Chi’lantro BBQ is quickly becoming an Austin institution!
Five years ago, owner Jae Kim started his laid back eatery at 2nd and Congress, alone in a food truck. His goal was to introduce the flavors and ingredients of Korean BBQ to the downtown late-night masses. The name was a symbol of the fusion he was creating…referencing kimchi (a Korean staple) and cilantro, an ingredient that us Texans know all too well.
Realizing his audience’s unfamiliarity with kimchi, Jae decided to pair it with the type of food late night crowds crave most: meat, cheese and French fries! Topped with onion, cilantro, sesame seeds, Sriracha and their proprietary Magic Sauce, The Original Kimchi Fries [above] were born…
Since then, it’s been a kimchi revolution! These famed French fries have become the food synonymous with a good time.
Photo Credit: Philip Adcock
Chi’lantro continues to grow with the popularity of their signature item, with a presence at large-scale festivals like Austin City Limits and Fun Fun Fun Fest each year. They now operate 4 food trucks plus a trailer in Austin, as well as recently opening their first brick and mortar location!
This year, Chi’lantro can be seen at various locations around town during SXSW. They’ll be a featured vendor at the SXSW SouthBites Trailer Park on Rainey St. and Driskill St. For lunch, find them by the Austin Convention Center (Trinity St. and 4th St.) And Chi’antro will be serving up dinner just down the road on Trinity St. at 7th St.
Throughout the festival, their restaurant at 1509 S. Lamar Blvd will be open daily from 10:30am to 10pm with extended hours until 12am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Also Try:
BURGER
grilled onions, cheddar + monterey jack, soy vinaigrette salad, a fried egg, and magic sauce served between a toasted sesame seed bun
K-POPS
Leave a Reply