Toss & Turn

“No, no, please I said no egg yolk.” I would wake up crying while having this recurring nightmare about moving to Seoul. I’d order an egg sandwich without egg yolk and an ajumma would yell at me, yelling me that “in Korea, you have to accept food as it’s given to you.” For the most part, this is true and you are often given blank stares when you request something like “can I have the salad without kiwi in it?” Western franchises that allow you to customize your own salads such as Chop’d and Pax Wholesome Foods seemed a mere fantasy in Korea until Toss & Turn opened its doors recently. While the first floor consists mostly of salads and sandwiches you can take to go, you’re also welcome to pay for your sandwich and bring it up to the second or third floors where it’s more sit-down dining. On the second floor, you’re given a menu that features signature salads, a meat platter and a variety of small plates or sides. While there’s also a quite extensive drink menu that features a variety of wines and cocktails (even Hubert’s Lemonade), the highlight item has to be the restaurant’s Make Your Own Salad. Similar to Chop’d or Pax, there’s one line on top of the menu that best explains it: “Greens + basic 3 toppings + 1 dressing = W7,000.” After choosing a base of either House Mix, Romains or Green Mix, you’re allowed 3 mix-ins before being charged a little extra. Premium mix-ins include avocado, asparagus, green beans and more and you’re welcome to “complete the meal with” a variety of salad mains such as quinoa, sweet pumpkin pork belly or even steak (at just 6,000 won extra). An added bonus? With large glass windows and white tiles, the restaurant’s interior is a lot more chic and sophisticated than you would imagine. The staff’s really nice too – I just wonder what’d happen if I wondered the boiled eggs without egg yolk.