MGD KOREAN BBQ EXPRESS
CHINATOWN DRIVE-THRU HITS THE SPOT

The M, the G and the D in MGD Korean BBQ Express stands for Meat, Grill and Drinks. And the concept at this new Chinatown spot is simple, drive-thru for hearty and tasty cuts of grilled meat.

That’s right, this a drive-thru dining experience offering delicious Korean eats, including a Bulgogi Marinated Chicken plate, a Loco Moco plate with a house-made Kimchi gravy, and Loaded Brisket Tots using a Gochujang sauce.

Pre-order for a faster drive-thru experience or you can order on the spot and then circle back in the time it takes to prepare your meal. There are no fancy bells and whistles here, just solid hearty eats that you will want to feast on ASAP.

During our recent visit, we ordered a slew of sizzling dishes and then dined hatchback style in our cars in nearby parking spots. And be forewarned, the portions here are extremely generous. I had delicious leftovers for days.

Consider the Loaded Brisket Tots a must-have. Prepared with grilled onions, nacho cheese, Gochujang BBQ sauce and onion ranch sauce, this is worth ordering just for the hearty portion of brisket that you get. The tots are just a tasty bonus.

Chef Ryan personally recommended his Loaded Loco Moco Tots prepped with a bulgogi-marinated beef patty topped with nacho cheese, jalapeños, fried egg, and kimchee gravy sauce served with sriracha chipotle on the side. This is a unique dish definitely worth trying but the brisket tots are just out-of-this-world good if you can only order one.

And the Korean Fried Chicken Strips are another appetizer winner. Prepared with kimchee oil seasoning and served with onion ranch dressing and Gochujang BBQ sauce, be aware that this is a huge serving. It’s a meal (and then some) on its own or works perfectly as an app. You can go wrong with these chicken strips and a cold beer. Just sayin’. Unfortunately, MGD doesn’t serve alcohol so plan ahead.

Of the bigger Korean BBQ Lunch Plates, my favorite was the Kalbi Short Rib Plate with thinly sliced, bone-in short rib marinated in house Korean kalbi sauce. While you can easily just happily dine on brisket tots and Korean fried chicken strips, do yourself a favor and get bigger plate. And if you do, the Kalbi Short Rib Plate will not disappoint.

Another tasty option is the Pork Plate with grilled pork collar meat marinated with house Korean BBQ marinade. This one just so hits the spot.

If you’re looking for an MGD sit-down experience, check out their location at The Row on Harbor in the Fullerton/La Habra/Brea area. This property serves cocktails, beer and wine. Another location will open in Northridge this Spring.

MGD Korean BBQ Express is located at 686 N. Spring Street in Chinatown. Open Tuesday – Saturday from 11:30 am to 7 pm. Call 213-373-5898.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: MGD Korean BBQ Express