Food Truck Review: Marination Mobile

Photo: Marination Mobile

MARINATION MOBILE
Cuisine: Korean/Hawaiian
Price: $-Cheap

I’d heard many a good thing about Marination Station, so when I caught wind that the mobile truck was going to be remotely near my office, I made the three block hike uphill to check it out.  My lunch buddy and I were worried we’d gotten the location wrong as we approached the small parking lot in Belltown, but as soon as we turned the corner and caught a whiff of what was cooking, our mouths started to water and our noses led us right to the growing crowd of dedicated followers.

The menu is a mix of Korean and Hawaiian fare, keeping it short and simple in true food truck style. You can get a kalbi beef, spicy pork, ginger chicken, or sexy (yes, they call it sexy) tofu taco, kalua pork, or SPAM (don’t knock it ‘til you try it!) sliders.  Also available: kimchee fried rice, quesadillas, and some ono (Hawaiian for good) macaroni salad speckled with chunks of SPAM.  Word around the truck is that sometimes they have specials, including the Hawaiian favorite of SPAM musubi.

I opted for a kalbi beef taco, a kalua pork slider and (how could I resist?) mac salad.  Add on Hawaiian Sun Guava juice and a $1.50 tip, and I handed over a meager $9.00.

Photo: Marination Mobile

The taco was full of flavor with the kalbi beef cooked perfectly, so much so that I was slightly regretting using the lime that came with it prior to tasting it.  The slider had pork that was moist, tender and true to the Hawaiian kalua pig served in Hawaii.  Both the taco and the slider were topped with Marination’s signature slaw.  A slightly tangy, crisp blend that made me seriously consider going back to ask for a plate of meat, slaw and a fork.  I questioned their choice of bun for the slider, as Hawaiian sweet bread would have been a better choice in my opinion, but the insides were enough to carry the plain bun. 

Like the slaw, both items were topped with “Nunya” sauce.  It was delicious and reminded me of a mix of mayo and ketchup with maybe a bit of Sriracha to kick it up.  Considering the name, I didn’t bother to ask what was in it, knowing I’d get a “nunya” answer.  The macaroni salad was good and the chunks of SPAM were a nice touch, however, I’d made the mistake of eating the other two items prior to this and it paled in comparison to the taco and the slider.

All in all, I’m glad I learned of Marination and it’s slightly convenient location to my office.  If you haven’t had a chance to try them I suggest you do.  While you’re there, get something with SPAM.  Don’t think, just eat; your taste buds will thank you.