At El Burro Pollo, the mostly Mexican food stall run by chef Hector Santiago, the kimchi quesadilla is a killer combination.

The thin flour tortilla crisps up beautifully on the grill, while retaining plenty of flexibility, so the quesadilla filling stays contained. The real Chihuahua cheese is rich and melty, with a mild tang. And, Korean kimchi makes a surprising, but perfect, addition of both flavor and texture. The bright acid enlivens the gooey cheese, while the cabbage adds some needed vegetal depth and a snappy crunch. The made-in-house kimchi is not overly acidic or pungent, and the cabbage retains a lot of its character.

Order a kimchi quesadilla from El Burro Pollo and you won’t ask, “What inspired this ingeniously simple fusion of Mexican and Asian ingredients?”

You’ll just be thinking, “How does this taste so good?”

El Burro Pollo. 765 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-500-2001, elburropollo.com.

Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta's Truist Park, site of the 2025 MLB All-Star game on July 15, debuted eight concessions this year at Outfield Market, the stadium's open-air food hall on the right field concourse. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Featured

Scott Jackson (right), business service consultant for WorkSource Fulton, helps job seekers with their applications in a mobile career center at a job fair hosted by Goodwill Career Center in Atlanta. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC)

Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC