Sometimes it’s not the flavor alone that makes a dish go viral, but the emotional story behind it. That’s exactly what happened with “Ex-Boyfriend Toast,” a modest combination of toasted bread, cream cheese, and blueberry jam that has become an internet sensation and a café staple far from its Korean roots.
Now featured on the menu at PHiL Cafe in Brooklyn, New York, this sentimental snack is one of the café’s most popular items. Described simply as a toast made with blueberry preserves and cream cheese, the dish is priced at $10 and comes with a curious origin story that continues to captivate customers.
The tale began in South Korea, where a woman shared a text exchange with her ex-boyfriend in 2018. She asked him for the recipe of a toast he used to make for her, clarifying that she wasn’t trying to reconnect romantically. Surprisingly, he responded with detailed instructions. She shared the messages online, and the post quickly went viral. The popularity of the story even led Korean convenience store chain GS25 to briefly launch a similar “Boyfriend Sandwich” in 2019 using the same ingredients, though it was later discontinued.
Interest in the toast resurfaced after it appeared in a segment on the Korean variety show Earth Arcade on tvN. In a bread-themed quiz, An Yu-jin from the K-pop group IVE correctly identified the toast’s ingredients as “blueberry cream cheese toast” instead of using its internet-famous name. Her response led to a lighthearted debate among fans and viewers, but her answer was ultimately accepted.
The simplicity of the original recipe has inspired countless variations across social media. At PHiL Cafe, fans can also try an “Ex-Boyfriend Croffle,” which combines croissant dough, a waffle press, and the iconic blueberry and cream cheese topping. Online, food enthusiasts have been creating their own spins on the toast with additions like sliced banana, strawberries, fresh basil, and even ice cream, transforming the nostalgic bite into everything from brunch delicacies to full dessert creations.
What started as a moment of post-breakup vulnerability has become a culinary trend that mixes sweetness with sentiment, and it shows no signs of fading anytime soon.
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