Bendito

Climbing the hill in Haebangchon, a yellow storefront catches your eye right across from Sinheung Market — this is the Tex-Mex restaurant run by chef Choi Ji-hyeong, known from Culinary Class Wars.

I started with the birria, tearing off a piece of tortilla charred on the grill to scoop up the thick, rich sauce — the two worked together well. The pulled pork taco came loaded with meat, and the chimichurri arrived in the same bite with a subtle sweetness sneaking in underneath, which I liked.

Another taco came topped with thick-cut meat, jalapenos, and salsa, and the meatier flavor set it apart from the rest. The tortillas here also have a noticeably nuttier, more toasted texture than standard tortillas.