Fried kimchi, bacon, mayo, spring onions, cos, pickled onion & fried shallots on focaccia with a side of house-made hot sauce

I’m back in Sydney! And if we’re strictly talking sandwiches, I’m kinda happy to be back. If there’s one thing I can definitely say we do better than the Kiwis, it’s sandwiches 🙊 (More than happy to be proven wrong though—if you’ve got a solid recommendation, let me know! The hike I did was so stunning, I’d go back just for that).

Anyway, back to sandwiches. I stumbled upon Keens today, a new-ish spot in Rosebery that opened about two months ago. They’ve got a small but solid lineup of sandwiches, and today, I was in the mood for something with an Asian twist—so the kimchi bacon it was.

This sandwich was a tasty one. The fried kimchi brought a savoury tang that paired nicely with the juicy bacon. The pickled onions and spring onions added a fresh, sharp contrast, while the fried shallots gave it a little crunch. The mayo tied everything together, making each bite rich but not overwhelming. The focaccia was on the softer, lighter side, which worked well with the bold flavours.

If I had to nitpick, it’d be the hot sauce (which I added for an extra $). It came in a side cup, and I wasn’t sure whether to pour it on or dip—it was also quite runny, so things got messy fast. As much as I love hot sauce, I’d probably skip it next time. Overall, a great little spot. I dig it.