Jongno lunch burger combo with maple sweet potato fries: Reel Burger

My husband and I were looking for somewhere to eat in Jongno and ended up at Reel Burger Gwanghwamun (릴버거 광화문점), a handmade burger place! Honestly I didn't go in with big expectations, but it was so much better than I thought! You know juicy patties are everything at a good handmade burger spot, right?!

On that front, Reel Burger's patties were moister than I expected and the overall quality was really good, so I was quite satisfied! We went in with no expectations and came out very happy, so here's my story on Reel Burger Gwanghwamun, a handmade burger spot I'd recommend for a Jongno lunch~!

Where is Reel Burger Gwanghwamun?

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is at 71 Sambong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (1st floor, Unit 105), between Gwanghwamun Station and Jonggak Station, so it's about a 10-minute walk from either one. There are lots of offices around, so it's popular for office-worker lunches, and it's easy to reach, which makes it a decent meeting spot too. Maybe because the burgers are good, at lunchtime it looked like there were plenty of takeout customers as well as office workers~

We visited in the evening after work, so the mood was a bit different from lunchtime: most of the customers were foreigners! Since it sits between Gwanghwamun and Jonggak, I guess lots of tourists come by, and seeing foreign guests who eat burgers all the time enjoying theirs made me more excited and gave me more trust in the place, my heart was pounding! haha

Burger menu and prices at Reel Burger Gwanghwamun

The most basic item, the Cheese Burger, is ₩9,400, and the popular Classic Burger is ₩12,800, so prices were reasonable. The Cheese Burger is a traditional-style burger with a 100% beef patty, American cheese, red onion, garlic mayo and the signature sauce, and the Classic Burger comes with a house-made bacon jam simmered with bourbon whiskey and maple syrup, giving it a smoky yet sweet flavor, or so they say!

If you like spicy food, there's the Jalapeño Mayo Burger (₩13,500) made with house-made jalapeño jam, and the El Taco Burger (₩14,900) with salsa mayo sauce, onion rings and cilantro~ The El Taco Burger comes with pico de gallo sauce and cilantro together, so apparently you can't ask to leave the cilantro out, just so you know!

What does the egg Benedict burger taste like?

The egg Benedict burger we ordered is ₩14,900 and comes with hollandaise sauce, basil tomato ragù, jambon (Korean-style ham), a poached egg and arugula. It's Reel Burger's signature item in Jongno!

Personally it was the best burger of everything we ate this time, so if you're stuck on what to have for lunch in Jongno, I'd say try the egg Benedict burger at least once~!

Sides: maple sweet potato fries, and the combo is worth it

For a side at Reel Burger Gwanghwamun, I strongly recommend the maple sweet potato fries (₩6,900)!! Sweet maple syrup and crispy sweet potato fries go together so well that I'd recommend them as much as the burgers~!

Best of all, switching to a combo costs only about ₩2,000–3,000 more than ordering the burger alone, so it's much better value. If you visit Reel Burger Gwanghwamun, I'd recommend ordering the combo!

Is adding an extra patty worth it?

We also tried the Classic Burger and the Jalapeño Mayo Burger with an extra patty (₩4,500)! Personally I was happy with all three burgers,

and the patties were so juicy that I didn't regret adding one at all, so if you're debating an extra patty, I'd say go for it! haha

The letdown: black pepper Cajun fries

The one thing I found a bit disappointing at Reel Burger Gwanghwamun was the black pepper Cajun fries. They were crispy, but drier than I expected, and as I kept eating they felt like they were sticking in my throat T_T

The maple sweet potato fries were far moister and tastier, so if you're picking only one side, I'd choose them without a second thought. Please.. don't be lured by the regular fries, get the sweet potato fries! The sweet potato fries are sweet and crispy! while the Cajun fries are mostly dry!~ don't wonder, just get the sweet potato fries.. haha My husband, who loves regular fries, also said that at Reel Burger the sweet potato fries are the better ones, so take note!

Overall verdict on Reel Burger Gwanghwamun

• Taste: The egg Benedict burger, Jalapeño Mayo Burger and Cheese Burger were all satisfying. The patty quality was good enough that an extra patty is worth recommending, and the maple sweet potato fries were really delicious.
• Price: A fair price range for handmade burgers, and switching to a combo gets you a side at good value.
• Service: The staff were friendly, and the food came out fairly quickly.
• Portion: With an extra patty, it was a hearty, filling meal.
• In a word: The Cajun fries were a bit dry and disappointing, but the burgers themselves are well made and the maple sweet potato fries were great. If you're looking for a good handmade burger in Jongno or Gwanghwamun, I think it's worth a visit.
• Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.8/5)

If you can't decide what to have for lunch in Jongno, Reel Burger Gwanghwamun does takeout too, so go for it! haha