In our numerous visits to Itaewon, we’ve walked by Rye Post many times. Set in from the street, it readily blends with the numerous money changers and tchotchke vendors. The subtle text below the marquee style sign is easy to miss if you’re in a hurry; I only wish we slowed down and tried it sooner.
John Lennon would approve.
The interior is simple and unassuming, softly lit and decorated with custom chalk art. The restaurant forgoes the gaudy pictures and chintzy figurines typical in many other establishments in the neighborhood. The effect is warm and inviting.
Scanning the menu, it was difficult to narrow down our choices. Not wanting to waste a trip (and being notorious sandwich fiends), we decided it would be a shame to sample any fewer than three varieties.
For years I worked across the street from a small neighborhood shop run by a Vietnamese immigrant named Mr. Kim, whose Banh Mi sandwiches make regular appearances in my dreams. I am happy to report that the Banh Mi at Rye Post is – at the least – the equal of Mr. Kim’s creations. The pork, pickled radish and carrots, and cilantro play nice in the soft, moist bread. It is certainly a worthy sandwich.
Of course, we had to try the Seoul Sandwich de’ jour, the Cuban. Another perennial favorite, the Cuban is made with roast pork, ham, dill pickles, swiss cheese, and mustard, finished on a panini press. The strength of the sandwich is in its variety or strong and mild flavors. The pork was tender, although the ham flavor was slightly lost in the mix. The cheese was sufficiently melty and creamy. The mustard was on point, though I could have used a touch more. Unfortunately, dill pickles are a perpetual Achilles’ heel in Korean cuisine, and these were no exception. They were better than typical sweet Korean pickled cucumbers, but they lacked the distinctive sharp bite of deli-style dills from back home. Despite these shortcomings, it was still a good sandwich – with a few tweaks, it could be perfect.
The favorite of the day was the Hot New York Pastrami. No fluff, nothing extra, this sandwich was pure bliss. The house-made pastrami on the fresh bread was heavenly. While it may not have been stacked as high as a Carnegie Deli sandwich, the pastrami was tender, flavorful, and immensely satisfying. If you make the trip to Rye Post, do yourself a favor and put this in your mouth.
Rye Post had a variety of brews on tap to accompany your bread and meat. The Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Ale was tasty, hinting at toffee or caramel without being overly sweet. It was a great addition to the variety of salty sandwiches.
Yes, it does.
Rye Post is the type of sandwich joint that would be welcome in any neighborhood. They have a variety of sandwiches, each distinct, yet well-executed. The fresh bread, the quality ingredients, and the interesting beers make this place a sure bet. We will be returning very soon to sample the rest of the menu; I recommend you do the same.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
I Can Haz Kimchi? 