean tacos! Choice of meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, cilantro, and either avocado tomatillo or spicy or mild korean salsa.
«Rice and Beans». Rice with edamame and shiitake mushrooms and choice of meat.
Just the rice and beans.
Awesome work guys!

I went here with my foodie buddy, with an open mind. It’s unusual, not for everyone, and the menu is very straightforward. PERFECT for a workday lunch with a good friend. (Unless you like a lot of variety in your beverage choices.)
Its not fully developed yet – this is a great idea by talented people, and I think as word of mouth brings more mouths to the door, it will get there.
As for the food, as unusual a combination as Korean and Mexican are, its pretty amazing. I grew up with a Korean auntie in California – where Mexican food is an art– and I’m pretty familiar with both culinary styles without being native to either. What a disclaimer! Its just that I’m no fan of kimchee, but I appreciate it. So.
The menu, as I said, is simple and straightforward. We ordered the kimchee rice and beans, the quesadilla, and a taco (and an unassuming can of diet coke). The all star for me was the taco – really tender and succulent meat and an outstanding guacamole. The quesadilla was good, the rice and beans were good. The taco was great.

I love the fusion. It’s like mexican and korean were meant for each other. Or at least that’s the way this place makes it seem.
The limited menu is great. Because if it were any longer I would have a hard time deciding what to eat each time I come. I’m already tempted to get everything…
Everything on the menu is delicioussssss! From the tacos to the asian rice, they all have such great flavor combos and I LOVE the way he does his meat!
He makes his pork and beef fresh every day. It’s braised well, but the best part is the flavor of his meat. That with the gochujang he makes is so good.
Don’t be scared to order the asian rice. No, you’re wrong. It’s not just rice. It’s amazing flavored rice with edamame, mushrooms, topped with pico de gallo, lettuce and a choice of meat and guacamole. The texture is smooth, everything is so tasty, and it’s a meal on it’s own.
It’s worth the drive and parking into Chinatown if you’re not already there. Remember, it’s inside of the Nextdoor Venue! But there’s a sign put outside to help navigate you in.

Not Korean. Not Mexican. All tasty.
I love looking at the similarities between cultures, and one of the best places to look is on the table. Most cultures have a salad of some sort. Most have figured out a way to make grilled or fried dough. And many cultures have realized that taking a group of edible items and wrapping them in a larger edible item creates a special blend. In our current lives, we are lucky enough to be able to blend not only ingredients, but cultures within a simple wrapped meal.
The Kitchen @Next Door starts in Korea, where the tender meats would be wrapped in lettuce, or slices of radish. Mexico adds the joy of the tortilla to the mix. Cleaner in both mess and taste, the grain adds texture and weight without the need of rice. Top everything with Korean spiced salsa or guacamole, and you have a delicious cultural blend that you can hold in your hand.
Sitting in a nightclub during the day is a bit odd, but the food s delicious, and fast. This is a great choice for a quick lunch if you are nearby.
I will add here that the rice and beans was a bit heavy, both in my hand and in my belly. It was tasty, though a bit sweet. I would recommend sticking to the tacos and quesadillas.

Hands down the best Mexican-​style street tacos in Hawaii, but with a kick — the tacos are inspired with Korean BBQ flavors and spices.
For a light, but satisfying, lunch I would recommend getting one of each — BBQ brisket and carnitas. And if you wanna take a quesadilla home for dinner, let them know and the chef will lightly heat the quesadilla so all you need to do is throw it on the frying pan for a couple minutes on each side.

The tacos are terrific, especially the beef. The Korean beef brisket was soooo flavorful and I liked the combination of the avocado and Korean salsa on it. The rice bowl was interesting but it was a good side dish. The Carnitas was just ok for me but I’m not a pork fan so actually it was pretty good. Lastly, we also tried ½ order of the beef Quesadilla with Kim chee which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall, I would highly recommend this place for a quick tasty lunch. If you’re looking for a sit down fancy restaurant this isn’t the place but if you’re looking for good food, try it out.

As I was walking through Downtown one day, someone was passing out flyers of this new place called The Kitchen @ Next Door. I was pretty impressed with the color flyer and the pictures of the food. So I said, what the heck, let’s go. P. S. Color flyers are always more attractive.
I am soo glad that my friends went to check this place out today. Their menu consist of only three items right now and I’ve already tried two of them and it was out of this world. I ordered the beef brisket taco with Korean sauce. The beef was tender and soaked with juicy flavors. The cilantro topping gave it an extra kick of life. My friend ordered the beef quesadilla and it was amazing. Flavorful beef mixed with kim chee, just amazing. Yum! Another taco, please.
This is the exact place I’d like to grab a quick bite for lunch. Simple menu with big memorable taste. Lunch should always be a highlight and The Kitchen @ Next Door made that happen today. Take a stroll down Chinatown to check this place out. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Okay, so it was a little weird and disorienting being sober at Nextdoor at 11 o’clock in the morning, but it was worth it for some delicious Korean tacos!
I tried both the Korean Beef Brisket and Korean Carnitas tacos with both the Tomatillo Avocado and Hot Korean Salsa sauces. The tacos were simple, straightforward, and yummy! The Carnitas was tender and flavorful, but I enjoyed the Beef Brisket a little more because it was fattier, hehe. I ended up using both sauces on both tacos, but I thought the Tomatillo Avocado stood out a little more and gave the taco a nice pop of color.
My friend and I also split an Asian Rice and Beans plate with the Beef Brisket, and that was pretty good as well. I didn’t really have any edamame in my rice but I still enjoyed it because it was loaded with shiitake mushrooms, and the lettuce and pico de gallo made this dish refreshing. The chef was able to split it into two mini portions for us, which was really nice.
Prices are pretty reasonable. The tacos were $ 3 each, and the rice plate was $ 8 (a side order rice bowl is only $ 4!). I was pretty full after eating two tacos, so only had a few of bites of my half of the rice plate and saved the rest for dinner.
Cash only!

I will forever in my mind remember Next Door as the place where I witnessed the goddess known as Kina Grannis smile, sing, and play her amazing music on stage.
But of course another reason to be here has arrived. Delicious Korean Tacos! Double entendre not intended.
For lunch I ordered two tacos with tomatillo avocado sauce, one beef brisket and one pork carnitas and a kim chee quesadilla. At most places you get a taco that skimps on meat as well as veggies. This was not the case here. Each taco was loaded with carnitas and brisket and fresh veggies and tomatillo sauce. The quesadilla was also deliciosa. Rather than using a single tortilla and folding it in half, two were used as top and bottom in a «Mexican pizza» fashion. This method helped fill my stomach enough that I had to share practically half of the quesadilla. Keep in mind I had the two tacos also.
Although it may be a long while before you will see Kina Grannis here again, do come for lunch between the hours of 1000 – 1400 to eat some affordable, yummy, and filling tacos and quesadillas.
Gochu jang is an ingredient used here, but if you’re looking for a different gochu, you’ll have to go somewhere else. Mi ahn hae yo!

Chef Sam has really hit a nerve with the flavors in his Pork and Beef.
The menu is simple and flavorful.
Some of the best tacos I’ve had in a long time.

Korean Mexican food? What? Confusing at first, but delicious as hell! They’re set up to serve lunch Monday-​Friday from 10am-​2pm out of the small kitchen in NextDoor, a popular bar/​lounge/​nightclub spot in Chinatown.
Parking:
Chinatown is chinatown… it’s rough to find street parking during their lunch hours. Find a municipal lot is my best suggestion.
Food:
The menu is pretty small and simple, but that’s a good thing. Whether you get tacos, the quesadilla, or the Asian Rice & Beans, you get a choice between the Korean BBQ Beef Brisket or the Korean pork carnitas. Both meat options were cooked well and were tender.
Tacos are $ 3 each, and you can choose tomatillo avocado sauce, or hot or mild Korean salsa (you can ask for it on the side if you’re not too sure about it). They’re served on 5″-6″ corn tortillas w/​onion & cilantro. I love that it wasn’t greasy at all! It made my eating experience much better.
The Kim Chee Quesadilla is $ 7, and it’s made with a 7″ or so flour tortilla. In addition to your meat, it also has caramelized onions, cilantro, cheese, and gochu jang BBQ sauce (my Korean friend said «gochu jang» is like pepper). My favorite part about the quesadilla is that IT’S NOT FOLDED IN HALF!!! Unlike most restaurants, they actually sandwich all the filling between TWO tortilla instead of folding one in half. Best when eaten warm, but still delicious either way.
Asian Rice & Beans is $ 8 and comes with shitake mushrooms & edamame rice, lettuce, and pico de gallo. It comes in one of those little square styrofoam takeout boxes (approx. 5“x5″), but it’s PACKED full and pretty filling. It sounds a little weird having the rice and lettuce and meat all just piled on each other, but it doesn’t affect the taste in my opinion. It’s a delicious mess, haha.
This is the menu as it was when I walked in for lunch:
But as I left, I realized that they had added a little section to the bottom for sides. You could get a side of jalepeno, or rice, or raddish for an additional $ 1.
Branding:
They JUST had their soft opening two days ago (4÷13÷13), so they haven’t exactly got logos or branded packaging or anything like that. They didn’t even have a sign on the door of NextDoor. If I hadn’t already known ahead of time that they were in there, I wouldn’t have known to walk in and eat there.
Conclusion:
I would definitely go back again! The food was good, the price was right, and I LOVE the Korean-​Mexican concept. The fusion really works for me, and their ingredients tasted really fresh. The only thing that might stop me is having to get my butt to Chinatown lol.

Stopped by today for their grand opening.
All I can say is, what a great idea and good use of space that would be otherwise unused during the day.
These are the guys that used to run the T.A.S.T.E. asian taco truck that was on South Bertania. It’s the same concept of asian/​mexican fusion with some new tasty items! The tacos are inexpensive and yummy. Great place to stop by for a quick bite on your lunch break if you work downtown.