From the May issue of the Match 2018, written by Naina Chauhan.
Sarasota may be a small town, but that doesn’t mean it’s food scene is. Bulgogi is a Korean food truck whose namesake was inspired by the traditional Korean meat dish. Its presence has diversified Sarasota’s culinary climate and introduced many to the spicy, sweet, and savory world of Korean fare.
Bulgogi, a Korean barbecue food truck, is owned by Charlie Chi. Chi first opened Bulgogi two years ago in May, and it was his first time ever working with food. Chi started off as a tennis coach at IMG Academy in Sarasota and while he never professionally cooked before, he boldly headed in a new direction in life. “I have no background in cooking. I worked hard and made some tweaks until I got the fusion Korean food I serve today,” Chi said.
Although Bulgogi is called a Korean barbecue food truck, Chi said it is not traditional Korean-style food. The dishes are typical of what you would have in Korea, but Chi added his own flair to them. Some of the dishes are Chicken Bulgogi, Beef Bulgogi, Pork Bulgogi, Spring Rolls, Man Du, and Kim-Chi. Chi also offers meat combinations so you can order two or even all three for a bargain price around 10 dollars depending on the meat combination. All the meat dishes also come with rice, sweet potato noodles, lettuce, and sweet, spicy, tangy sauce that ties it all together. Bulgogi also offers vegetarians options, so there is something available at Bulgogi for everybody.
The perfect treat to satisfy your hunger is either the Man Du or Spring Roll. Both are hot and crunchy, but if you prefer a more fresh flavored appetizer the Spring Roll is the one for you, while the Man Du is a more savory treat. Once your taste buds have been satisfied, Bulgogi is another must-have dish. The dish is served with a sweet and savory meat, chicken, pork, or beef, that is traditionally marinated in a blend of soy sauce, sugar, and Korean pear juice. The dish goes perfectly with noodles or rice, and at Chi’s food truck you get the best of both worlds.
An important value of Bulgogi is that it remains local. Chi said, “I like to stay local and support local people. In return for what they give me, I try to give them the best food and service possible.”
Since Bulgogi is a food truck, it moves around town regularly and visits new locations often. To find out where it will be, you can follow them on Instagram at @bulgogisarasota or on Facebook as BulGoGi Sarasota.
While Chi loves his food truck, it’s not the end of his culinary adventures: he is looking to buy a place on Bee Ridge for his own restaurant.
Beyond the Food Truck; An Update to the Story
In the May issue of the Match 2018, Naina Chauhan writes about Charlie Chi’s Korean barbecue food truck and his dreams of one day owning a restaurant. Today, he lives that dream.
While our Web team was searching through the Torch archive, we found this Match article. It so happens that Charlie Chi is the father of one of our staff members, Janice Chi.
During May of 2018, the Match reviewed a few food trucks in Sarasota. One of those businesses covered was Charlie’s Bulgogi, owned by my parents. Naina Chauhan visited the food truck and after trying the food, rated it 5/5 torches.
When my dad first started this business alongside my mom, they started off with a food truck. This was 2016, and even after seven years, he’s still working in the food industry.
“While Chi loves his food truck, it’s not the end of his culinary adventures: he is looking to buy a place on Bee Ridge for his own restaurant,” Chauhan wrote in the article after a brief interview.
Well, my dad was able to accomplish that goal in owning a restaurant. A few months after this article was published, we renovated an old Donut shop and opened the restaurant in Ridge Plaza on Bee Ridge Road.
“It was nerve wracking in the beginning, but I got a lot of support from the local people and gained courage,” my dad said.
With the upgrade of our business, they were able to accrue more food to their menu as well. Back then, the menu was on the smaller side, consisting of a few Korean dishes: Chicken Bulgogi, Beef Bulgogi, Pork Bulgogi, Spring Rolls, Man Du, Kimchi, along with some others. Now, there are 51 items available on the menu, more diversity in flavors and drinks.
My dad has told me numbers of stories regarding the restaurant since the opening. Along with that, he always informs me when any of my teachers visit the restaurant and tells me about funny discussions he’s had with some of the customers.
When I asked him what his biggest motivator was, he smiled and said that he couldn’t have worked this hard without having kids. Currently, my dad has several goals in mind, but he never forgets how he got here – which is through the encouragement of many supporters.