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If you are a big fan of K-Pop bands like BTS or Black Pink, there's a pretty good chance that you've also heard of the Inkigayo sandwich. The sandwich, which has been around for decades, has become mega-popular recently thanks to TikTok. Want to know what all the hype is about? Well, read on!
The Inkigayo Sandwich
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Before we get into how the Inkigayo Sandwich, a Korean creation, tastes, it's worth talking about how it became such a popular food item with K-Pop bands. The sandwich was first sold in the Korean broadcast center SBS cafeteria. The channel airs the popular K-Pop music program Inkigayo, where the sandwich earns its name. The white bread sandwich features a very unlikely combo of fillings. The triple-decker sandwich comes with layers of strawberry jam, cabbage surimi (imitation crab) coleslaw, and potato-egg salad. The crust is then removed, before being tightly wrapped in cellophane. And that's now the Inkigayo Sandwich - also known as the "Idol Sandwich" - was born!
However, many people don't know that the Inkigayo Sandwich also serves as a secret flirting mechanism. That's right! You see, many K-Pop companies ban their idols from dating, to ensure they focus on their careers. So, K-pop stars use the Inkigayo Sandwich to pass messages and phone numbers to one another. "Sometimes [one idol] would unwrap one side of the plastic, slip their phone number inside, and give [the sandwich] to [another idol]," Seungri, a member of the K-Pop boy band BIGBANG, explained.
Now, let's take a look at how the Inkigayo Sandwich tastes...
Copy Cats And Dying Popularity
GS Retail Co.
It's not too hard to see why the Inkigayo Sandwich has become so popular. "It tastes amazing. Probably one of the most flavorful sandwiches I've ever had in my life," chef and blogger Christie at Home explained. "It's savory and sweet, thanks to the potato egg salad and strawberry jam layers. And it's crunchy and soft, thanks to the crab cabbage salad and fluffy bread."
Meanwhile, thanks to the recent explosion of K-Pop in Western cultures recently, the Inkigayo Sandwich has exploded in popularity. In South Korea, many food companies have cashed in on the current popularity of the snack. For instance, massive South Korean convenience store chain GS25 released a version. At the same time, many TikTokers have made videos of themselves creating and eating the sandwich. "Tapping into the curiosity factor by releasing a product that was going viral on social media as creating taste and flavor that everyone can enjoy has made the product very popular," explained a representative from GS25.
If you have not tried the Inkigayo Sandwich, you should soon! Who knows? It might turn into your new favorite afternoon snack!
Sources: Cristie At Home, Honest Food Talks, The Takeout
