Food Truck Fridays: Kami

Kami

Before the semester disappears into summer, I had to go to an old favorite of mine, Kami at 33^rd and Arch. Kami is a Korean-American food truck that combines Korean and American cuisine in endlessly creative ways. I chose to sample their Spicy Pork Bulgogi Cheesesteak (obviously because I am in Philly) and their Friday special, a Kimchi Bulgogi burger.

Kimchi Bulgogi Burger

I always love when two cuisines come together to create something extraordinary. In the Kimchi Bulgogi burger, the cuisine fusion starts at the core, which is the beef patty. The patty itself is the classic, relatively lean slab of ground beef that all burger lovers (especially yours truly) have adored for generations. However, Kami’s burger patty stands out because it’s prepared bulgogi style, a Korean preparation that involves marinating the meat in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, sugar, garlic, ginger, and other spices. Needless to say, I had never had a bulgogi burger, and I am so glad I tried it. Not only does the bulgogi flavor rocket this burger to a new level in burgerdom, it pairs unbelievably well with the fiery fermented punch of the kimchi topping.

This glorious piece of Korean American fusion is topped with sliced red cabbage, which adds a subtle but wonderful crunch to the burger. I opted to add Kami’s “spicy sauce” to my burger. The sauce is similar to Sriracha in that it adds both flavor and heat, erring to the side of flavor over heat.

I was surprised to find that this whole burger was on a Kaiser roll. Though I was initially skeptical, somehow the Kaiser roll works well with this burger. Overall this is one of the best burgers I have had in a while, and I hope that other chefs start experimenting further with Asian-American fusion burgers.

Spicy Pork Bulgogi Cheesesteak with Kimchi and Cream Cheese

This sandwich was one of the most unique items I have ever had from a food truck, and it was also one of the best. Whenever I talk to the owner of Kami, she always stresses how she wants the Korean dishes that form the basis of her food to be authentic and home cooked, and that attitude shows in this sandwich.  As soon as I bit into the sandwich, I could feel all of the ingredients working together to create a gorgeous bouquet of flavor. Regardless of the seasoning, the pork itself is juicy, not too fatty, and also has a satisfyingly fiery kick. Overall, this is one of the best meats that I have ever had off of a food truck.

Here, the kimchi again adds spicy and acidic counterbalances to the meat’s richness. Cabbage, which is the main ingredient in kimchi, gives the sandwich a satisfying crunch. If you are wondering how the cream cheese fits into this sandwich, it fits in perfectly. The modest schmear of cream cheese is melted by the warm bulgogi, mingling with the meaty juices to create a creamy sauce. Its characteristic acidity also helps to tone down the richness of the meat and its cooling flavor counters the spice in the fiery sandwich. All of this is stuffed into a classic cheesesteak roll. Although it is a unlikely combination of ingredients, they work together unbelievably well, making this sandwich my favorite of the two.

Kami is the embodiment of everything that I look for in a food truck. It has a passionate chef, a creative menu and a unique goal, which is why it is perfect for this column, my last one of the semester. I hope that my column has inspired you to go try Kami at the very least. But, especially for the regular readers of this column, I hope you have been inspired to go out and explore the world of food trucks not limited to the food trucks I have written about. Enjoy your food truck travels and I will see you back here in the fall!

-Will Constan