Sandwiches @ Sandwich Factory OCM, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka

 

If you are a fan of eating stuff between two slices of bread, you are going to love this. It has been a long time since I have been to this side of the prefecture, and one of my close friends recommended this place. I was initially a sceptic. I mean, all this way just for a sandwich? Oh how wrong was I. 

The menu outside the shop. Did a serious read through while waiting for the line to clear.

Sandwich Factory OCM, or OCM for short, is a sandwich parlour that was fashioned similar to an old fashioned American diner. It is pretty popular too. So popular in fact that there was a major line behind me and my party of 3. Luckily most the patrons were there to takeout. As such, the line moved rather fast and eventually our turn arrived. If you need to know OCM stands for "Original Good Taste". 

Choices!

With regard to the filling between your bread, there is a huge selection to choose from. However, one item caught my attention right away: beef pastrami. Beef pastrami is very rare in Japan and as such, was something I definitely want to have! Standing at 750 yen it was a bit hefty for a sandwich but I cannot let go of this opportunity. We also got the original sandwich which stood at 470 yen and the fried fish, which was 670 yen. When it comes to sides, we got ourselves a bowl of corn soup  which stood at 420 yen, as it seems to be a highly recommended item in the reviews that we read. What I really liked was that you can see how they assemble your meal as they take out the goodies from the lunch counter. Seeing how the staff create those sandwiches with such speed was actually quite interesting. 

Epic

So how was it? lets say I had not had so much praise for a sandwich place for a very long time. The beef pastrami was spot on. The beef was salty, peppery and had a lot of intense flavour. Each bite was something incredible. Chewy, yet tender and so much more, this was what I really liked. The bread is typical shokupan which helps hold everything together. The veggies that accompanied each sandwich were the typical cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes. Classics that do not need any replacements. Genuinely good. 

Another big time thriller

The other sandwiches were also pretty good too. The original was akin to a sloppy Joe. The meat sauce had a lot of bite to it and you can taste the bits of meat that was stuffed inside. The sauce was also quite flavorful, with hits of garlic and onion. Imagine a bolognaise but outside a pasta dish. Well, that is what a Sloppy Joe is right. However, it was not overly saucy which helps with the eating experience. 

Golden

The fish was also pretty good. In fact, I may even like it more than the pastrami. The fish was very fresh and warm, as though it was freshly out of the deep fryer. Despite that, it was not oily at all. It has a crunchy outer shell with a flaky and creamy interior. The tartar sauce that came with it just makes everything even better with its creamy and zesty profile. Filet of Fish, meet your seafood superior. 

So simple but so good...

Last but not least, the corn soup. This was also worthy of a high praise. Despite having a very homely charm, it was pretty good too. It was sweet yet savoury , complimenting our meal with relative ease. The creamy texture was comforting and despite being simple in terms of flavour, it was very enjoyable. A great highlight. But then again, everything was good here. Which is some serious praise considering this is just a sandwich place. 

Front of the house

So I think you know by now I like this place very much. Although it is not in Fukuoka city proper, Kitakyushu has alot to offer too. With many historical spots, the Manga Museum and many food places, it is a place worth your reckoning. And OCM is definitely one of those food places that you need to put in your list. Fancy a go? The address is as follows:

3-6 Senbamachi, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 802-0007