Spring is firmly here and the weather has been just fabulous, meaning I want to eat all of my meals alfresco. Of all the meals in the day, brunch is my absolute favourite, and for some reason eating it outside makes it taste even better. Which is why I was desperate to share Urban Plant with you. I actually visited earlier in the year, but after seeing how beautiful the space was outside, I vowed to return once spring was in the air so I could share the full experience.
The restaurant is located in Hapjeong and is in a large villa set over three floors, along with a pretty big patio. The restaurant is festooned with greenery and exudes a healthy kind of natural vibe thanks to all the plants. While the white outdoor cabanas give that tropical Bali style feel. Like the decor the menu has a mix of healthy-ish items including salads, sandwiches, and omelettes, so it’s more lunch than brunch.
It must have been a weekday when we visited as none of us were drinking although I have no idea why that would have stopped us. Instead we ordered Ice Coffees (5,000) and a Grapefruit Ade (6,500). the drinks were all pretty good and not as overpriced as they could be. There are no cocktails on the menu, but you know I always advise you to bring you own vodka and adding it to ade if you want to make your own fruity and refreshing boozy brunch beverage. For those of you who consider yourself too classy to carry around Vodka in your Gucci, there is a fairly decent wine list, so while there are no cocktails you don’t have to make it a dry lunch.
Since I was on my holiday diet I decided to order the Urban Ceasar (16,000). This is Urban Plant’s take on the chicken caesar salad and it was absolutely huge. We loved the informal style of plating. On top of a mound of lettuce was grilled chicken, bacon, parmesan, soft boiled egg, avocado, croutons, and Caesar dressing. I really enjoyed this, so much so I ordered it on both visits. Whilst it was not the cheapest salad in the world it was very filling and made me feel very virtuous.
My dining companions both ordered chicken sandwiches, of which there are two of on the menu – the Urban Chicken Sandwich (14,000) and the Aioli Chicken Breast Sandwich (14,000). The one I favoured was the bacon and cheese one. There was something so more-ish about that sauce. If you want something healthier the aoli version is a little bit lighter. On the side of the sandwiches are hand cooked crisps which were also delightful, and a real treat.
Overall I really enjoyed this spot, its a real gem. Hapjeong is a pretty happening place these days but Urban Plant stands out. The outside area is pretty much unrivalled, and the food was much better than I was expecting it to be. They don’t take reservations so if you come on a weekend or holiday expect a wait unless you get there early.
Urban Plant is located at 363-28 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Hapjeong Station (line 2 & 6) and come out of exit 7. Come out of the exit and turn back on yourself and walk straight. Walk until you reach the third turning on the right. You will see Urban Plant on the left hand side, use the stairs after the door to go to the main entryway. For more information you can call them on 070-4192-0378 or check out their Instagram.