Cheesesteak Gets a Korean Kick

Todd Ginsberg

Fred’s Meat & Bread, a globally inspired sandwich shop, delivers big flavor in a familiar format with its Korean Cheesesteak, a top-five best seller since day one.

The build begins with shaved ribeye or chicken breast, chopped while cooking with onions and melting American cheese, then piled onto a sesame hoagie roll from sibling bakery TGM Bread. “We knew bread was important to the success of the cheesesteak, but we didn’t realize, at first, how this particular cheesesteak would benefit from a sesame roll,” says Todd Ginsberg, executive chef. An aïoli adds richness, while the Korean element comes through in a bold housemade sauce of gochujang, soy, sesame oil and garlic. Garnishes of scallion and candied jalapeño brighten up the umami-forward profile. “The flavors are essentially what you would experience at a Korean barbecue restaurant—just presented in a familiar sandwich form,” he says. By tapping into the growing appreciation by U.S. diners for Korean flavor profiles, this mash-up wins the day.

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