Cool, Crafy, Community Event: Unique LA's Holiday Show
Canter's & Ice Cream Sandwich Could Live in Perfect Harmony
7 Reasons to Love L.A.
A Threefold 'Thank You' to Los Angeles
Recession Obsession: El Pollo 'Loco'
In what appears to be inspiration from the street (or a complete rip off) Baja Fresh is bringing new Kogi Korean BBQ menu items to its new concept test location in Irvine. Not only can you get alcohol and cilantro lime rice at the fast casual restaurant, you can get Korean BBQ inspired tacos and burritos that just happened to be partially named Kogi like the famous Kogi BBQ.
Since the Baja Fresh news broke, customers have been asking Kogi BBQ what was up and this morning they posted a quick note about it on their blog: "Just to let you all know, we are definitely not affiliated with any of this business. All of our energies have been focusing our our energies on serving you the best we can."
Interestingly enough, although filed under different goods and services categories, Baja Fresh applied for a "Kogi" trademark on May 8th while Kogi BBQ filed for theirs on December 4th of last year, earning a "first use" and "first use in commerce" designation (to see, use a basic search for "kogi" under Trademarks > Search TM Database, direct links expire).
Kogi, by the way, is not proper Korean and is supposed to be Gogi. The "K" in Kogi BBQ was intended for marketing reasons--it's more catchy and the "K" stands for Korean--and it is a play off the common misspelling, according to Mike Prasad who created the name, brand and Twitter concept for the mobile eatery.
Will this be a lawsuit in the waiting? If so, the world of Twitter will likely revolt against Baja Fresh. And that news will spread fast.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I wonder if Baja Fresh is going to start capitalizing their LLLLs, too.
Oh, SNAP! Nice one, Caleb.
This hype is so trending out, will the streets soon be cursed with a McDonald's-esque carbon copy?
Eww.
I can't really see how Baja Fresh can get away with this.
Just another reason to avoid BF in favor of Poquito Mas.
Baja Fresh: FAIL!!
By the way, Korean doesn't use our alphabet, so it's kinda hard to say that kogi or gogi is or is not "proper" Korean, despite the intentions of the brand's creator.
Gogi might be the correct romanization using the most recent (and controversial) system of romanization, but kogi with a k is closer to the earlier MR system, and arguably used more frequently when romanizing the standalone Korean concept of meat.
Nitpicking for sure, but I hate seeing marketing presented as "facts".
Good point, thanks, hp. Very interesting debate on the linguistics side!
This doesnt affect me, I got to resturants.
I call shenanigans!!!
any self respecting kogi fan will know that baja fresh's food cannot compare to what we get on the kogi truck. so i personally don't mind them using it, even though i know why they're using the name kogi, they're trying to capitalize on the hype that the kogi bbq truck has created. don't get me wrong, i enjoy food from baja fresh as well, but it can't compare to the real kogi.
Let me see
Baja Fresh - You can get get Korean tacos in Orange County. Something Kogi trucks dropped the ball on when they thought getting a license to sell in Los Angeles allowed them the right to sell in Orange County.
The wait time at Baja fresh is about 5 minutes.. Opposed to chasing a truck and waiting a good 50 minutes in line?
Not dealing with the WORSE PR any company could ever have is worth it alone.
Though, if you were really smart, you'd just hit up the Alibi room. screw the truck.
As for copy cat... um, that's like saying any taco truck is knocking off King Taco. They sell Kimchi filled tacos each. Kogi means MEAT. Add in that Baja Fresh was actually smarter with their patent on the name Kogi.
Frankly.. I am not impressed.
Also recommend a place where you can find discount omega watches,their price and collections are amazing!