Hawaiian burgers near COEX at Bas Burger, a Gangnam restaurant

Bas Burger has proven its solid standing in the handmade burger scene. The tasty patties, unlimited potato chips, and draft beer are all great.

A handmade burger near Samseong Station, walked from COEX

The day I went to COEX for an exhibition and clocked 25,000 steps... I was craving a good burger near Samseong Station, so I headed to Bas Burger Samseong Station Branch. It was only a 15-minute walk from COEX.

Bas Burger has a different atmosphere and menu from Korea-adapted burger staples like McDonald's and Lotteria. Yet its prices feel less intimidating than those at many dedicated handmade burger spots. Another plus is being able to enjoy draft beer and potato chips in a relaxed setting. It had the kind of atmosphere where you could have a meal, or settle in for beer and snacks too. And the burgers? Need I even say it~

Hawaiian burger set and chili mozzarella cheese bar

• Hawaiian burger set / sweet-potato fries with ranch sauce / Zero Coke
• Chili mozzarella cheese bar
• A set is ₩3,900 extra on top of the burger à la carte price; a drink combo is ₩2,400 extra

Because I am a fry lover, I upgraded to the full set, switched to sweet-potato fries, and added the chili mozzarella cheese bar too. Haha. I had wanted to try chili mozza so badly when it was all the rage, so this was my chance to give it a try. Bas Burger's menu is appealing because it adds a spoonful of distinctive American flavor that sets it apart from other burger places.

Unlimited James Gam potato chips

James Gam are handmade potato chips fried with the skins on! The fact that they are free and unlimited... is probably Bas Burger's biggest trademark. At the self-service bar on one side of the restaurant, you can eat these salty, crisp chips with a range of sauces to your heart's content...!!! The happy time started before the mains had even arrived.

You might wonder whether unlimited free chips mean lower quality, but not at all; grind some of the whole pepper provided over them and start with a draft beer—it would be so good.

I love real potato chips made from actual potatoes.

Terrace seating and plenty of tables

The overall exterior has a European burger-joint vibe, complete with a terrace. The weather was cool and lovely, so I took a seat in one corner of the terrace.

The spacious interior had lots of seating and table layouts for different group sizes. Since it is near Samseong Station, I imagine it is very popular with office workers and students at lunchtime. Eating alone is completely easy too. The clean, calm, polished atmosphere made the interior satisfying as well. It is a good place to come alone, with friends, or with coworkers.

I also loved that every table has a tablet, so there is no need to queue. You can take your time choosing without feeling rushed and customize sauces or extras.

Spicy chili and the Hawaiian burger

The chili mozzarella cheese bar came out hot and freshly fried. The mozzarella stretches foreverㅠㅠ Frying already delicious mozzarella cheese... that is cheating. The American-style chili heat is different from simple spiciness, and it balances the rich cheese and fried coating perfectly.

Whether it is pizza or burgers, I tend to love Hawaiian options. The grilled pineapple was cut thick enough that you could really taste its juice. And the patty was truly delicious: richly meaty, with Bas Burger's own character, and letting the natural flavor of the meat shine through.

It was tasty enough to make me want to try not only the standard burger line, but also the Double and Triple Bas Burgers with two or three patties, plus the ultra-hearty signature Greed Burger. The brioche bun was soft and moist, of course, but it also held the juicy, dripping patty and sauce so well that the burger did not fall apart while eating it. Perfect.

Sweet-potato fries and what I want next time

Since the potato chips come unlimited, I swapped the fries included in the set for sweet-potato fries. I chose ranch sauce too. I had not tried sweet-potato fries much before, but I loved their sweet, rich sweet-potato flavor. They have a definite charm and identity that is completely different from salty regular fries.

Cindy's aside

This time I was too focused on the Hawaiian burger to try it, but next time I want a double-patty burger too. I also heard the milkshakes are rich and pair well with burgers, so I want one of those as well.

A Samseong Station burger experience on a lovely terrace, pairing distinctive handmade burgers with craft beer

• Taste ★★★★★
• Atmosphere ★★★★★
• Value ★★★★★
• Pros: patties, plenty of sauce choices, unlimited free James Gam potato chips, a polished atmosphere, and good value
• Cons: none in particular.
• Would revisit: Yes

If I return, I definitely want to have it with beer. This time it was daytime, so I kept it light with Zero Coke, but the restaurant's craft beer lineup is well known; next time I want to properly enjoy beomaek—burger plus beer! Just thinking about salty James Gam chips with a glass of draft beer feels like an unfairly good combination...