Tucked into a quiet alley next to the Cheil building in Itaewon is a funky new café/ sandwich shop called the Flying Pan. This place opened very recently and it already has a loyal following.
Flying Pan has a very simple and delicious menu of fresh sandwiches and salads. The chicken curry sandwich with brown loaf bread, pan-fried Indian spice and chicken breast is a favorite among customers. The owners’ personal recommendation is the grilled veggie sandwich made with roasted bell peppers, zucchini, homemade basil pesto and ricotta cheese. There is also a Hawaiian sandwich with ham, pineapple and cheese as well as other popular sandwiches like chili chicken and bacon lettuce and tomato. Best of all, the sandwiches are really affordable at 6000-7500 won each! On Saturday, you can enjoy a brunch menu. (Yayy! Saturday brunch!) Choose from a breakfast of toast, fried eggs bacon and grilled tomatoes, or have pancakes or eggs benedict. Or, you can also have a bagel with cream cheese, a quiche or a garden salad.
For beverages, there’s a variety of fresh juices, smoothies, coffees, teas. There’s also a limited selection of Italian and Chilean reds and whites. Flying Pan also offers an anti-pasto platter, cheese platter or potato wedges if you want to enjoy a snack while drinking a glass of wine.
The décor of Flying Pan is comfortable, stylish and well thought out. The medium-sized café is in a lofty space with high ceilings and big picture windows. The floor is varnished concrete and the chairs are purposely mismatched. There’s a cool chandelier and open kitchen with neat tiles and wood carvings. One wall is painted red and features and enormous gilt mirror where they write the daily specials. Plants and fresh flowers adorn certain corners. The place looks like it could be a quirky designer’s loft, or a graphic design company. Flying Pan looks more like a place that would be in Hongdae rather than a place in Itaewon. (We laughed when we read the K Scene review that said ‘there appears to be no actual design motif’. It was obviously written by someone who has no clue about trends or design.)
Despite the somewhat hidden location, we predict the Flying Pan will be a huge success. All the elements are there: fantastic food that you could easily eat every day, a stylish setting and affordable prices.
The Flying Pan is open from 7:30am -9;30 pm Monday-Friday and from 9:30 am-9:30 pm on Saturday. It’s closed on Sunday. To get to The Flying Pan, find the Cheil Communications building on the main street of Itaewon and walk uphill 50 meters on the street just to the left of the building
02-793-7974

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