TaKorean Korean BBQ Tacos

TaKorean is a Chipotle style fast food joint. Clearly labeled vegan options on their menu.

Start with a base, either tacos, rice or slaw. Add tofu and/or veggies, then top with cilantro, sesame seeds, avocado cream and hot sauce.

The food is great and the attention to vegan options is awesome. They even cooked the tofu in a separate pan from the meat.

This place is better than I expected, but, it is fast food style, so be wary of that if you're a food snob. When you walk into the establishment, the ceilings are high, the decor is minimalist, and the seating is hip. Proceed to your right and saddle up next to a large menu on the wall, or stare up above to find the same menu with a more horizontal approach to it.

What to order for the veg*n? Easy! Tacos, rice bowl, slaw bowl, rice & slaw bowl or all of the above. You can order a single taco for $3 or a bowl for just under $10 with tax. It seems pricy, but the attention to the fresh flavor is satisfying enough that it feels worthwhile. They have beer, sake and fountain sodas, as well as bottled beverages, including water. The place is a no frills and popular "look at your pre-cooked and prepared choices in front of you and order it up" approach. Works for me!

They mark everything that's vegan, making it pretty easy. The rice is a white rice, which has a very Korean flavor to it - as in, not your Jasmine, Basmati or American style long-grain Uncle Ben's rice. It's good fast food Korean style rice. There are 3 slaws, 2 are vegan - the napa romaine and the kale. The only "protein" is tofu, but when they dish it out in a bowl, it is, what I feel, a very protein-focused delivery. Lots of tofu - caramelized and crisp, salty from a reduced hoisin sauce, in cube format - atop the rice and/or crunchy slaw. Eat it as a taco if you please. For the finale, ask for any of the 3 vegan choices: sesame seeds, Sriracha and cilantro (go for the trifecta and get 'em all!).

My only concern is that I wish there were a few more veggies… though in Korean cuisine, there aren't often that many. So, just add on more slaw for $1!

I enjoyed visiting this location, and if ever stuck in the Navy Yards area in need of a quick veg*n fix, I would probably end up at Takorean!