Restaurant Review: Flavors, Colors, and Nostalgia of Home – High Street in Dongmyeong-dong

By Jacqueline L. Becerra

As a Mexican-American with a lifetime experience of eating Mexican cuisine, I am often wary of any Mexican food I find abroad. In the duration of my time in Korea, I have seen a fair share of fusion, from standard Tex-Mex to omakase-style dining around Seoul. Yet, as I look back, I never tried any of the Mexican food from Gwangju until just recently. After a friend, who is an avid Mexican food enthusiast, highly praised the restaurant High Street, my curiosity piqued. This was the first time I heard such a comment for a Mexican restaurant in Gwangju, and thus I made my way over to its main branch in Dongmyeong-dong.

Tucked away off the main road, my friends and I walked past High Street twice before finding a tiny illuminated yellow sign with the bold text: Taqueria High Street Tacos. From such a signboard, one would say that it’s hidden, but as you get closer to the establishment its bright yellow paint makes its presence known. Arriving around early dinner time, there was no wait and the three of us were easily able to be seated. Since then, I have also gone during lunch time where, despite a waiting list, we were quickly accommodated by staff.

More Than a Restaurant

From the exterior of the building, I had seen typical typography styles used in Mexican markets and stores, and upon opening the door, I was immediately greeted with teal walls. At a glance, I could see iconic memorabilia of figures such as María Sabina Magdalena García, La Virgen de Guadalupe or Virgin Mary, and one of Mexico’s most beloved soccer players from the 2010s, Javier Hernández Balcázar, known more as “Chicharito.” Small knick-knacks, stickers, and pictures plastered along the walls reminded me of traditional stores I grew up with displaying similar cultural mementos. Even the plastic chair seating was reminiscent of outdoor family gatherings or backyard cookouts. The entire restaurant embodies Mexico’s iconic maximalist and colorful visual aesthetics. Along with the background music alternating between traditional classics from Jenni Rivera to Mexican renditions of Christmas songs, the energy was lively, a variety of conversations taking place at each table. Thus, you can get the feeling that High Street is a curated space that seeks to share a cultural experience.

The Food

A preview of the menu is displayed at the front of the restaurant, but if you scan the Toss QR code on the table, the full extensive menu will be available on your screen to order directly. No pressure to perfect your initial order as payment is done afterwards, so you can freely order multiple dishes throughout your meal. High Street boasts a large menu, not only of tacos (if they are not already sold out) but also quesadillas, burritos, burrito bowls, sides, and drinks (from soft drinks to alcohol). With a kid’s menu, vegetarian options, and being able to make additions or requests (to those wanting more lime or no cilantro) through the link, High Street makes it easier to meet your specific needs.

My friends and I started off with a personalized set for 2–3 people, selecting an appetizer, two types of tacos, a quesadilla, and a drink. Looking through the choices, we settled for the carnitas and al pastor tacos with a chicken quesadilla and loaded nachos. Soon, we were called to pick up our food – the vibrance of fresh green cilantro, yellow corn tortillas, and red-orange salsa seeping onto white paper plates creating a nostalgic picture of the foods I grew up eating.

Crisp tortilla chips coated with a bed of fresh toppings: tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapenos with cheese sauce and sour cream to the grease of the chorizo meat; slightly toasted flour tortillas in a layer of cheese and chicken; handmade weighty corn tortillas paired with soft meat and salsas; all tasted as delicious as they looked. These were familiar flavors, though Korea had made them a rarity to find. Though I was welcomed by a taste of home, I realized there was no platter of salsas, meaning that the salsa you get is what you have. I have yet to see if this can perhaps be adjusted by requesting directly, but you can initially expect a decent amount of salsa to be provided.

For me, the tacos were substantial by themselves, but it did feel like something was missing. Although that might be due to my habit of drenching my tacos in salsa. My friends and I, with our hungry appetites, swiftly ate all of our dishes to eventually add on another order of mini quesadillas from the kid’s menu. I had expected a smaller version of the original, but was pleasantly surprised to find the flour tortillas swapped to corn. While I am used to flour quesadillas, I do have a soft spot for corn tortillas, so this ended up being my favorite out of the whole meal.

My Final Verdict

Many reviews on Naver write High Street as having an authentic and traditional taste of Mexico, yet I think that undersells it. High Street establishes itself as a Mexican-American restaurant, priding itself on its Mexican-American ownership on social media. And through my visit, I saw the influence of this through a variety of menu options like loaded fries or old-time American snacks, as well as the design elements honoring Mexican-American culture. High Street is not only located in a central area in Gwangju but has the classic staples of Mexican food at a reasonable price. So, I recommend you check out High Street if you haven’t done so already.

High Street

• Open: 7 days a week (12:00–3:00 p.m., 5:00–10:00 p.m.)
• Address: Dongmyeong-ro 7-3, Gwangju
• Phone: 062-710-0323
• Email: highstreetkorea@gmail.com
• Instagram: @highstreetkr

Cover Photo: The tiny restaurant sign that we kept missing. (Jacqueline Becerra)