When east meets west. That is basically the essence of these Korean beef steak tacos. These are fusion-style tacos made with tender, juicy slices of beef steak marinated in flavourful and fragrant Asian seasonings, and topped with caramelized pineapple, purple cabbage, fermented kimchi, with a drizzled of spicy mayo and sesame seeds on top. These tacos have so much flavour in every bite. They are SO good.
The best part? You can make these beef tacos in less than 25 minutes. Which is basically the answer to my summer weeknight dinner dreams. You can stir fry the beef on the stovetop OR throw it in the air fryer to make things even easier.
What is in Korean Beef Tacos?
- beef - I used beef sirloin, but you can also use flank steak. Cut the beef into 2-inch stir fry strips.
- marinade for the beef - made with a combination of soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, brown sugar, ground ginger, minced garlic, ground black pepper, and cornstarch. The cornstarch makes the beef more tender. The seasonings gives the beef its signature garlicky and gingery taste.
- spicy mayo sauce - made with mayonnaise, Sriracha hot sauce, lime juice, water.
- soft taco tortillas - I used corn tortillas to keep this dish gluten-free. Feel free to substitute with wheat tortillas, if that's what you have on hand.
- toppings - I topped these tacos with caramelized pineapple, purple cabbage, kimchi (fermented cabbage), cilantro, and sesame seeds.
How to Make the Best Korean Beef Steak Tacos
- Marinate the beef: Place sliced beef into a zip-loc bag. Add soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and cornstarch. (The cornstarch makes the beef more tender). Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the beef to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- Make the spicy mayo sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha, lime juice and water. Stir well to get a smooth texture and set aside.
- Cook the beef with pineapple: You can either stir fry the beef and pineapple together or cook them in the air fryer:
- To stir fry: Add the marinated beef and pineapple into a large frying pan and cook over medium high heat until the beef turns brown, about 7 minutes. Stir well to cook evenly. Then, turn heat down to low, cover and let it simmer for 1 minute to allow the pineapple juice to seep into the beef, making them even more tender.
- To air fry: Cook the beef and pineapple together in the air fryer at 350 F for 13 minutes. Shake the air fryer basket halfway through. Transfer the beef and pineapple to a plate.
- Heat the soft tortillas: Heat the soft tortillas according to the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges.
- Assemble the tacos: Add ¼ cup stir-fried beef and pineapple mixture on each tortilla. Top with 1 tablespoon sliced purple cabbage and chopped kimchi to taste. Sprinkle some chopped cilantro and sesame seeds on top, and drizzle with spicy mayo sauce to taste.
FAQ and Tips for Making Korean Beef Tacos
- What is kimchi? Kimchi is dish of fermented vegetables (most often napa cabbage). It is a staple ingredient in Korean cuisine and adds that classic Korean flavour to these tacos. You can find it easily at Asian grocery stores, or you can even make your own.
- Do I have to add pineapple? The pineapple enhances and really brings out the flavour of the beef that much more. I personally would not skip it. But, if you don't have any on hand, you can omit it and still end up with a delicious taco.
- Can I use ground beef instead? Yes, you can use ground beef instead. Marinate the ground beef the exact same way, and cook it in a skillet. I would not recommend cooking it in the air fryer.
- Double stack the tortillas. I normally double stack my tortillas and stuff my tortillas to the max. Double stacking helps hold everything in, especially if one of the tortillas tears.
More Taco Recipes
- Easy Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Vegan Chickpea Tacos
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
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Korean Beef Steak Tacos
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Fusion-style Korean beef steak tacos are made with tender, flavour-packed slices of beef and topped with caramelized pineapple, kimchi, and spicy mayo.
Ingredients
Korean Beef Steaks:
- 1 pound beef sirloin (or flank steak), cut into 2-inch strips
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Spicy Mayo Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 teaspoons water
Tacos:
- ¼ cup pineapple, chopped
- 6 (6-inch) soft taco tortillas
- ⅓ cup purple cabbage, sliced
- ⅓ cup kimchi, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Marinate the beef: Place sliced beef into a zip-loc bag. Add soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and cornstarch. (The cornstarch makes the beef more tender). Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the beef to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- Make the spicy mayo sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha, lime juice and water. Stir well to get a smooth texture and set aside.
- Cook the beef with pineapple: You can either stir fry the beef and pineapple together, or cook them in the air fryer.
- To stir fry: Add the marinated beef and pineapple into a large frying pan and cook over medium high heat until the beef turns brown, about 7 minutes. Stir well to cook evenly. Then, turn heat down to low, cover and let it simmer for 1 minute to allow the pineapple juice to seep into the beef, making them even more tender.
- To air fry: Cook the beef and pineapple together in the air fryer at 350 F for 13 minutes. Shake the air fryer basket halfway through. Transfer the beef and pineapple to a plate.
- Heat the soft tortillas: Heat the soft tortillas according to the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges.
- Assemble the tacos: Add ¼ cup stir-fried beef and pineapple mixture on each tortilla. Top with 1 tablespoon sliced purple cabbage and chopped kimchi to taste. Sprinkle some chopped cilantro and sesame seeds on top, and drizzle with spicy mayo sauce to taste.
Notes
Kimchi. Kimchi is dish of fermented vegetables (most often napa cabbage). It is a staple ingredient in Korean cuisine and adds that classic Korean flavour to these tacos. You can find it easily at Asian grocery stores, or you can even make your own.
Ground beef vs. beef steak. You can also use ground beef instead. Marinate the ground beef the exact same way, and cook it in a skillet. I would not recommend cooking it in the air fryer.
Double stack the tortillas. I normally double stack my tortillas and stuff my tortillas to the max. Double stacking helps hold everything in, especially if one of the tortillas tears.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (+30 minutes to marinate)
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Tacos
- Method: Stir Fry
- Cuisine: Mexican and Korean
Kate says
Great recipe!! I made it with ground beef, and used the seasonings almost like a taco mix. Once the ground beef was cooked, I added some water, and let it simmer with the seasonings and thicken up! We had it one night over cauliflower rice, as a bowl. We loved it so much I made it again and we ate it as tacos! Such an easy recipe to add to the rotation.
Dan says
Just incredible! First time I made them was after a NFL playoff game and they were such a hit that they were destroyed before I got to eat even one of them. I've made them several times since and loved them every time. The Kimchi I've used every time is Sunja's all natural medium spicy kimchi found at The Fresh Market. Delicious!!!
Melissa says
These tacos were super easy to make and so delicious!! I can't wait to try your other recipes. Thanks so much! 🙂
Charlie says
I am more of a traditional taco kind of guy but thought I would give these fusion ones a try. So glad I did. They were so delicious and flavourful. 10/10
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
That makes me so happy! Enjoy!
Tiffany says
Simple, yet amazing!! These tacos are so delicious! I let them marinate for about 4 hours, and the meat was full of flavor. Even my husband who wasn’t thrilled when he saw the picture, loved them and ate 3 big tacos!
Tiffany
Phlanx's Marketing Specialist
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you so much Tiffany! This makes me so happy. So glad you both loved the recipe. 🙂
Tiffany says
I will make this again for sure! By any chance you're interested in doing collabs, you can check out the offers in our Collaboration section at Phlanx! https://phlanx.com/collaborations You can also check us out at Instagram @phlanxglobal
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks!