Hamburg steak—I finally realized that there’s actually a lot I can expect in this Japanese Western-style dish, after trying Café Goghi’s version, that is. Perhaps, I’m the only one who’s been out of the loop (I’ve only tried a few brunch menus here before and they were fantastic), but this “catering co-op” located between Hyoja-dong and Gyeongbokgung Palace has been serving Hamburg steak as their signature dish for 10 years.
The patty is really juicy, but the star of the plate is the sauce which is made from scratch in the kitchen. If you observe the chefs here for a few minutes, you can tell how delicate the process is: first, stir fry onions, shiitake mushroom, and regular mushroom separately, then mix them all with homemade garlic oil, to which demi-glace sauce is added later. The result is the light brown-colored sauce (as opposed to the usual dark brown version you see at other Japanese Western-style joints) which is subtle yet oh-so-addictive.
Café Goghi operates as a homey café and a studio for cooking classes and gourmet lunch box-catering. Trying out both the signature dish and brunch menus is definitely recommended, while the cooking classes offered each month are something you should really check out if you’re keen on learning a few awesome techniques. Check out Café Goghi's Facebook page for their monthly and ad-hoc events.