Sharon TamI pulled up to the ruby red building 15 minutes before opening. There was only one person waiting for the restaurant to open, but people kept filing in line. By the time the doors flung open, at 10 a.m., there was a crowd itching to get in.
Thankfully, as second in line, I didn’t have to wait long for LOTTERIA, the famed South Korean-burger chain that runs approximately 1,600 locations across seven countries in Asia.
LOTTERIA opened its first U.S. store in Fullerton this August, and a month later, the hype over the restaurant’s innovative menu still hasn’t faded.
I decided on some of the most famous items on the menu, including the bulgogi and shrimp burger, the Bibim Rice burger, the Shake-It fries and chicken, the Bingsu, the K-BBQ fries, and the K-Sweet and Sour rice bowl.
Let’s start with the bulgogi and shrimp burger. The burger is constructed with a bulgogi patty, a shrimp patty, and the usual burger offerings of lettuce, onions and sauce.
The bulgogi patty, made of soy sauce or honey marinated beef, was well spiced, but it was a bit dry; almost like biting into meatloaf that had been reheated one too many times.
In stark contrast, however, was the shrimp patty.
This was not your average shrimp patty. Tender and juicy with delectable pieces of whole shrimp mixed into it, this patty saved the burger for me. But honestly? I recommend just ordering the shrimp burger and ditching the bulgogi.
LOTTERIA’s signature Bibim Rice burger was the burger (well, this and the shrimp patty) that made my drive to LOTTERIA worth it. Two dense cakes of spicy rice hug a crisply fried egg, tender lettuce, and delectable, creamy sauce, keeping every bite moist and satisfying. Unfortunately, that same sauce also greatly weakened the structure of the burger, which fell apart about halfway through. Although it tasted just as good disassembled, it might not be the ideal option if you’re on the go.
The restaurant also offers the Shake-It series, which involves liberally sprinkling a pouch of cheese or onion-flavored powder into your paper bag of fries or chicken and shaking it like it owes you money.
Although the concept was original and fun, the flavor and texture of the chicken did not live up to the hype. The chicken was more flour than meat, and the fries were comparable to the cheapest overnight microwaved fries I’ve ever had the misfortune of tasting.
You would be better off only purchasing the flavored powder packets they sell for a whopping 50 cents and snagging your fries or chicken elsewhere to make your own rendition of the Shake-It series.
The Bingsu offered here is a milky, icy slush drink topped with fruit cocktail, red bean paste and yakgwa, a special wheat and honey cookie. The fruit cocktail did taste like it came directly from a tin can, but I’ll let it slide because of how well it complemented the rich, cool drink.
The yakgwa was sweet and filling, almost like a super-dense version of mooncake. But if you have sensitive teeth, pass on the rock-hard cookie to someone else.
As for the K-BBQ fries and the K-Sweet and Sour rice bowl, there was nothing to write home about. The rice bowl didn’t vary much from the usual rice bowls available at WaBa Grill, and the animal fries at In-N-Out honestly taste far better than the slightly cold K-BBQ fries.
Despite the heavenly shrimp patty and the Bibim Rice burger, I was still a little disappointed with LOTTERIA’s offerings. Thankfully, though, it’s still an affordable experience despite the overhype, resting comfortably in the middle of most fast food restaurants in terms of price.
LOTTERIA was fun to visit, but I probably won’t go again… unless that shrimp patty calls my name.
LOTTERIA is at 150 W Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton. For more information, visit //lotteriausa.com.
