Last week, despite being immensely poor, I decided to treat myself and my man to some lobster. Not a whole lobster of course, I’m not that flush, but some lovely lobster sandwiches which are the new star attraction at Lobster bar in Itaewon. The place is located at the top of the stone stairs just next to Rocky Mountain Tavern. A small cafe with seating for about 12 inside and another 12 outside. It was rather muggy on the day we went, otherwise I would have loved to sit outside and soak up some rays.

The menu is small and efficient with only 4 items. It host three varieties of lobster sandwich and a whole lobster steamed or grilled. I was thrilled to find that despite the small size of the menu they offered 3 different cocktails and I think we all know how much I love the cock-tails. I inquired about the punch and it came highly recommended. I left my cocktail enjoyment in their hands and set about choosing my sandwich.

There are three kinds of sandwich, The Maine, which is lobster with mayo, The Connecticut which is lobster with butter and The Grilled Cheese, which is lobster in a grilled cheese sandwich. We decided to opt for the grilled cheese and the Connecticut, although I’m still itching to try out the Maine one, if anyone fancies taking me?

The punch arrived and I was glad to see it was held in a lovely large jar which justified its 12,000 price tag. The waiter held his breath as I tried my first sip. It was delightful, a fruity dance upon the taste buds with a lovely hit of blackcurrant. He walked away triumphantly as I enjoyed my drink.

The sandwiches were shortly presented in all their glory. The Grilled Cheese (17,000) is really very tasty and filling. Toasted bread, smeared with delicious melted cheese, spinach and plenty of pieces of plump lobster. You get a nice hit of flavour when you bite into it, followed by a spicy finish. It’s very moreish indeed, a bit like crack as Super Hans would say. It comes with salad and fries and they’re also working on getting some fresh corn to accompany it too.

The Connecticut (17,000)  is also exceptionally nice, generous chunks of lobster covered in juicy melted butter and housed in a soft roll. I was very impressed with the amount of lobster that was in it, one is enough to keep you happy. All in all a very good price, some may balk at paying 17,000 for a sandwich but it is lobster after all and they really don’t skimp on the portions.

There is also a tank outside full of live lobsters just waiting to be chosen and win the prize of becoming your dinner. For a mere 49,000, your lobster will be grilled or steamed and served up on a platter. Sadly too rich for my blood, but if anyone needs a date? I’m always available for lobster.

Lobster bar is located at 736-49 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Itaewon Station (Line 6) Exit 3. Walk straight until you get to the stairs next to Rocky Mountain Tavern. Walk to the top of the stairs, Lobster Bar is on your left. For more information you can call them on 070-8225-3963 or check out their website.

On Saturday I ventured into Longbread to get myself some sandwiches for me and The Fat Boyfriend for lunch. It’s owned by the people who run The Flying Pan so I was really excited to try it. The cafe is a huge airy and bright place, adjoining to the Lotte Department store. I often have trouble finding somewhere nice to eat for lunch after a spot of shopping in Myeongdong and this place really ticks all the boxes.

There are 8 or so different sandwiches on the menu. The names are all in English but sadly they don’t have the descriptions in English which is a bit annoying as they had a Japanese and Chinese menu. You can tell more or less what it is from the name, but if you are a bit fussy like me you want to know exactly what else is in it. I could have read the Korean explanation but frankly I couldn’t be bothered, after an hour in H&M I was ready to drop so I just ordered.

I ordered the Wow Beef Sandwich (8,800). Despite the stupid name, this sandwich was spectacular. I shared it with the Fat Boyfriend and we both gave a loud and resounding Mmm when we bit into it. The beef was tender and full of flavour with a slight spiciness to it. The cheese was melted to perfection and some lovely roasted vegetables rounded it out. It’s served on toasted panini bread and you would be hard pushed to find fault with it. A winner in every department and a pretty reasonable price tag for the size.

I also got the Oh! My Chicken Sandwich (8,300). Again it had lovely fresh bread and a nice tasty filling but it wasn’t a stand out sandwich for me like the beef one was. This was why I wanted to see what was in it, had it had some avocado and bacon it would have taken it up a notch. I would definitely like to try a few other sandwiches on the menu next time like the Long Bread Sandwich or the Cheese & Mushroom Panini.

I was feeling frivolous so I also ordered myself a De-stress Juice (7,800) Freshly squeezed, orange, grapefruit, lemon and celery.  Obviously it’s on the pricey side but good fresh juices are hard to find here and I needed to something healthy in my body to justify the 24 Krispie Kreme doughnuts I had just purchased (in my defence it was a buy 12 get 12 free day, and you would have to be made of stone to pass up a deal like that)!

On a side note the guy who served me was pretty rude. I was a little indecisive changing my mind about the juice I wanted  and asking for the menu in English. It wasn’t busy and I was the only person buying something so there was no need for his poor attitude towards me. But the sandwiches are lovely and the cafe is cute so I wouldn’t let it put me off.

Long bread is located at 123, 2ga, Namdaemun-ro, jung-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Euljiro 1-ga (line 2) and come out of exit 7. Walk straight for one block past the Lotte department Store and cross the road. Long Bread should be right in front of you on the side street just next to the Lotte Young department Store.  For more information you can call them on 02-2118-5173 or check out their website.

I have been dreaming about a fish finger sandwich for weeks now, and I only just got around to making it. However it was more than worth the wait and lived up to all my expectations. Served in a nice fresh baguette, I used some gourmet beer batter pieces of cod that I bought at High Street Market. I smothered the whole thing in tartar sauce and served it up with some home-made mushy peas. Fresh peas are in season a the moment and I picked some up from my local roadside ajumma, she even threw in 3 free chillies (score). I served up this glorious sandwich with my home-made chickpea fries, because I just can’t get enough of them right now.

Ingredients

2-3 fish fingers per sandwich

1/2 a baguette

Tartar sauce

A few pieces of lettuce

2 cups of fresh peas

A knob of butter

A splash of milk

A small handful of fresh mint

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions 

1. Boil the peas for 10 to 15 minutes until soft. Then strain and put them in the blender while they are still warm and add the knob of butter so that it melts. Add the milk, mint, and salt and pepper and blend until fairly smooth. Don’t overdo it though, it’s best when it still has a bit of texture.

2. You can either deep fry your fish fingers or cook them in the oven. My oven was on the fritz so I deep fried them. Plus I was making the chickpea fries too, so it seemed churlish not to. I cooked mine at 180 degrees for about 8- 10 minutes turning them halfway through.

3. When all is ready pile up your sandwich with lots of tartar sauce, some lettuce and those lovely fish fingers. Chips are optional but always welcome.

Caprese is one of my absolute favourite salads and flavour combinations. It’s just so fresh and tasty. So how do you improve on this fresh and tastiness, why you throw in some bread and fry it in butter of course. The crunch of the bread is the perfect combination paired with the juicy tomatoes, sweet basil and salty mozzarella.

Ingredients

1 ball of Mozzarella sliced

1 tomato

6 basil leaves

1/2 an avocado

1 fresh baguette

A drizzle of olive oil

A drizzle of balsamic vinegar

A pinch of salt & pepper

A knob of butter

Directions

1. Slice your tomatoes and then put them in a bowl with a little olive oil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and and some salt and pepper and leave them to marinate for 5-10 minutes. Doing this turns tomatoes from okay into amazing. Always do this when you make salads!

2. Slice the mozzarella and avocado too, and set aside. Then take your lovely bread and slice it in half. Then build your sandwich, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, then avocado and press the bread down to make sure it’s sealed.

3. Put the knob of butter in a frying pan and put it on a low heat. Try and keep the butter in the middle then put your sandwich on top of it. Fry for a few minutes making sure it doesn’t burn. After a few minutes flip the sandwich over and do the other side. You may want to add more butter if the pan is a little dry. Cook for another few minutes until the sandwich is golden brown on both sides and the cheese has melted a little in the middle. Then serve and enjoy. I recommend making two as you will definitely want to eat another one!

Coronation chicken, a blast from the past and a sandwich filling invented many years ago to celebrate our dear old queen Lizzy. An old favourite, it’s been years since I’ve eaten this. But after eating all my favourite salads far too often lately I figured I was in need of a change. There are a million ways you can make this that run from quick and easy like mine, to incredibly complex and time consuming. Mine is just a simple version, ain’t nobody got time for hours in the kitchen in this heat. Make a big batch up and throw it into salad, sandwiches, and wraps. Or take it to a barbecue and wow your friends with this tasty classic dish.

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts shredded (or a similar amount of cooked chicken)

10 tablespoons of mayonnaise

2 tablespoons of raisins

1 small handful frozen mango (fresh is fine too, just chop it into chunks)

5 dried apricots

2 teaspoons of curry powder

1 tablespoon of sliced almonds

1/2 a teaspoon of celery salt

1/2 a teaspoon of pepper

Directions

1. Blend your mango to make a purée.   Then stir in the mango purée to the mayonnaise. If you have it then you could use mango chutney which would give you a much better flavour.

2. Add the curry powder to the mayonnaise. It’s really up to you and how strong your curry powder is for how much you use. So keep adding a little at a time until you reach the desired taste. Then add the salt and black pepper.

3. Mix the sauce with your shredded chicken. Then chop the apricots and stir in along with the raisins. Serve in your favourite bread or on a bed of salad.

Yesterday was a glorious sunny day and we paid a visit to Sinsa to have a gander at The Great British Festival that was happening. After a stroll, a coffee and a spot of shopping we fancied a bit of lunch and stopped at this place. A sandwich and a table in the sun was far too much for Fat Girl to resist.

After having a look at what everyone else was eating I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist one of their lovely looking sandwiches. They also had a number of salads for the carb conscious. The Fat Boyfriend opted for the Tender beef (9,800). Pan seared beef marinated in a special steak sauce with mozzarella. This was a really nice steak sandwich. The beef was very tender and not at all chewy like you find in far too many steak sandwiches. The sauce on the beef was also really tasty. The bread they used was fantastic, I’m not 100% sure but I believe they make it in house as they have various bread items for sale. The sandwich also came with a small side salad. A pretty damn good lunch for under 10,000.

I was torn between the Grilled Chicken and the Vegetarian. In the end I opted for the Grilled Chicken (9,300) as I was won over by the chicken marinated in olive oil and rosemary. The bread was once again fantastic, the salad fresh and just the right amount of dressing. However the sandwich just lacked in flavour. I was suffering from a cold so my taste buds were not at their finest, but even so, it just needed something to kick it up a little. Perhaps a bit more seasoning or a more flavourful dressing or sauce. Ratio wise it was great, so perhaps next time I will try the Chicken Taco Sandwich or Vegetarian.

Although it’s not the best sandwich I’ve ever had, it’s still a very cute spot to grab a fresh and tasty lunch and I would definitely come again. It’s no Deli Heinzburg which is just up the street but it’s also much cheaper and had outdoor seating if the Deli queues are too long.

Buccella is located at Sinsa-dong 534-22. To get there take a train to Sinsa station (line 3). Come out of exit 8 and walk straight until you get to Tous Le Jours and make a left. Keep walking straight along that road. It is tucked away on one of the little side alleys on the left about halfway down Garosugil.

Whilst The Fat Boyfriend supped down a pint of John Smiths, we mulled over where to eat dinner. As a food reviewer choosing where to go for dinner is no easy task. We discussed various options at length when I happened to look out the window to see that it was bucketing it down with rain. “Why don’t we just eat here?” We both said in unison. The waiter was summoned and a menu swiftly arrived.

After a quick peruse of their standard pub fare, I opted for a chicken and bacon sandwich (12,900.) Chicken tenders, bacon, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing all housed in a ciabatta bun. It also came with fries (hurrah) and I ordered extra ranch dressing on the side. A good sandwich that was much nicer than I had anticipated.

The Fat Boyfriend went for the Bangers & Mash (11,900.) But when it arrived he soon had half stolen. I’m generally not much of a fan of bangers and mash, but figured I would give it a try as it looked so nice. And oh my it was! The two herby sausages were so juicy and full of flavour. The mash was lovely, the green beans tasty, and the gravy was perfection. The wholegrain mustard on the side was just the thing to seal the deal. I can’t believe I almost missed out on trying this fabulous sausage and mash potato goodness. Next time you stop by for a drink or three, be sure to order yourself up a plate.

Dillinger’s is located at 72-32, Itaewon 1 -dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (line 6) and come out of exit 4. Walk straight for about 150 meters, Dillinger’s is on the left just opposite ABC Mart on the 2nd floor. For more info you can check out their facebook page or call them on 02-793-7232.

Last week we tried Marakech Night’s new sandwich place. The original restaurant is still open but they have added another string to their bow. Hidden just in the alleyway where Wolfhound is, it serves up delicious Moroccan food in a small friendly environment.

Thanks to the wonderful people at Casablanca, I am crazy about Moroccan sandwiches so I could barely wait to try the offering from Marakech Night. They have various other Moroccan dishes on the menu too, which, for the size of the place, is actually quite varied.  They have all the favourites on there, kebabs, hummus, pita, baba ganoush, falafel so there are plenty of options for the veggies and vegans. However, it was the sandwiches that I was interested in.

We ordered up one Panachi (chicken sandwich with fries 7,000).  The bread was tasty and the filling was quite satisfying. A slightly different take on the Moroccan sandwich than the one at Casablanca, but not in a bad way.  It was a good sandwich filled with the delicious potatoes which were covered in batter, cheese, meat, salad , and lots of sauce.

We also ordered a Moroccan beef sandwich (5,000), it would have been churlish not to. The beef was thinly shredded, a bit like bulgogi, and the filling was the same as the chicken one. All in all a very hearty sandwich for such a cheap price.

This is the perfect restaurant for a quick bite or some late night eats after way to many drinks. I’d say these lovely sandwiches would definitely go a long way to curing a hangover! Marakech Night 2 is located in Itaewon. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (line 6) Come out of exit 4 and turn left,(you may have to come back on yourself slightly). Walk straight past Geckos and the bank, and take the first right. Walk straight down the road, past the supermarket and the wolfhound. Marakech Night 2 is on the left at the end of the road.

This is a just little something I whipped up last week to use up some avocados and fresh mozzarella I had neglected to use. Yes I know, how on earth could I forget that I possessed two such wonderful ingredients. I have no idea how it happened, I guess it was just a very busy week and I kept putting off using them so I could make something special. With the mozzarella I whipped up a fabulous capressa salad to make use of my lovely basil before it dies but I still had tonnes left. I figured i could make a gourmet grilled cheese and it was poetry on a plate. I will certainly be making these again after my next Costco run.

Makes 1 sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices of bread

1/2 an avocado

4 slices of tomato

4 slices of mozzarella

4 basil leaves

A knob of butter for frying

Directions

Mash the avocado and spread onto one half of the bread, Arrange the mozzarella on top and then add the basil leaves. Top with the tomatoes and another slice of bread. Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan on a low heat and place the sandwich on top. Cook for a couple of minutes until the bottom has browned and the cheese has started to melt. Flip the sandwich over and cook the other side, you may wish to add more butter. When the sandwich is done, remove and devour, whilst giving yourself props for making such a bitching sandwich.

Bonny’s

First stop was Bonny’s Pizzeria and self service bar. Here we tried the kimchi cult pizza. I have always given this one a miss in the past ,as I am not really a fan of kimchi. However I thought it would be churlish not to try it and it was actually quite tasty. I much prefer kimchi when it is hot, rather than cold, throw in some cheese and a pizza dough and it’s actually pretty damn manageable. Our drinks special here was the Russian beer, an awesome accompaniment to kimchi  Not bad at all.

Indigos

Or second stop of the day was Indigo’s. Here we got to try my absolute favourite sandwich, the basil pesto chicken. It was totally amazing and as yummy as always. Glad a few others got to try it too. We also tried the tomato soup. A lovely homemade one, which would just be ideal on a cold night.

Phillies

If we were to eat anything here, it has to be the Philly cheese steak. Although more bulgogi than steak ,it was still rather tasty. We also tried the vegetable platter with ranch dip that went down a storm. Even with the hard to please Jonah and Katy. Who said kids don’t like vegetables?

Ditori

Last stop on this week’s tour was Ditori. Here we tried Korean potato pancakes. They were wonderfully tasty, and  it was great for me to try something new. We also indulged in their fabulous makgeolli range. Co-leader Joyce recommended the champagne makgeoli, which really does have a resemblance to champagne. Locally made it’s for those that like the finer things in life but cant afford them. We also tried the black bean makgeolli too, which again I was surprised I liked too, the perfect end to the tour.

The Itaewon foodie crawls are a weekly event hosted by Chip’s Maps with a little help from yours truly. If you are interested in attending one of the future foodie crawls, please check out the facebook page for more details and information on how to sign up. Hope to see you at the next one!