We were excited about the prospect of Korean mexican fusion, it adds a new dimension to the taco craze that's prevalent in Toronto at this time. I casually called in on a saturday night and was surprised to learn that they did have a table for 2 without any wait time. Having been opened to the public for less than a week, I could not pass on this opportunity. When we arrived at the location, we did not notice any signs outside except for some cryptic korean which was good enough for us to step inside. The decor inside is grungy and funky typical of all the other playa cabana outposts. You can find anything from rusty chairs to glowing neon signs that add a unique appeal to the ambience. The place is loud and tables are way too close for any private discussions. Now let's get to the food, shall we?
Cocktails - This place actually offers a limited set of cocktails. There is no printed menu, everything is up on the black board. My wife had the sangria infused with soju (our favorite) and I had a asian pear infused bebida (meh)
Tacos - We tried most of the tacos except for beef since it did not have favorable reviews. Our favorites were the chipotle chicken and spicy carnita. The octopus with wasabi salsa was good but nothing memorable. Our least favorite was the yuzu tuna. The taco filling was oversized compared to the tortilla. It also is messier to eat compared to the tacos at the other playa locations.
Service - We were lucky with the service. Our server had great positive energy and we got our tacos within minutes of sitting down. She apprised us of the sauces and also provided honest recommendations (for instance she clearly stated that one of the desserts had gotten mixed reviews). Everything comes out as it's ready in no specific order.
Barrio Coreano is definitely the kind of place to hang out with couple of friends on a weekend and very much in line with other playa locations.