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| - Barrio Correano offers a fresh take on the Korean-Mexican mash-up that has been happening south of the border for some time. A fun atmosphere, funky decor, uber-friendly staff and good cocktails help it all go down.
Correano has no printed menus. Instead diners have to crane their necks to look at several wall-mounted chalkboards. Luckily on my visit with my partner, our bubbly waitress was there to explain every item on the menu for us.
The server took pains to explain that it was a "sharing" menu, which is funny given how common these places have become. I suppose some diners still expect a big plate with steak, a baked potato and salad for themselves!
The menu favours the Mexican end of the Korean-Mexican fusion spectrum, so we started with an excellent guacamole and home-made tortilla chips, that were just greasy enough. Definitely no Baked Lays going on here.
I had a Hemingway cocktail with Mount Gay rum and grapefruit, among other things. It was refreshing, not too sweet, and a nice start to the meal.
Most of our meal came from the tacos selection, including a delicious chorizo verde, and a batter-fried shrimp one, that was spicy and very filling. The more Korean-inspired chicken kampungki was similar to General Tso battered chicken on wasabi mayo in a blue corn soft taco -- good components alone, but they didn't mesh that well in this case.
We also shared the portobello fajitas which combined meaty mushrooms and fajita veggies on a hot platter with soft corn tacos, and more of the awesome guac and house-made pico de gallo salsa. The fajitas were not as special as some of the other tacos, but were a good choice to share, and also for the veg-minded.
The food is deceptively filling. After sharing the guac & chips, the three tacos and fajitas, neither of us had any room for dessert. It's too bad as I love a good tres leches cake, but that will have to wait until next time.
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