Looking for a cozy brunch spot around Yeonnam-dong? These topped-bagelsprepared at Bagel MTL will surely wake you right up. This café/restaurant advertises itself as the only one of its kind here in Seoul, and rightfully so, as it's the only place in town serving Montreal-style bagels (yes, they exist, and yes, they are different). Dan Kim, the co-owner and manager of Bagel MTL, is a Canadian himself and is proud to present a part of his home country right here in Seoul.
The skilled bakers here not only make their bagels in-house but also get all of their ingredients straight from Canada. The results are smaller, thinner and denser bagels with a larger hole in the middle. These wood-fired bagels contain no salt and are pre-boiled in honey-sweetened water. The menu is quite extensive, with each pretty distinctive in their main ingredient. The recommended dishes are the ‘B.E.A. (Bacon, Egg, Arugula),' the ‘Shrimp & Avocado’ and ‘Chicken & Salsa’. These 3 items, however, don’t contain any of Bagel MTL’s delicious homemade cream cheese (the base cream cheese is Australian), so make your choice wisely—or, just order two like we did. Made with all-organic ingredients, all dishes are beautifully curated on wooden plates.
Mind you: served with a mountain full of garnish, some of them can get a little difficult to cut up and eat, as was the case with Chicken & Salsa. But everything else about the dish was on point; the slices of chicken breast were light and juicy, working well with the savory (but not spicy) homemade salsa. I found the base mayo sauce a bit empowering, but those who don't mind an overall vinegary flavor should go for it. it's priced at 10,000 won, and additional 1,000 won will give you unlimited coffee which makes for a perfect brunch set. Considering price and value, Bagel MTL is definitely a place to return to for a simple yet colorful meal.