Erinn EichingerBefore you get too blasé about the launch of yet another food truck, you might want to check out the Ahn-Joo food truck, which rolls out this Friday. It's the brainchild of Chef Debbie Lee, one of the alums of The Next Food Network Star. Ahn-Joo, which loosely translated means “pub grub,” will be serving up just that, a modern version of Korean pub food or sool jeep, a twist on the Korean food craze that's so hot among food truckers.
“Pub food is how we Koreans eat on a daily basis. Going to Korean BBQ is not actually a part of our daily routine, despite what many Americans associate with Korean dining,” says Lee. “What we often do is visit a local Korean pub, or drinking house, to enjoy small plates amongst friends. It's a huge part of the Korean culture.”
Chef Debbie Lee; Credit: Giana Mucci
All of the items on Lee's menu will be under $7 and include things like robata, or grilled skewers, the kimchi of the day and Mama's meatloaf, which is made with ground rib eye and shitake mushrooms. Lee says she'll also be serving what she calls “'the other KFC,' my Korean fried chicken, which is my grandmother's recipe. Who doesn't love fried chicken?”
Ahn-Joo's inaugural roll out will be in conjunction with the Los Angeles Film festival, a group Lee has catered for in the past. “I've always felt very fortunate to have that relationship and when they were gracious enough to come back to me with the opportunity to launch Ahn-Joo at this year's film fest, I knew it would be the perfect marriage. It felt like coming home.”
Ahn-Joo will be parked from 4 p.m – 1 a.m. weekdays and 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends at the Los Angeles Film Festival Village at L.A. LIVE.
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