Balsan Station café: financier set for a home café & salt bread, Byway

I'd already heard through word of mouth that Byway Bakers (바이웨이 베이커스) is famous for its salt bread. Now there's a branch near Balsan Station selling a wide range of desserts, so I went to try it myself and share what I found.

Byway Bakers is a popular dessert café with branches in Yeongdeungpo and Uijeongbu already. My first thought was that with a Balsan branch near Magok, it's an easy stop for office workers nearby.

Where is Byway Bakers Balsan Station, and what are the hours?

Byway Bakers Balsan Station is at 45 Gangseo-ro 56ga-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 1st floor. It's open 9:00–20:00 (last order 19:30) and closed every Wednesday. There's no parking, so you'll need a nearby public car park.

• Location: 45 Gangseo-ro 56ga-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (1st floor)
• Hours: 9:00–20:00, last order 19:30
• Closed: every Wednesday
• Reservations: phone and Naver reservation available
• Parking: not available, use a nearby public car park
• Kids welcome, high chair available

How long does it take to get to Byway Bakers from Balsan Station?

Byway Bakers Balsan Station is across from NC Department Store, about a 1-minute walk from it, which made it extra easy to visit. I went on a weekday, and lots of office workers nearby were coming in, so it clearly seems to be a popular café.

Even if you come by public transport, it's within a 10-minute walk from Balsan Station, so that's worth keeping in mind.

Terrace and interior atmosphere at Byway Bakers Balsan Station

There are two seating areas: large tables on the outdoor terrace and tables inside. The terrace has an awning overhead, so you get an outdoor feel without worrying about the sun.

Inside, the floor-to-ceiling windows make it feel fresher and, surprisingly, more open. The overall look is bright and clean, and the orange Byway Bakers lettering and the color scheme give it a cheerful vibe, which I liked.

What breads does Byway Bakers Balsan Station sell?

Near the entrance, financiers (small buttery almond cakes), salt bread and egg tarts are on display. Since it's a café known for desserts, the smell of freshly baked bread hits you as soon as you walk in, and that put me in an even better mood.

Drinks are ordered at a kiosk, but if you're not used to kiosks you can order straight from the staff, so keep that in mind.

The financiers and salt bread on the entrance display come in so many kinds and such pretty colors that choosing became the hard part.

• Baguette
• Sandwich
• Salt bread
• Madeleine
• Financier
• Egg tart

I usually love egg tarts, and the thickness of the egg tart here really impressed me.

Financier set prices and gift packaging at Byway Bakers

The financiers here come in a whopping 8 kinds, so it's easy to order to your taste. Best of all, there's a dedicated financier box, which is great for gifts or thank-you presents, so consider ordering one.

• Financier, plain 5-pack: ₩10,900
• Financier, choose-your-own 5-pack: ₩13,500
• Financier, choose-your-own 10-pack: ₩25,000

When I visited, plenty of people were ordering financiers. They looked super crisp on the outside, and the balance of butter aroma and almond powder made me even more excited to try them.

Ordering a financier set, packed for a home café

I enjoy home cafés, so I ordered the financier set to take away. Everything is individually wrapped and put in a neat dedicated box, and I thought it would be a lovely way to give someone a small, casual gift.

How do the financiers at Byway Bakers taste?

The moment I opened the box, the rich, buttery aroma hit my nose, and it was really good. When I cut into the side, it was dense but moist, just the way I like it.

They felt like financiers packed with luxurious natural butter, and they went wonderfully with the almond powder.

My child loved the chocolate financier, so I thought it works really well as a kids' snack too.

The No. 1 salt bread: is it okay as a kids' snack?

The salt bread (a buttery roll with a salted, crisp bottom) worked as a light meal, and above all my child loved it, so it's a good one to share as a kids' snack. As a Balsan Station dessert spot, I could see right away why it's so popular.

The inside is really soft and the outside crisp, full of butter flavor. It's the kind of taste you keep thinking about, so I understood even more why it's a bestseller.

Overall verdict on Byway Bakers Balsan Station

Overall the taste was really good, and I was very satisfied with both the financiers and the salt bread. It's not a popular dessert café for nothing.

Walking in, I noticed the bread production area is bigger than the table space, which made me feel they're truly serious about bread. The butter Byway Bakers uses is natural butter, and hearing that they insist on good ingredients made me trust the place even more.

• Byway Bakers Balsan Station: 9:00–20:00
• Closed every Wednesday
• No parking / gift packaging available / wide dessert selection
• High chair available