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| A spread of food offered at The Royal Food & Drink / Courtesy of Shuttle Delivery |
By Mark Boesch
Brunch, a delicious mashup of breakfast and lunch, is a cherished dining ritual that personifies leisure and relaxation. The tradition of brunch was first popularized in late 19th-century England as a reaction to the shifting social dynamics of urban life. It became popular among the affluent as a means to mix the opulent elements of both meals and enjoy a more leisurely start to the day.
Like any major city, Seoul has many fine brunch options, but among my favorites is The Royal Food & Drink in the Haebangchon neighborhood of Yongsan District, a cozy cafe located high up on the slope north of the five-way intersection. Since 2015, owners Bomi and Pat have been serving a fantastic all-day brunch menu, along with a stellar assortment of coffee, smoothies and drinks, on their outdoor terrace and a rooftop that offers spectacular views of western Seoul's cityscape and Mount Nam.
The menu at The Royal has something for every kind of brunch enthusiast. They serve hearty breakfast mains, bagels and sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies, even a remarkable lineup of vegan dishes. The menu was developed entirely in-house and contains fresh, high-quality ingredients with generous portions for reasonable prices.
If you are a brunch traditionalist, The Royal's Breakfast is appropriately titled ― it's a brunch befitting royalty. It's served with bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, half a grilled tomato, mushrooms and whole wheat toast. The Salmon Avo Plate, their most popular brunch selection, is stacked with smoked salmon, avocado, chickpeas, seeds, egg and two slices of whole grain toast ― it's an excellent way to celebrate the weekend.
If you are more the breakfast sandwich type, The Royal has some excellent options. They serve fresh-baked bagel sandwiches, and some really tasty chicken sandwiches on grain ciabatta bread. The classic Breakfast Bagel, served with egg, bacon, tomato, mustard and cheddar cheese, is one of their best sellers. The Salmon Bagel, served toasted and warm, is stuffed with cream cheese, smoked salmon, onions, sprouts and capers ― couple it with a hot coffee and you'll be set up for the perfect brunch.
If lunch is more your speed, they serve a Chicken Basil Pesto Sandwich and a Chicken Hummus Sandwich, with homemade hummus. Both sandwiches are incredibly delicious and filling.
The Royal also has a lineup of some really fantastic vegan options, and they produce many of their vegan ingredients on-premises. They serve homemade soy yogurt topped with their homemade vegan granola, coconut flakes, cacao nips, banana and berries. Some other vegan options on the menu include the Veggie Hummus Sandwich and the Tempeh Hummus Sandwich, both served on vegan ciabatta bread. To top it all off, don't sleep on the vegan Walnut Brownies.
The Royal Food & Drink is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Thursday. If you're in the greater Yongsan area of central Seoul, you can skip the queue, pay online and place pickup or delivery orders using the Shuttle app or by visiting shuttledelivery.co.kr.
Mark Boesch is co-founder and chief marketing officer of Shuttle Delivery.
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