Apple Bacon

Sometimes it’s hard to sneak out for a proper sandwich when you’re travelling with friends, but I managed to squeeze in one before leaving Korea—and I’m so glad I did. I had my fair share of salt bread and bagels on the trip (some real gems), but this was the only full-on sandwich I managed to get my hands on.

This one came from Goatt Deli in Jongno, Seoul, tucked away in a quiet area surrounded by traditional hanok houses. There were 26 people ahead of me in the queue—you grab a ticket from the kiosk and can wander around while you wait. But since the shop’s pretty small, it still took over an hour before I could get in. As you’d expect in South Korea, the interior was top notch—clean and polished with a chill, old-school rustic vibe that felt both curated and relaxed.

The sandwich itself was pretty great. The smoked bacon was killer—ultra thick-cut, juicy, and packed with flavour. The apple compote brought a sweet, jammy contrast that paired beautifully with the savouriness of the meat. I think there were chopped nuts too—maybe almond or walnut—adding a little crunch and depth. The mozzarella was soft and mild, tying everything together, and the sriracha mayo (I think?) added just the right spicy kick to lift the richness. The rye bread was decent—not mind-blowing—but soft and sturdy enough to hold everything without falling apart.

They handed out plastic gloves for eating (which everyone else wore), but not me. Felt a little barbaric going in bare-handed, but hey—it felt like the proper way to eat it.

All up, a sandwich that’s quite different to what you’d get back home, but it totally worked—and I really, really enjoyed it.