Standing on the far west end of the Delmar Loop in University City, the Mexican-Korean fusion restaurant, Seoul Taco, offers a unique and enjoyable eating experience with its hip interior design, delicious food and low prices. The retro vibe is instantly apparent from the alternative rock music, the Pokémon card serving numbers and the dismantled food truck hanging from the wall.

Seoul Taco started in 2011 as a food truck driving around the St. Louis area, selling traditional Korean food in a more familiar food style to the common American: Mexican. After success with the truck, the owners decided to open a restaurant in the Loop, where they sought to bring the same food to customers.

Their menu, although simple, allows customers freedom to create their meal with their wide selection of meats and sides. It consists of tacos, quesadillas, burritos and their signature Gogi Bowl, all of which can be filled with Bulgogi (beef), chicken, spicy pork or vegan tofu. They also offer made-from-scratch pork pot stickers and a seasonal soup. The entire menu is priced under $10, making it affordable compared to most of the neighboring Loop restaurants.

The line stretches outside the doors during the lunch and dinner rushes on weekends, so the ideal time to go is either during the week or at 11 a.m. on a weekend, when it opens. Parking in the Loop is a tedious task, but if no spots open in front of the store, parking can often be found in a large parking lot located directly behind the restaurant.

The truck version of Seoul Taco still drives around the city, and its ever-changing schedule is available on their website: www.seoultaco.com.

My recommendation would be the spicy pork Gogi bowl, accompanied by an order of fried pot stickers for $15. The Gogi bowl contains fried rice, fresh veggies, a “spicy Gochujang pepper sauce” and the fiery hot pork itself all topped off with a fried egg. If you are not a fan of spicy food, the sauce can be removed. Another recommendation would be the beef quesadilla, which is covered in an array of special Seoul sauces and large enough to satisfy any hunger.