Seocho brunch restaurant for granola salad: Focaccia Cucina

My husband and I were looking for a light brunch spot for breakfast-slash-lunch when we came across Focaccia Cucina.

These days sandwiches come in every kind of ingredient and combination, but Focaccia Cucina is an Italian sandwich specialist that uses good ingredients generously, letting their natural flavors shine.

From sandwiches to salad to drinks, after trying everything myself, this felt less like a place to grab a quick bite and more like a place where you can have both taste and health together.

If you're looking for a Seocho sandwich spot and want to enjoy brunch at the same time, I think you'll really like this one 💗

Where is Focaccia Cucina and what are its hours?

• 📍 Focaccia Cucina
• 🧭 51 Banpo-daero 21-gil, 1F, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 07:00–16:00
• ⭐️ Closed every Monday
• 🅿️ Parking available

Is parking easy at Focaccia Cucina?

Focaccia Cucina is on the 1st floor, so it was easy to find, and there were parking spaces set up on both sides of the store.

Since we came by car, parking was handled easily right off the bat!

Walking inside, the first things that caught my eye were the clean white-toned space and the fully open kitchen. The smell of fresh bread drifted out from the outside, and I was already getting hungry before even stepping in.

Overall it was bright and clean but with cute little details scattered around, giving it an atmosphere well suited to enjoying brunch.

Inside Focaccia Cucina: a tidy space the owner clearly cares for

Sitting down and taking a slow look around, I could feel how much care and attention the owner puts into managing the space.

Olive oil, canned tomatoes, various syrups and vinegars, spices — all the ingredients used in Italian cooking were beautifully displayed in the open space.

What impressed me most was that even with so many ingredients on display, there wasn't a speck of dust — it was spotless.

The seats were comfortable too, and next to where we sat there was even a basket for storing bags and belongings!

While we waited for the food, the staff kindly and thoroughly explained the menu, so we learned what ingredients were used and how the dishes were made, which naturally raised our expectations.

The brunch menu we ordered at Focaccia Cucina

✨ Today's pick ✨

• Pollo sandwich
• Genovese basil pesto pizza
• Granola salad
• Cashew chickpea latte

We were surprised that everything came out at once, and in generous portions!

The squid ink bread used in the sandwich had a really great texture. Press it with your hand and it sinks softly, then bounces right back up!

It's soft yet sturdy enough to hold the fillings well, so it paired nicely with the ingredients inside.

Pollo sandwich with 20-hour aged chicken breast

The first thing we tried was the Pollo sandwich.

It's packed with 20-hour aged chicken breast and plenty of fresh arugula. Chicken breast usually brings to mind a dry texture, but this one was moist and tender — genuinely delicious.

The sauce and fresh vegetables blended well too, making it a filling meal without being heavy.

You can tell at a glance how generous they are with the fillings — it's the first thing I'd recommend to anyone looking for a good sandwich in Seocho.

Genovese basil pesto pizza, full of fresh basil

The Genovese is a sandwich-style pizza made with basil pesto.

Fragrant basil pesto with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese, plus plenty of arugula on top — the aroma and flavor were incredibly rich in just one bite.

It's like holding a pizza in your hand and eating it casually, but it felt much lighter and cleaner than a typical pizza!

If you like basil pesto, this is especially worth recommending. It's also a perfect pick if you're torn between sandwich and pizza!

Granola salad loaded with seven handmade nuts

And then there was the granola salad, which I liked even more than expected.

It's piled generously with fresh arugula, and apparently uses a whopping seven kinds of nuts.

The staff explained that the nuts are handmade in-house too — each one was big and nutty, giving the salad a satisfying crunch throughout. On top, pecorino cheese is scattered like snow, along with olive oil, giving it a fairly rich flavor overall.

What I liked was that it didn't stop at just being a 'healthy salad.' You know how some people say they hate healthy food that doesn't taste good? Here, they use healthy ingredients but the flavor is still rich and full, striking a really good balance between taste and health.

Cashew chickpea latte, a drink with no coffee in it

The cashew chickpea latte we ordered to drink was also quite unique. Even though the name includes 'latte,' it doesn't actually contain any coffee!

It's made with cashews and mild chickpeas, and apparently has no added sugar — a healthy drink. Tasting it myself, it was very rich and nutty. If you normally like strong nut-based drinks, you can enjoy it as is, and if it feels a bit too rich, you could add soy milk or pair it with your regular coffee.

It's a different kind of drink if you're expecting a typical latte, so it's good to know that going in.

A Seocho brunch restaurant the neighborhood regulars keep returning to

A little while after we first walked in, customers started coming in all at once. I noticed several greeting the owner naturally, which gave me the sense that this is a place with plenty of steady regulars from the neighborhood.

Not just the food — the owner was genuinely kind, and hearing them explain the ingredients and menu, you could feel their philosophy and pride in the food.

There was refreshing roasted barley tea available, and even the cups were cute. The music suited the space well, and there was a nice spot by the mirror for photos, so it was fun looking around the space as much as the food.

Check before you visit Focaccia Cucina

• ✔️ Focaccia Cucina is closed on Mondays.
• ✔️ If you're planning a group order, you need to call and reserve a week in advance!

Looking for healthy, flavorful brunch in Seocho?

You know those days when you want to eat something delicious but a heavy or overly rich meal feels like too much? Focaccia Cucina is the place that comes to mind on days like that.

What I liked most was that instead of pushing 'healthy' as the whole selling point, the food is healthy and genuinely delicious. We visited for breakfast-slash-lunch and it was satisfying as a brunch spot — I think I'll think of it again whenever I want a meal that's filling but not too heavy.

If you're looking for a good sandwich place in Seocho, especially Italian sandwiches made with good ingredients and healthy brunch, I'd recommend Focaccia Cucina.