Starbucks, Terminal 2 (Airport), Beijing China

Ordered from the Starbucks in Terminal 2 at Beijing International Airport (PEK).

I was off to the airport to pick up Mike from Terminal 2 in Beijing. His first time in Asia, there was little faith I had in him successfully making it from the airport to his hotel. Nothing to do with him, it’s just Beijing is probably the only capital city in the world where you could arrive at the international airport, get in a taxi, tell the driver “Ritz Carlton Hotel”, and he kicks you out of the taxi because he has no idea what you’re saying. And Mike was not staying at the Ritz.

It was my turn (again) to play tour guide, and I was excited by the idea. But before subjecting myself to 3 Chinese meals a day for 5 days, I decided a little comfort food would be a great way to ease me into our culinary tour.

KFC was my first choice as I remember it having a prime spot in Terminal 2 arrivals section, but they had no popcorn chicken, so there went that idea.

I turned around and a green Starbucks signed beamed at me.

I walked over to Starbucks to see what they had to dine on, and low and behold there was a club sandwich sitting in the window. It didn’t look sexy, but it looked tasty. [NOTE: I would later see this same club sandwich at the Starbucks in Sanltiun, see below image, where it sat much prettier in the shelf… I suppose quality control in China can be just as difficult at Starbucks as it is for electronics!]

So I ordered a Frappuccino and the Starbucks Chicken Focaccia Club Sandwich. He asked if I wanted it warm. I told him it was my first time trying it, so whatever he preferred. My Chinese was rusty, but he got my drift. Warm it is!

Lovely smell as it came out of the oven. I was already sold on the focaccia. Incredibly nice aroma… it might be wrong of me to think this, but I would never expect that from bread in China; well done Starbucks.

As I picked up this club sandwich, I immediately noticed it weighed about 10 pounds. Wow this was a dense beast. First bite: delicious bread!!!! But very cheesy. I had to work my way into the center for more than just cheese and bread.

The sandwich contents were entirely hidden on the inside, almost like a hot pocket. Interesting presentation… Actually, it really was like a hot pocket; heavily cheesy, warm, and bland on the inside. Yummy, just in a fast-food kinda way. In a, “this is totally microwaveable food” yummy way. In a, “perfect for 2am” yummy.

Is that a yummy I’d enjoy at 2pm waiting for Mike? Meh.

The taste was a little bland, and each bite was heavy. I found myself unable to finish half of this club sandwich. I quickly thought: who actually would finish it all? This was such a different club sandwich from Starbucks in China, far different than the one I had 9 months ago. Not to mention, while it was hot on the outside, this club sandwich was so thick that the center was still quite cool. Not good.

I had to pass. That was a disappointment. Starbucks China had failed me.

I was still hungry. What to do? And then I remembered my favorite China snack: pot noodles. And I was off to the convenience store to grab my longtime favorite roasted beef noodle. Only 60 cents for a whole pot. Now that was satisfying.

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