Taco Ssam, a Mexican-Korean hybrid, opens in Annandale

Taco
Ssam, the Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant in the new Eastgate Shopping Center
in Annandale, opened for the first time Friday evening.

The
menu features tacos with homemade corn tortillas and Korean ingredients, such
as bulgoki, galbi, spicy pork with grilled kimchi, and pork belly. There are
also regular Mexican tacos and entrees and Korean dishes.

Owner
Alex Lee is planning a grand opening in a couple of weeks. At that point the menu
will be expanded.

It’s
the second Taco Ssam restaurant and will have the same menu as the original one
on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads. “Ssam” means “wrapped” in Korean (usually meat wrapped in
lettuce), and that makes it similar to a taco.

The Taco
Ssam in Annandale is currently open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m., but Lee hopes to expand the hours when it’s
fully staffed.

Related story: K Market grocery store opens in Annandale

Also
open at the Eastgate Shopping Center, which replaced the Kmart on John Marr
Drive: the K Market international grocery store, Gom Shabu hot pot
restaurant, and B Thrifty.

Other
shops coming to the retail center include a karaoke bar and a Korean bathhouse.
The food court at the K Market could open as early as next week.