Bulgogi tortas, kimchi grilled cheese and coffee at new museum cafe in Tacoma

How about a bulgogi torta or kimchi grilled cheese, a spiced chocolate latte and addictive furikake tortilla chips with a view of classic American cars right here in Tacoma?

El Koreano at LeMay — America’s Car Museum, opened Thursday, April 23, with a menu of Korean-Mexican fusion food plus Caffe Vita coffee and soon beer and wine. Located on the mezzanine overlooking the museum’s main floor, up the stairs or an elevator from the entrance, the restaurant replaces Full Throttle Cafe, which closed in March.

That contract “came to a natural end,” said Jake Welk, marketing director for America’s Auto Trust, which owns the Tacoma museum that opened in 2012 with the foundation of Harold and Nancy LeMay’s private collection of more than 3,000 vehicles. Headed into its 15th year, the museum is in the midst of programmatic changes and an expansion, he added. LeMay and Tacoma Public Schools announced a partnership last summer that will add a new building on the 3.5-acre show field for STEM and robotics education, The News Tribune previously reported. They are calling it, “The Garage.”

“We’re looking at bringing in new, culturally focused exhibitions, diversifying our audience,” Welk told TNT Diner. The new cafe is part of that vision. “We not only hope it’s a great spot for guests visiting the museum but also people who are local. ‘I haven’t been out to the Dome District in a while.’”

You don’t need to purchase entry to the museum to dine at El Koreano, which will operate hours aligned with the museum. Welk also noted the perk of free WiFi and “AC in the summer.”

“It’s totally a place someone can go pull their laptop out and have a cup of coffee or do a meeting,” he said.

It seems museums are catching up with the benefit of having destination-worthy food concepts in their cafe spaces. Museum of Glass recently welcomed Sliced, a New York-inspired deli, to its cafe space, with plans for The Cat & Rabbitt Cake Shop to operate a slice shop there, too.

El Koreano is part of Act 3 Catering, a Tukwila-based company with roots dating to 1984. Chefs Michael Shin and Sean Pals developed the Korean-Mexican street food menu with the catering company’s current executive chef, Mario Enriquez. It has operated as a food truck, roving around King and Pierce counties. The LeMay cafe is the company’s first foray into a set-place concept after decades of off-site events, including many at the museum (drive-in movies and concerts, said Welk), a relationship that sparked conversation of a full-time spot.

“Partnering with such an iconic Tacoma institution allows us to introduce a fun and unique culinary experience that reflects the creativity and energy of our region,” said Pals in a press release. “We believe this partnership will bring something truly special to the Museum and the community, and we’re proud to be part of it for the long term.”

El Koreano menu at America’s Car Museum

Breakfast sandwiches ($9.50-$11.50) include a sausage, egg and cheese on French toast and one with bulgogi beef, cheddar and pepperjack cheese, gochujang-laced mayo and a scrambled egg on a brioche bun.

Lunch-y handhelds ($13.50-$16) lead with the “Aye Papi” bulgogi torta, featuring that same marinated beef — spiced such that it leans toward taco vibes — with melted American cheese, chipotle aioli, cilantro and jalapeno on a bolillo roll. A fried chicken torta accepts a sweet chili sauce, the tofu on a bánh mì is glazed with tamarind, and a “Fried WHAT!?” quesadilla holds fried rice, mozzarella and salsa roja. They’re served with a generous bag of the aforementioned tortilla chips — so good they should bag ‘em in even bigger portions for sale on the side!

You can get similar proteins in a bowl ($14-$15.50 including chips) with your choice of salad, white or kimchi fried rice as the base.

The cafe has the basics, too: salads, soup du jour, a variety of pastries from Macrina Bakery, and a kids’ menu of simple grilled cheese, a cheese quesadilla and chicken tenders ($8.50-$9 including applesauce and a Capri-Sun).

For a sweet treat beyond the pastries, try the gochujang caramel ice cream sammy ($9) and rotating paletas ($6).

There’s drip coffee and an espresso machine (most drinks $3-$6.25). Specialty lattes likewise blend Korean and Mexican flavors, such as in the Strawberry Yakult, a flavored probiotic milk drink popular in Korea, and the Spiced Chocolate MexiSeoul with lots of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. Other beverages range from blended coffees to energy drinks, smoothies and bottled juice, soda and Topo Chico.

Staff from the catering company is easing into the new operations at LeMay. On Thursday, a decent-sized lunch crowd flowed upstairs. The cafe is spacious, with chrome-edged black tables and red-cushioned chairs that evoke a 50s-era diner. Order and pay at the counter, but staff will bring food to you on metal trays.

El Koreano at LeMay

• 2702 E. D St., Tacoma, 253-779-8490, americascarmuseum.org/cafe
• Museum/Cafe Hours: Thursday-Monday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (last call at 4:30 p.m.)
• Details: new Korean-Mexican fusion food at LeMay open for breakfast and lunch, plus coffee (beer and wine coming soon)

This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 10:58 AM.