RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Que Rico serves Mexican food in Pyeongtaek's ville
The food at Que Rico in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Shuttle Delivery
By Mark Boesch
The “Ville,” adjacent to U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Humphreys Main Gate in the Anjeong-ri village of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, is home to a host of fantastic restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. Restaurateurs began flocking to the area for the chance to serve U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) customers as USAG Yongsan underwent a slow relocation process to Humphreys over the last several years.
For Pyeongtaek residents, this meant loads of new kebab spots, but also some really good Mexican food. There are a lot of really good Mexican restaurants in the area, but Que Rico is favorite to many and known locally for its authentic Mexican cuisine.
Que Rico's proprietors Park Tae-sang and her husband Raul Ugalde Leon almost opened a jewelry studio instead. After traveling back and forth for four years between Korea and Cozumel, Mexico, the couple decided to open a taqueria and torteria, a Mexican restaurant with a menu focused on tacos and tortas, in Pyeongtaek. The couple rescued some traditional recipes, and began cultivating herbs and spices in house. They put together a concise but impactful menu with tacos, tortas, burritos and enchiladas. No matter what you order, this restaurant will leave you saying, “Ay que rico!” (Oh, that's lovely!)
Tacos celebrate the essence of Mexico's culinary heritage, while also showcasing the ingredients, flavors and traditions of the local region. Que Rico serves chicken and al pastor tacos on homemade corn and wheat tortillas topped with cheese, fresh cilantro, lime and salsa. Chef Raul was raised and learned how to cook in Mexico City, but his tacos use coastal ingredients like pineapple and tangy citrus, which create vibrant flavors when blended with other ingredients and their homemade salsa. Each order comes with two tacos, so you'll have a smile on your face and a taco in each hand.
Que Rico's lineup of tortas, Mexican sandwiches stuffed with seasoned meats and veggies on home-baked bread, are ridiculously tasty. Their homemade Mexican telera bread, a salty sourdough bread, is baked on premise daily. Their torta bread is an oval roll with a thin crust on the outside and light and fluffy inside. The lineup consists of the Chicken Torta, Carnitas Torta and Cubana Torta, their best seller which is stuffed with loads of sausage, bacon, beans, onions and blend of Mexican cheeses. Each sandwich is grilled and stuffed with the perfect blend of fillings, toppings and flavors.
The Cubana Torta at Que Rico / Courtesy of Shuttle Delivery
Que Rico is a family-owned establishment serving authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price. The portions are generous, too. A user pro tip: the restaurant can get crowded, especially on weekends, so call ahead to make a reservation. Also, if you prefer corn tortillas for your tacos, you'll have to visit in house to ensure freshness and quality, as Que Rico limits delivery to wheat tortillas.
Que Rico has limited hours, opening Wednesday through Sunday. From Wednesday to Friday, they open at 2:30 p.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. But on weekends, they open early at 11 a.m. for lunch service. If you're in the greater
area of Pyeongtaek, you can skip the queue, pay online, and place delivery or pickup orders using the
or
by visiting shuttledelivery.co.kr
.
Mark Boesch is co-founder and chief marketing officer of Shuttle Delivery.