15.063 Cheese Hamburger

katch4246

2 years ago

Cycle 15 – Item 63

8 (Fri) March 2024

Cheese Hamburger

2.5

at SFS Elementary Cafeteria

-Yeonhi, Seodaemun, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with dbBOOKS staff

At SFS to set up for the book fair next week.

In the Elementary Cafeteria, students have the following lunch options, daily:

- Korean option (e.g., kimchi fried rice) (see for example 13.139 Kimchi Fried Rice)
- Western option (e.g., pasta)
- Vegetarian option (e.g., lentil tostada) (see for example 13.288 Lentil Tostada Bowl)
- Noodle option (e.g., yaki udon)
- Cheese pizza (see for example 13.288 Lentil Tostada Bowl)
- Meat pizza (e.g., bacon) (see for example 13.288 Lentil Tostada Bowl)
- Soup of the day (e.g., tomato soup)
- Burger
- Cheeseburger
- Hotdog
- Grilled sausage
- Soddeok soddeok (rice cake and sausage skewer)
- Salad bar
- Veggie gimbap
- Tuna gimbap
- Grilled chicken wrap
- Falafel wrap
- Ham sandwich
- Turkey sandwich (see for example 13.288 Lentil Tostada Bowl)
- Häagen Dazs ice cream
- Cookies
- Canned beverages

I realize that this list looks exaggerated, like perhaps compiled from multiple visits – but no, anyone can eat any of these items, on any day.

Upon order, precooked patties are reheated on the flattop, then seared over an open flame – as if the hand-rolled pizzas weren’t enough.

Students at SIS:

- Korean option
- Western option
- Salad bar

Beyond the lack of options – though frankly, 2 options plus salad isn’t bad; students in Korean schools get only 1 choice, always Korean – I’m told by my boys that the food is abysmal. I’ve tried the food once, not directly in the cafeteria but through the teachers’ lounge, and I wasn’t impressed (see generally 14.240 Wake Spread).

I was thinking to myself, “How lucky are these spoiled brats to enjoy the option of cheeseburgers for lunch?” then suddenly remembered that we had a Wendy’s in lieu of a cafeteria when I was a student at SIS (see generally 5.031 Baconator Mushroom Melt).

The Cheese Hamburger was decent. Patty had a nice charred flavor, but a bit too thick. Cheese wasn’t fully melted. Grilled onions were sorta slimy. Sauce was sweetish, kinda like BBQ sauce. Bun was somewhat crumbly. So different and nowhere close to the smash burger in the Secondary Cafeteria (see for example 14.309 Jalapeño Cheddar Double Smash Cheeseburger) – which is odd, because presumably both venues are run by the same vendor.

Offering books by authors visiting this semester, including Neal Shusterman (see generally 15.054 Fried Egg Double Smash Cheeseburger), Graci Kim (c0ming in a couple weeks), and Jessica Kim (coming next month).

(See also FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)

(See also IRIS)

Share this: