COLUMBUS Ohio Charley’s Grilled Subs, a 382-unit chain specializing in Philadelphia-style cheese steaks, is launching a new menu item inspired by Korean beef.
The Spicy Asian BBQ sub is being rolled out nationwide on Sept. 28 and will be introduced in international markets in the following months, a company spokeswoman said.
The sandwich is made with steak that is marinated in pears, green onions and assorted Asian spices before being grilled.
The item harkens back to company founder and chief executive Charley Shin’s Korean roots, and it also jumps on the slowly growing popularity of Korean barbecue.
Although not well-known nationwide, awareness of Korean barbecue is increasing in Los Angeles, partly due to the Kogi BBQ to Go chain of taco trucks, which have become something of a sensation in that city.
Also, New York-based Korean-American chef and restaurateur David Chang brings Korean influence to his food with menu items like green apple kimchi with labneh. Chang won last year’s James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in New York, and his fine-dining restaurant Momofuku Ko won this year’s Beard Award for the country’s best new restaurant.
Also possibly spurring greater influence of Korean food in the United States is the departure from The French Laundry in Napa Valley of its chef de cuisine, Corey Lee. Lee, who also is Korean-American, plans to open a Korean-influenced fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].