Dongdaemun burger comparison: 1986 Shibuya Burger chipotle burgers

While out in Seoul with my husband, I stopped by 1986 Shibuya Burger (1986시부야버거) near Hoegi Station and Kyung Hee University’s main gate. We ordered a Chipotle Burger and a Chipotle Jambon Burger to share, along with salad, fries, and a cheese bar.

Where is the restaurant, and what were parking and waiting like?

I arrived after passing through the lively university area and its charming side streets. There is no parking at the restaurant, so I used the Kyung Hee Medical Center parking lot, about a three-minute walk away. The hours listed in the original post are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with last orders at 8:30 p.m.

The exterior was decorated with a Japanese feel. Photos and prices for signature menu items were visible outside, which made it easy to look over the menu before going in.

There were pink chairs outside for people waiting. We visited at 3 p.m. on a weekend and went straight in without waiting.

What were the interior and self bar like?

The interior centered on wood and green tones, which made me feel as though I had stepped into a Japanese restaurant.

Ghibli posters, Japanese-style decorations, and a counter modeled after Shibuya Station caught my eye. Even the staff uniforms suited the restaurant’s concept.

At the time of my visit, there was also a Naver receipt review event. You could request a receipt, scan it with a food photo to write a review, and receive ice cream or a coffee capsule after staff confirmation.

The self bar to the left of the counter had forks, knives, potato chips, pickles, jalapeños, sauces, and water. There were six sauces, with guidance for serving them neatly. I also saw staff wipe empty tables during the meal.

The potato chips I brought from the self bar were crisp and enjoyable.

What did the two of us order?

We ordered at the kiosk. Three popular menu items were listed beside it.

• Chipotle Jambon Burger Set: zero soda and ricotta cheese salad
• Chipotle Burger Set: zero soda and fries
• Whole mozzarella chili cheese bar

We each chose what we wanted, but both burgers had chipotle sauce. I did wish we had ordered more different kinds to try a wider range. The burgers were prepared so quickly that they arrived just as my husband started a game while waiting.

My choice was the Chipotle Jambon Burger with ricotta cheese salad.

My husband chose the Chipotle Burger with fries.

Stickers marked the burger types, so it was easy to tell them apart.

How did the Chipotle Burger and Chipotle Jambon Burger differ?

Letters were stamped on the buns, and the patties were not too thick, making the burgers easy to cut with a knife or hold in my hands. The patties were moist, and the fillings worked well together.

Neither of us remembered having chipotle sauce before, so it was hard to describe the flavor precisely. Still, we each took a bite of the Chipotle Burger first and said it was good. The Chipotle Jambon Burger we ate next tasted milder than the Chipotle Burger.

The jambon seemed to soften the flavor of the sauce, and the Chipotle Jambon Burger suited my taste better. My usual fondness for jambon may have influenced that. I was also happy to choose salad as one side. Having salad between bites of burger made the meal feel lighter.

How were the whole mozzarella chili cheese bar and sides?

The whole mozzarella chili cheese bar needed time to fry, so it was brought separately while we were already eating our burgers. The cheese stretched a long way. We dipped the fries in garlic mayo and the cheese bar in sweet chili mayo.

We finished everything we ordered. After the meal, we returned our trays inside the counter area, where the restroom was also located. I did regret not choosing two more different burger combinations, but I was satisfied with the moist patties, manageable thickness, and the salad alongside them.