Deli Seoul

Even though the concept might not be as daring as Roy Choi’s original Kogi BBQ trucks or as brash as David Chang’s Momofukus, Deli Seoul’s fusion of two disparate concepts – a delicatessen and a Korean restaurant – has the same sort of crazy, viral potential if executed properly. As the follow up to Deli Bagel & Cafe, an American deli that previously neighbored Japanese supermarket Tokyo Central, Costa Mesa’s Deli Seoul moved down the street in early 2025, embracing its owners’ Korean heritage by offering bulgogi style beef, spicy pork, soy tofu, and sweet glazed spam as bagel and sandwich fillings all day, plus kimbap rolls and rice bowls starting at 10:30am. While a display case with bagels may be the first thing to grab your attention inside, a fridge with Korean drinks, containers of bagged snacks, and bottles of gochujang sauce add to Deli Seoul’s fusion vibe.

As of late April 2025, Deli Seoul’s menu – Excel spreadsheets printed on pieces of paper with no trace of formal signage – still feels like a work in progress. Before 10:30, you can build your own breakfast sandwich with one of a number of bagels, croissants, or types of bread, cheese or cream cheese, one of the proteins above or bacon, ham, and sausage, and sauces ranging from gochujangs to pesto, mayo and lemon pepper. Wraps, open-faced bagel sandwiches with smoked salmon, eggs, butter, or other ingredients are also available. When 10:30 approaches, you can also get sandwiches and paninis with Boar’s Head deli meats such as turkey, pastrami, roast beef, and ham, or go for fully Korean options including six flavors of kimbap, and bibimbap rice bowls with Korean proteins and sides – mandoo dumplings, japchae, kimchi, squash, carrots, or tofu.