[Seukon Exploration] Can You Eat Handmade Burgers at Mom's Touch?

Visit to Mom's Touch Lab Terrace Yongsan Branch

Editor's NoteWords like ‘special·hot place·limited-time popup store’ instantly make your heart race. You wonder what exactly makes these places so special and different that so many people flock to them. If you don’t want to revisit places you’ve already been to but don’t want to miss out on the HOT spots others are going to, or if you want to visit somewhere truly special, you’ve come to the right place. Drinkit editors have explored various stores and are here to share their experiences. Introducing Scon Exploration (Special Concept Store Exploration)! Were the editors able to truly catch a ‘special scent’ at the places they visited?

The first impression of the Cyburger was intense. For someone like me who always picks a chicken burger first when going to a burger joint, Cyburger was a whole new world. Although I ordered a hamburger, the visual looked like chicken was sandwiched between the buns instead of a patty, which was enough to shake the heart of a chicken burger enthusiast. With such a sincere dedication to chicken, Mom’s Touch launched a casual pub concept store in Yongsan last December. The Mom’s Touch Lab Terrace Yongsan Branch offers menus you can’t find at other Mom’s Touch locations. On a day that felt cooler than summer and made me crave a ham-maek (hamburger and beer), I visited.

Located right in front of Exit 4 of Sinyongsan Station, this place features wood and black interiors with warm lighting, creating a completely different atmosphere from typical Mom’s Touch stores. The interior isn’t very spacious but has a sophisticated vibe like a handmade burger shop or pub. A wall filled with chicken-shaped sculptures also catches the eye.

You can place your order via kiosk or at the counter. You can order the usual menus like Cyburger or Incredible Burger that are sold at other Mom’s Touch stores. The signature menus exclusive to this location are the Chicken Burger The Origin and Chicken Burger Hot Nashville. These two items are not wrapped in paper packaging but served on plates like handmade burgers. Since it’s a pub-style store, of course, you can also purchase beer. Draft beers like Terra and Tennents are available, as well as bottled beers such as Stella Artois. Besides burgers, platters are also sold. There are various options including chicken platters and Dragon Pork Fries platters made with pork jowl. Platters can be ordered starting from 4 PM.

I ordered the Chicken Burger The Origin, Chicken Burger Hot Nashville, and Dragon Pork Fries. The food was served on matte-textured, luxurious black plates. Both burgers had long skewers stuck through them like handmade burgers. I was worried the portions might be small, but that was unfounded. With coleslaw, sauce, and fries included in the set, the table was fully occupied.

First, I tasted the Chicken Burger Hot Nashville. On top of Mom’s Touch’s signature thick chicken patty was coleslaw containing carrots and red cabbage. I nervously wondered how spicy it would be, and it was slightly spicier than Lotteria’s Hot Crispy Burger. What I liked most was the generous amount of coleslaw. The tangy coleslaw slightly tamed the spiciness and offset the greasiness. It also paired well with the salty seasoned fries. The flavor was spicy and tangy, never tiring. Even those who aren’t good with spicy food can enjoy it without burden.

Then, how about the Chicken Burger The Origin? Unlike the Nashville burger, it contained tomato and iceberg lettuce. When I took a bite, the first thing I noticed was the savory flavor of the brioche bun, which seemed to be nicely toasted. The soft garlic aroma of the aioli sauce also came through. However, it wasn’t particularly special. It felt like a Cyburger with fresh vegetables, toasted bread, and a hint of garlic. The crispy chicken patty was excellent, but the overall taste was somewhat ordinary.

The Dragon Pork Fries is a menu featuring crispy fried pork jowl served with sweet potato fries. You eat it with a squeeze of lemon juice. I thought it might be similar to sweet and sour pork, but it was more like fried chicken than sweet and sour pork. The crispy yet chewy pork jowl fries are seasoned with a flavor similar to addictive corn seasoning, making them salty and savory. The large-sized sweet potato fries, like candied sweet potatoes, are a bit heavy to pair with the pork jowl fries but go very well with beer.

The Mom’s Touch Lab Terrace Yongsan Branch is decorated as a sophisticated and atmospheric space, different from the familiar image we know. It’s a great place to casually enjoy ham-maek or chi-maek (chicken and beer). It’s also close to the Yongsan Station cinema, making it a good spot to have a light beer after watching a movie. I recommend visiting after 4 PM when you can order all menu items including platters.

Four-character review: “Today, ham-maek?”

Photo by Kim Bomi

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.