Keith Goldman

“It’s all about the sauce! Of the 12 sauces we make in house, this one is in my top three,” says Keith Goldman, COO of California Tortilla, a Mexican-style fast-casual. He’s talking about the Korean barbecue sauce featured in the Korean BBQ Tacos, an LTO that turned into a permanent menu item thanks to its resounding popularity. Its success reflects a broader industry trend that sees the umami-rich global sauce making significant inroads onto American menus.

“The sauce is both sweet and savory with a bit of heat coming from one of my favorite ingredients, gochujang,” Goldman says. “We top off the tacos with another of my favorite in-house recipes, our Jicama Slaw. The crunch from the fresh jicama and the sweet bite from the lime juice and honey, accented with chile powder and cilantro, make this combination a true taste sensation.”

Elevating menu items with high-impact sauces is a smart strategy for the brand. Goldman describes how another signature sauce lends distinction to its Cubano Bowl: “In this dish, we use our Havana sauce, which is a citrusy barbecue sauce made with fresh chile peppers, fresh lime and orange juices, combined with a barbecue sauce base and spice blend,” he says, providing a “truly awesome array of flavors.”