A TASTE OF HOME

Brunch is my favorite meal. I could eat breakfast food for lunch (or dinner) any day. I think enjoying a good brunch with great friends is the best way to spend a Sunday.

Sometimes I’m a morning person. Most times I’m not. I appreciate that brunch is generally served from late morning to early afternoon. I also like having the option of eating breakfast, brunch, and lunch if I’m feeling particularly gluttonous.

There’s something almost romantic about the morning light’s reflection off fresh fruit. Pancakes drizzled in maple syrup and butter, lightly topped with powdered sugar. The peppery and perfectly seasoned bite of a sausage paired with fluffy, cheesy eggs. And how it all mixes together into a tasty medley on my plate.

Usually, the type of food I miss the most while living abroad is a majority of what would be served for brunch in the United States. The kind of restaurants I crave the most while overseas are places like Perkins, or Waffle House—family diners and truck stops—all boasting to have the best breakfast food served all day, every day.

A few months ago I’d do about anything for a Mammoth Muffin from Perkins, or some greasy hash browns from Waffle House. Then I discovered there are actually many coffee shops, cafés, and restaurants serving brunch in South Korea. So, I’ve made it my personal mission to search for the best brunch in Seoul and throughout Korea.

Just as sausages go well with eggs (I used to be vegetarian), my goal of finding the best brunch in Korea goes well with my first assignment as a Global Seoul-Mate: What do I like about Seoul?

Answer: I like the options I have to experience another culture, while at the same as time getting a taste of home. Seoul continues to rapidly transform into an impressive, international city with cultural influences from all over the world.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Korean food. In fact, I may be borderline obsessed. However, sometimes I simply need a wholesome, hearty “Western” brunch to replenish my Midwestern roots. Preferably served with a bottomless cup of fresh drip coffee at a place like Suji's in Itaewon, Seoul.

Be sure to follow my quest for the best brunch in Seoul and throughout Korea. The plan is to post occasional updates offering my humble, somewhat comical and not-so-critical (or professional) opinion about each place I visit. Hopefully it will become an additional brunch resource for travelers, expats, and locals in South Korea.