Burger 4.5 (버거 4.5)

Burger 4.5

If you come out of exit 8 in Hongdae, turn right, and walk until you reach the roundabout you'll spot a tiny brown building, plain white letters. This little burger joint, known simply as Burger 4.5, serves up a very small, but tasty menu, specializing in delicious and beautiful burgers.

The menu

The space inside is very small. Three tables, each seating four, can make Burger 4.5 a crowded place, but if you go in the middle of the day, like my friends and I did, you'll have no problems nabbing a spot to sit and mow down.

Offering only four various types of burgers (three when I went, as the Caesar No.5 was sold out), it won't take you long to make your choice.

The New Standard, burger number one, is your typical cheeseburger. Served on a soft, tasty bun with your standard (see what they did there?) lettuce, tomato, onion cucumber and cheese, burger number one is a safe and solid bet to kill your hunger.

The New Standard

If you prefer something a little less... standard, burger number three, the Red Rocket Burger, might just be your jam. With rucola, onion and a special spicy sauce that is extremely flavorful, the Red Rocket is my suggestion. Add some fries, either regular or crispy (which simply means seasoned), and you've got yourself a meal.

Red Rocket Burger

Crispy (Seasoned fries)

The burgers come in two sizes, but spend the extra ₩500 for little bigger patty. You can throw on a little bacon, or cheese for a little extra as well. If you're thirsty, they've got cans of soda or nice foreign brews.

With so many burger joints in Hongdae, what stands out about Burger 4.5 is they small, but well crafted menu. As you'd expect from a little place like this in Hongdae, it's hip, cool, and they've got Biggie blaring on their iPod radio. It well priced, the guy making your burgers is friendly and speaks English, and damn is it tasty.

Burger 4.5
마포구 서교동 330-18, 서울특별시

Brooklyn, The Burger Joint

Tucked away in Seorae Mauel, also known as Seoul's French Village, are the best burgers in all of Seoul. Brooklyn, The Burger Joint is in amongst a very residential area of the French Village, and unless you're looking for it, you probably won't stumble upon it. But I must say, this is defiantly a place you'll want to hunt down.

There's usually a little bit of a wait, not too long the times I've been, but you'll want to get your name down on the wait list outside. The restaurant is quite small, only seating a little over twenty five people. The hip hop music being played is also a nice touch of ambiance.

 

Start off with a milkshake. These are some of the best milkshakes in all of Korea, maybe in all of Asia. The Nutella with Burnt Marshmallow Shake will forever make your crave it, and the Mint Chocolate Chip Shake will make you droll. The Oreo Shakes also come highly recommended.

Nutella and Burnt Marshmallow

Mint Chocolate Chip

When it comes to burgers, every choice is a good choice. There's the C.R.E.A.M. (Cheese Rules Everything Around Meat) Burger, represent, with sharp cheddar, bacon and horseradish mayo; The George Crum, topped with potato chips, American cheese, tomato and onion; and my personal favorite the Cheese Skirt Burger, a huge seven ounce meaty patty with lettuce, tomato and onion on top and a grilled mild cheddar skirt.

C.R.E.A.M. Burger

George Crum

George Crum

Cheese Skirt

Cheese Skirt

For an extra ₩5,000, make it a meal adding fries and a soda. They have a great collection of foreign sodas including Dad's Root Beer, which is real hard to come upon on South Korea.

Delicious Dad's Root Beer

Brooklyn, The Burger Joint has the best burgers in Seoul. Take a trip to the French Village, wonder through the back streets and get your name on the list for one of the best burgers you'll ever eat. A truly good burger has to be sought out in Seoul, and believe me, this place is wort seeking out.

Menu

Address: 551-32 Banpo-dong  Seocho-gu, Seoul, phone# 02-533-7180

Jacoby's Burger

Located west of Iteawon in Seoul's Haebangchon area, Jacoby's Burger has some of the largest burgers in all of Seoul.

At Jacoby's it's all about making your own burger, to your own mouthwatering specifications. You choose everything: choice of bun, cheese, patty cooked to your liking and of course toppings. However they do have set burgers including bacon cheeseburgers and mushroom Swiss. They also provide a nice basket of condiments at your table so you can add just the right amount of mayo, mustard or barbecue sauce.

Jacoby's is also known around Seoul for their 'Fresco Burger'. A Goliath of burgers, stacked high with massive onion rings and mozzarella cheese. It'll easily be one of the tallest burgers you'll have ever laid eyes on!

I elected to go the route of the Mushroom Swiss burger made to order on a white bun with a garlic seasoned patty, grilled onions and bacon (of course). This along with an order of the garlic fries, which are more realistically garlic sliced potatoes rather than 'fries' and a Jacoby Lemonade, that could easily satisfy the thirst of two.

All in all, Jacoby's Burger is excellent. Their burgers will leave you absolutely stuffed and gastronomically satisfied. You'll be planing your next visit even before you leave. Some have complained about the speed of the service, but this was a problem I didn't encounter. It all just depends on when you go.

45-6 Yongsan-dong 2-ga, Yongsan-gu (용산구 용산동2 46-6); +82 2 3785 0433; daily, 11a.m. - midnight