Culinary Class Wars burger spot in Anguk: smoky Utopia set at Jackjack

What is Jackjack Anguk like?

Jackjack Anguk (잭잭 안국점) is a burger restaurant at 49-4 Yulgok-ro, Units 101 and 201, Jongno-gu, Seoul. I ended up going because a Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) poster caught my eye.

Places that get on TV often enjoy a short burst of buzz and then fade, but Jackjack Anguk is genuinely delicious, so I think its popularity will last. I didn't watch Culinary Class Wars, so I don't really know the story or what happened on the show, but it seems Jackjack's owner chef wore a chick mask and appeared as "Jjaekjjaegi" (짹짹이).

Which Jackjack burger was on Culinary Class Wars?

The Jackjack burger from the show seems to be one called "Jack the Mac." I didn't know when I ordered and only spotted it afterwards, so I'm bummed, and next time I'll try Jack the Mac.

It looks like a combo of Nashville chicken (thigh), a mac and cheese croquette, pickles and spicy truffle basil, and just from the fillings it sounds so good.

How to get to Jackjack Anguk

Jackjack Anguk is a stone's throw from Anguk Station.

As soon as you step into the alley, you'll spot the JACK JACK sign way at the far end.

Jackjack says it sells happiness instead of burgers, and honestly, you do get happy as you eat.

Go in through the black iron gate and up half a flight of stairs, and the Jackjack entrance is right there on your right.

Inside Jackjack Anguk: interior and seating

The inside of Jackjack Anguk has a hip, young vibe that really pops.

The 1st floor has bar tables, and the 2nd floor has 2-person seats and bar tables. The 1st floor is mostly takeout pickup customers, while dine-in guests head up to the 2nd floor.

Jackjack menu and how to order

As a proper burger place, Jackjack has a pretty wide menu with an American-style burger feel. The ingredient combos can't go wrong, and the mouthwatering smoky patty goes really well with the fresh, crunchy, cool veggies.

You order at the kiosk, and it has more options than the menu registered on Naver. Everything is cooked to order, so the burger tastes even better right when it comes out. Order at the kiosk when you arrive! If you already know what you want and want a quick pickup, place a Naver takeout order before you go.

Jackjack Utopia set: what's in it and how it tastes

I ordered the Utopia set at Jackjack Anguk, and the set is seriously well stocked.

The burger is quite big, and the fries come heavily coated in seasoning, with ketchup, extra sauce and one canned drink, so it's super filling.

• 120g beef patty
• Bacon
• Cheddar cheese
• Green lettuce
• Tomato
• Pickles
• Chipotle mayo sauce

That's the Utopia Burger's combination. With the chipotle mayo, it has a strongly Mexican-style feel, and it tasted like the burgers I used to eat a lot in the US, but special.

It was freshly made, so it was just so good. The patty juices were insane and the veggies were insanely fresh.

The special taste of a handmade burger, which factory-style burgers can't compare with, makes me want to come back again and again and again.

It's so stuffed with big ingredients that it's hard to even take a bite, so I ate hard, wiping the sauce from around my mouth as I went.

Every single ingredient is so delicious, and the thick, rich sauce goes with it perfectly.

There were mushrooms inside too, and wow, they were cooked so well. They were full of smoky flavor, like eating something grilled on a hot plate.

How were Jackjack's seasoned fries?

The seasoned fries in the Jackjack Utopia set really must be eaten together with the burger. They're good on their own, but together they're even more, more, more delicious.

The fries weren't soggy either, and they were so good.

You get ketchup, but they also give you extra sauce, packed to the brim of the sauce cup, so I dipped away without holding back, and wow, so good.

I don't really like spices, so I usually skip strongly flavored seasoning, but Jackjack's version was tasty and I finished them all.

Is a Jackjack burger enough for a full meal?

A Jackjack burger is plenty for a meal. Burgers usually aren't big, so people often eat them as a light snack, but after finishing one Utopia set I was really, really full.

When I went, it was half dine-in and half takeout customers, and most seemed to be couples. That means it works as a date spot too, right? There's plenty to do around Anguk Station for a date, so if you want a tasty burger, give Jackjack Anguk a try!