Kimchi. Galbi. Bulgogi. Burgers. Wait...what? That's right. Believe it or not, Seoul is home to a fair few amazing burgers. Being home to a large American military presence and having a constant influx of Korean-Americans or Koreans who have spent a good amount of time in the United States, there is a healthy supply and demand of high quality beef burgers in Seoul. In this series of posts, I'll highlight some of the best beef burgers the city has to offer.
Rye Post, a never-fail sandwich shop in the heart of Itaewon, is home to several fantastic burgers. Rye Post started as a sandwich shop a few years back and earned its stripes for making excellent sandwiches in a city that is still a bit of a sandwich desert. Smart choices abound on their menu, including their chicken "burgers"and their cheesesteaks, so one would be forgiven for not giving much thought to their burger offerings. However, their 버거스 shine like few others.
When Rye Post first started offering beef burgers, they were apart of the "bigger is better" of using larger, thicker patties. However, the restaurant has evolved its take to ultimate burger form: a more smashed patty style, less meatloafy and much crunchier with a better contrast between the gooey cheese and Maillard reaction-induced basak-basak bits (which you can see hiding just next to the abundant cheese).
Rye Post's standout burger is their simple double cheeseburger. Two patties with alternating swiss and cheddar cheeses on an immaculate black-and-white-studded sesame seed bun. Nothing but meat, cheese, and bread; anything else is academic. To top it all off, the burger is incredibly cheap (especially by Seoul standards). 6,000 won (roughly $5.50) for the sandwich which, with a coke, is an unbeatable snack. Add fries for a few thousand won extra.
Rye Post is located at 164-1, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04391.