Seocho Station brunch takeout: four-cheese Patata at Focaccia Cucina

I picked up brunch to go from Focaccia Cucina, a Seocho Station focaccia sandwich spot known for its loyal regulars.

What is a focaccia sandwich?

Focaccia refers to a classic style of Italian flatbread. It's made with flour and yeast, baked flat, and known for its chewy texture. Bread like that can't help but make a good sandwich!

Focaccia sandwiches here come loaded with basil pesto sauce, tomato, arugula, ham, cheese and other ingredients. The crust is crispy while the inside stays chewy.

Focaccia Cucina is a dedicated focaccia sandwich shop with a wide range of menu items — popular enough in Seocho-dong that ingredients sometimes run out by late afternoon.

Focaccia Cucina location and hours near Seocho Station

Focaccia Cucina sits near Seocho Station Exit 3, right across from Lotte Super.

• Address) 51 Banpo-daero 21-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, South Korea
• Hours) 07:00–16:00
• Closed on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month

This Seocho Station sandwich favorite is run by an Italian cuisine chef with 30 years of experience.

The name Focaccia Cucina literally means 'the kitchen that bakes focaccia bread' in Italian.

They bake bread fresh every day using dough that's been aged at low temperature for 18 hours! With good ingredients and daily baking, you really get that signature crispy-yet-chewy focaccia texture.

Inside Focaccia Cucina

Step inside and you find a small but cozy space, full of warm atmosphere.

It's not a big space, but the open-kitchen style makes it bright, lively, and comfortable enough to enjoy a relaxed brunch.

Focaccia Cucina menu and prices

Caesar sandwich, ₩6,500 — egg salad with Caesar dressing and arugula.

Melanzane focaccia sandwich, ₩7,500 — eggplant and four cheeses, with a great combo of tomato sauce and basil pesto.

Patata sandwich, ₩8,000 — potato with gorgonzola, mozzarella, cheddar and grana padano.

Pollo sandwich, ₩9,000 — chicken breast and arugula.

Why the focaccia is black: squid ink

Notice the black color of the bread in the focaccia sandwiches — that's from squid ink mixed into the dough! Baked fresh every dawn through low-temperature fermentation, it digests easily, and since there's no sugar or butter, both kids and adults can enjoy it. Extra virgin olive oil goes in too, giving it a fresh, clean taste rather than anything heavy that gets old fast.

The sugar-free granola made with seven kinds of nuts was also a popular item.

Drinks include cashew chickpea latte and fresh banana golden latte. They also sell handmade peanut butter and basil pesto sauce.

The four-cheese Patata sandwich, 8,000 won to go

I got the Patata to go — packed with cheese, it's just right for Seocho Station brunch.

Gorgonzola, mozzarella, cheddar and grana padano, all piled in — the aroma and flavor of the cheese really come through. The focaccia bread itself is soft, chewy and fluffy, pairing well with the fillings. In short, it's a healthy, fresh-tasting sandwich. It's a shame this sandwich shop is only in Seocho — every neighborhood needs one.

Handmade basil pesto to take home

I also picked up the basil pesto sauce, handy for brunch at home. Being handmade, the basil flavor is the real deal! Great tossed with salad, or mixed into pasta. It's a must-buy item at Focaccia Cucina.

Fresh ingredients, great taste — a sandwich shop I'll definitely come back to!