Go There, Eat That: Valhalla Social, Chicken Katsu Sandwich

Forgive me for my bias in recommending a place in my neighbourhood, but let’s cut to the chase. This place has a god damn sandwich.

Valhalla Social opened up a few months ago, next door to another cafe on an already cafe-saturated Glebe Point Road. I remember thinking of how difficult it would be to establish a loyal following with so much competition.

How wrong I was.

This place is constantly busy and it’s easy to see why. The branding is slick, the fitout is modern and the service is polished with a friendly touch. Glebe locals have taken to this place in a big way.

Now - onto the chicken katsu sandwich.

Most everything in this sandwich goes against my idea of a good, basic sandwich. Sliced white bread? No thanks. Daikon and carrot pickle? Urgh, wanky. Piping hot fried chicken on aforementioned bread? Recipe for sogginess.

Again, how wrong I was.

First - the bread. It’s thick and pillowy soft, allowing the rest of the ingredients do their thing.

Second - the chicken. It’s chicken thigh, so it’s satisfyingly meaty and tender. It’s freshly cooked, and has that perfect crunch to it. The katsu seasoning is straight up delish.

Third - the salad. Oh god, perfectly crunchy. Temperature-wise, it’s cool which offsets the heat of the chicken, and it adds a slight tartness without being overpowering.

Finally - the kimchi mayo to round it out.

I get it, it’s easy to disregard something simple like a chicken sandwich on white bread. But the beauty lies in how well balanced and unassuming it is.

Next time you’re in Glebe and you’ve got a spare half an hour, you best go there and eat that.

L

Thumbnail credit: @valhallasocial (Instagram)