Banh mi brunch shop near Jamsil Station: hot ube latte, Town Sandwich

A brunch spot near Jamsil Station for awkward in-between hours

I often feel more comfortable at a sandwich shop where the combos are set and come out neat, rather than a Subway where I have to pick every single thing myself.

It's located north of Jamsil Station, in an area full of office buildings.

It was an awkward time for a proper meal, so I went looking for brunch and ended up at Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch. It's close to Jamsil Station, so it's easy to get to, and it sells a variety of brunch dishes centered on sandwiches and banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches).

As a sandwich shop should, it makes each order one by one as it comes in, so it takes a little time but the ingredients stay fresh. It's a good place in Jamsil for a light meal or a meal with a coffee, and delivery orders are plentiful: three went out while I was waiting.

Menu and set orders

Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch offers discounts on some set menus, so I'd recommend ordering a set if you can.

The menu board covers not just sandwiches but banh mi, jambon-beurre (ham and butter baguette sandwiches), soup and drinks, so you could visit several times and still have something new to try.

And in the end, every item has a photo next to it.

This time I ordered the Town Sandwich, the grilled chicken banh mi and an ube latte. And yes, Toss Pay works too!

The owner must be into this kind of event, because they run a prize draw, and the prizes are pretty decent, so join in when you order a sandwich.

I didn't order a cookie, but looking at how they look, maybe I should have.

Free sriracha sauce and the atmosphere inside

What I liked about eating in at Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch is that sriracha sauce comes as standard. You can add all sorts of toppings on top of the default build, but just a drizzle of sriracha turns it into a nicely balanced sriracha sandwich.

The shop is bright and tidy overall. The tables are spaced sensibly, and the long table along the wall is easy to use even if you come alone. It also looks good for brunch with a friend or for takeout.

Also join the Naver receipt review event, which gives you a free iced tea.

Ube latte: better hot than iced

The food came out. Personally, I think the ube latte suits a hot cup better than an iced one.

The purple color catches your eye first, and it photographs beautifully. The taste wasn't overly sweet, as I'd feared: the mild, red-bean-like sweetness that ube (purple yam) is known for blended well with the nuttiness of the milk.

It's an easy choice even for people who can't drink coffee, and it paired well with the plain, simple sandwich. It also works as a dessert-style drink.

Town Sandwich: a basic menu item that doesn't skimp on veggies

A solid base of ingredients, from lettuce to tomato: that's the Town Sandwich.

It's the most basic build, but that's exactly why I was so satisfied. The bread was toasted, with a nice crispness and a matte texture, and the ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce were well balanced. They don't skimp on the vegetables, so the crunch keeps coming with every bite. The sauce isn't overdone either, so you taste each ingredient naturally, and since it doesn't lean salty or sweet, I finished it without any trouble. BLT really is the best (even though this is ham, not bacon).

It looks ordinary, but the filling is generous and it was more filling than I expected. It's less a light sandwich and more a full meal. When a place does its basic menu item well, you start looking forward to the rest of the menu, and the Town Sandwich felt exactly like that.

How was the grilled chicken banh mi?

The grilled chicken banh mi has a different charm from the sandwich. The baguette is crisp outside but not too tough, so it's easy to eat, and it's generously stuffed with grilled chicken. The chicken was grilled moist, with the juices intact, and the pickled vegetables in the middle add a fresh tang that cuts through the richness. Thanks to that bright banh mi flavor I never got tired of it, and the ratio of chicken to vegetables was just right.

Since it's made to order, there was no water leaking from the vegetables and no soggy bread at all. Banh mi is a dish where the texture changes a lot after just a little while, so eating it freshly made is definitely better.

As I said earlier, adding the sriracha sauce gives it a different twist, so you can keep eating.

Wrapping up

Overall, I'd say Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch is a sandwich shop that focuses on fresh ingredients and solid basics rather than flashy combinations. Because everything is made to order, the bread and vegetables were in great condition, and both the sandwich and the banh mi didn't skimp on fillings for the price, making for a hearty meal. It has the vibe of a brunch café and the fullness of a proper meal, so if you're looking for a simple lunch, brunch or takeout in Jamsil, you'll likely be quite satisfied.