Whether it's barbecue or fusion-style tacos, Korean food is pretty much as trendy as it gets.

So it's something of a mystery that unlike Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, which abound throughout the city of Houston, Korean specialties have mostly stayed inside the three Bellaire-area zip codes. That's something that Kobecue is hoping to change.

Tucked between Collina's and Skewers on the Greenway Plaza-adjacent stretch of Richmond, Kobecue keeps the interiors sparse, with the order counter taking up most of the space. The menu is short but sweet: Rice bowls, barbecue plates, fajita-style sizzling platters, Korean fusion tacos and bibimbap.

I went with the bibimbap, which is like an ultimate rice bowl, grilled steak with a mixture of sauteed vegetables, a fried egg and rice, topped with chili sauce. Kimchee is offered for free on the side, but you do have to ask for it specifically.

I actually loved the dish, which was big enough for two and cost $7.25. There was perhaps a little more rice than typical in the Chinatown versions, but the mix of ingredients was really flavorful, and I liked the multiple options for spicing it up. I actually reached for sriracha at first, but the girl at the counter recommended another mystery bottle with a bit more garlic flavor and a little less immediate bite.

The tacos were less successful. The corn tortillas felt stiff and stale, and I thought the meat portions were more than a little skimpy, particularly in the shirt rib. I liked the flavor of the spicy pork, but the tacos were mostly bland without adding lots of hot sauce.

Compared to the Korean tacos served from trucks like Oh My Gogi and Rolling Hunger, these were a little disappointing.

But I think there's still room for Kobecue to shine. By keeping the menu short and simple, they are making Korean barbecue flavors accessible for newbies, while still keeping it authentic enough for Korean food fans who don't want to trek to southwest Houston.

It doesn't have the bourgeois atmosphere of Dragon Bowl or the distinctly no-frills vibe of Cali Sandwich, but I think it'll find a following.