Guwol-dong sandwich shop, two baguette sandwiches solo: Withwich

Tomato, lettuce, and red onion piled high on a baguette. A fresh sandwich made with generous fillings.

Took a half-day off and got off work early, so I figured I'd better eat something before heading home since I was starving. Stopped by this brunch spot in Namdong to recharge on caffeine and a baguette sandwich.

Where is Withwich? In front of the Seonsuchon intersection by Guwol Asiad Park

Withwich 36 Seonsuchon Park-ro, 107-ho, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Near Guwol Asiad Park, right by the Seonsuchon intersection — Withwich is a place I stop by now and then for a sandwich. With so many Blue Ribbon mentions, it's the kind of spot that everyone in the know already knows about.

There's a coating on the windows, so the interior is brighter than it looks from outside. It's a kid-friendly place too, so moms with young children stop by often for brunch.

Withwich menu and set prices

Popular set menus

• Sandwich & Drink Combo — sandwich + coffee (drink can be changed) — ₩13,900
• With Brunch Set for 2 — salad + sandwich + pasta + 2 drinks — ₩33,100
• Wood-fired Pizza Set for 2 — ricotta salad + pasta + wood-fired pizza + 2 drinks — ₩41,800

I was going to enjoy the brunch set together with a friend, but her getting off work fell through, so ㅠㅠㅠ I ended up lonesomely ordering two sandwiches on my own.

Sandwich types

• Romesco chicken breast sandwich
• Spicy perilla leaf bulgogi sandwich
• Truffle shrimp sandwich
• Avocado arugula sandwich

A pasta with a cup of coffee, a salad with pasta, a sandwich with an ade — the set combinations are so good that both takeout and delivery customers prefer them here.

Self-service bar and open kitchen at Withwich

At Withwich, hot sauce, wet wipes, and cutlery are all set out at the self-service bar. In the fully visible open kitchen, a staff member trims fresh red onion while pasta cooks in a piping-hot wok. Seeing the clean kitchen laid out at a glance made the whole experience more satisfying.

Spicy perilla leaf bulgogi sandwich

Bulgogi (marinated grilled beef) with a smoky char, piled generously, with perilla leaf maximizing the fragrance — that's the spicy perilla leaf bulgogi sandwich. Fresh red onion handles the crunch, and the sandwich dressing is spread on meticulously.

The outside was baked crisp enough to satisfy even a bread-obsessed person like me. Soft, moist sandwich bread has its charms, but a baguette gives you double the textural satisfaction. It doesn't fit in one bite, but cutting it with a knife feels like a shame too — so you just can't. Press the sandwich down firmly to make it easier to bite into.

A sandwich like this deserves to be eaten messily — that's the highest compliment. The fillings popping out and the dressing hiding inside dripping down along the bread as you eat — it's just so good.

Romesco chicken breast sandwich

After finishing a piece of the bulgogi sandwich, and since my friend said she was running late, I pre-ordered the romesco chicken breast sandwich. Made with chicken breast, it's healthy, and the romesco sauce gives it a light, savory flavor.

Wetting my throat with a nutty iced Americano, then taking a big bite. Romaine, perilla leaf, lettuce — you can immediately feel the difference in fillings depending on the sandwich.

The chicken breast sandwich comes with lettuce, which pairs well with the soft chicken breast filling — a sandwich kids would eat happily too. While sitting there, I noticed people ordering pasta. Next time I'll come with my friend and try the brunch set for two.

Takeout too: a solo Guwol-dong brunch, wrapped up

In the end, for the friend who couldn't keep our plans, I neatly packed a sandwich to go. A clean, visible open kitchen, a plump baguette sandwich stuffed to bursting with fillings — pasta, sandwiches, and salad enjoyed as a set at Withwich, the Namdong brunch spot.