We’ve been waiting…we’ve been waiting for MONTHS.  The Kogi BBQ storm is finally coming to Orange County…hopefully on a regular basis?  We were up in Nor Cal last weekend when they finally made it down to Orange County.  Sad face!  But they’re coming back this weekend!

Kogi BBQ is yummy, scrumptious, nom-alicious “Korean BBQ-to-go” in a taco, burrito, and other Mexican-inspired entrees of the sort.  The VitaminOC staff has been following Kogi BBQ for months and finally had our first encounter on February 24th!  We attended the Girls in Tech Incubator event, spotlighting Closet Couture, and ran into Mike Prasad, the Brand, Partnerships & Marketing manager for Kogi BBQ!  Mike gave us some great advice and really encouraged us, as his beginnings in the tech/social media world began much the way that our staff is beginning.

Inspired, (and hungry…) after the event, we set out to The Brig in Venice Beach, to wait for one of the elusive trucks to arrive.  We were freezing cold, standing in the fog for about an hour before the truck arrived.  Since it was pretty late at night, there was a short line and we were able to enjoy our tacos and burritos right away!  Since then, we’ve been hooked and have been hunting down Rojas & Verde ever since.   I once waited for 3 hours at Santa Monica College, after dropping off a friend at LAX for Kogi BBQ to arrive!  Yes friends, it’s THAT good.  We waited in line in Rowland Heights for about 45 minutes a couple of weeks ago until one of the trucks came around and were told that we’d have a 3-hour wait.  Fail!  You can also check out Justin Moore-Brown of Mobo Media/OC Job Talk’s  Kogi BBQ experience in OC here and here from last week!

Our Kogi advice?

#1.  Don’t get in line if you are dying of hunger.  Because…you will literally die of hunger.  You will be waiting for a very long time.

#2. Read the menu ahead of time so that you don’t waste time once you get to the window!  http://kogibbq.com/our-menu/

#3. Line up at least 1.5 hours before Kogi is scheduled to arrive (or more)!

#4. Bring your own beverage…cans of soda/korean drinks are kind of expensive.  The dudes on the truck will even warn you of that if you look like a college student.  How nice of them..!

#5. If you’re going the taco route, try at least 3 different kinds.  Don’t rule out the tofu taco, it is seriously yummy!  If you’re going to chomp on a burrito, make sure you ask for a breakfast burrito…it is the best thing on the menu and 100% nom-alicious!

#6. Be nice!  Be nice to the hardworking chefs on board and the people waiting in line with you!

#7. Follow @KogiBBQ on Twitter.  If you’re waiting in line, you will want to follow them on your phone, at least for the time you’re standing in line.  Not on Twitter?  It’s okay, text “Follow KogiBBQ” to 40404, follow instructions and just follow for the night.  They’re almost always late due to traffic and staying longer at previous locations that night and this is their way of communicating with you!

#8. My personal fav is the short rib breakfast burrito. *drools*

#9. RSS their blog…makes for a fun read and connects you to their story!

#10. Don’t do it alone!  Kogi BBQ is great food, but it’s also a fun experience that you don’t want to have without your friends.

[Val, Justin, Jae, and Patrick looking "hungry" waiting in line for Kogi BBQ!]

This weekend, Kogi BBQ will be in Buena Park! Locations will be announced on Twitter!  You can also visit their website for updates (right-hand column) and they’ve always got some cool stuff to share on their blog.  There are two Kogi BBQ trucks: Roja and Verde…

Saturday
Roja
1PM-3PM@The Brig – Abbot Kinney and Palm in Venice
6PM-9PM@Buena Park – tbd
10:30PM-1AM@Eagle Rock – 4372 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Verde
6PM-9PM@Buena Park – tbd
10PM-2AM@The Brig – Abbot Kinney and Palm in Venice

*looks like both trucks will be headed to OC which will hopefully help with reducing the long lines!