Club sandwich makes a comeback in Brazil's upscale dining scene

The club sandwich is drawing renewed attention in Brazil's food service industry, with upscale restaurants and hotels reimagining it as a premium menu item.

According to KATI, the agricultural food export information service run by the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, the club sandwich traces its origins to American social club culture and traditionally features chicken, bacon and vegetables layered between slices of toasted bread. As the trend of reinterpreting familiar dishes with a modern sensibility gains momentum, the classic sandwich has re-emerged as one of the key trends in the dining industry.

A broader shift in global dining trends has seen restaurants move away from entirely new menu concepts, instead adding premium elements to foods consumers already know. The club sandwich stands out as a prime example. Diners are showing strong interest in menus that deliver both comfort and sophistication — dishes that evoke nostalgia while pairing contemporary ingredients with refined presentation.

Le Jardin, a restaurant inside the Rosewood São Paulo luxury hotel, serves a club sandwich made with organic chicken and avocado, priced at 110 reais (about 28,000 won, or roughly $18).

Brazil's dining scene has seen premium variations emerge featuring smoked salmon, wasabi avocado, poached eggs and sourdough bread. Restaurants are also expanding menus that incorporate local culinary traditions, with some offering versions made with mandioca, or cassava.

A Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation official advised that Korean food companies operating in Brazil may find more success by pairing their products with locally familiar dishes or enhancing the premium experience, rather than simply promoting them as Korean products.