Bucheon bakery, barley loaf as a meal, 5 promises: Chamsae Bori

A barley loaf bakery in Bucheon for when wheat bread leaves you bloated

Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch (참새보리식빵 부천본점) is a bakery near Bucheon Station famous for its barley loaf, fermented at low temperature for 70 hours. I really love bread, but I have lots of memories of feeling bloated and struggling to digest after eating anything made with wheat flour. So hunting for a plain, healthy bread that works as a meal has been my little hobby and my little worry.

I found this place by chance while surfing the internet: a bakery famous for a barley loaf made with a full 70 hours of low-temperature fermentation. It caught my eye right away, since I like healthy food culture, so I made time on the weekend to go in person. From the moment I reached the front of the shop, the nutty, gentle smell of baking bread drifted down the alley, and my steps sped up all by themselves.

The shop is small but homey, and the friendly staff greeted me warmly, so choosing bread was a pleasure. On the inside wall hangs a sign, hard to miss, listing the shop's TV appearances along with its five promises, which made me trust it even more. No chemical additives, no preservatives and no margarine: that suited me perfectly, since I try to look after my health.

Where is Chamsae Bori Sikppang in Bucheon, and what are the hours and parking?

Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch is at 183-1 Gyeongin-ro, Sosa-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor), and it is open from 10am to 9pm. Come out of Exit 2 of Bucheon Station on Subway Line 1 and walk toward Incheon, and you'll find it easily.

It is closed every Monday and Thursday, so keep that in mind when you plan your visit. There is no dedicated parking, so I recommend taking public transport or using a nearby public car park.

What is the atmosphere inside the shop?

The showcase and shelves at Chamsae Bori Sikppang hold neat rows of freshly baked bread, and one corner is decorated with character goods and stickers. The moment I slid the door open and stepped in, a cozy warmth that warmed even my heart came with the nutty smell of baking bread tickling my nose.

The showcase and shelves were lined with appetizing bread that had just come out of the oven, and honestly I felt full just looking at it. The shop was snug and tidy, and the cute character goods and stickers arranged in one corner made browsing fun too. The staff explained the bread kindly and checked on the warm bread that had just come out, so looking around was even more enjoyable.

Is the 70-hour low-temperature barley loaf good without jam?

The barley loaf, Chamsae Bori's main item, never got boring even without jam or butter, so it was just right as a meal. I carefully opened the bag of the loaf I bought and tore it by hand: crisp on the outside, and incredibly chewy inside, like cotton candy.

The moment I took a bite, it wasn't an artificial sweetness but the deep, rich nuttiness of barley that spread through my whole mouth, and I couldn't help but marvel. Unlike ordinary wheat bread, it didn't leave my mouth dry afterward and my stomach felt comfortable, so I understood why so many people rave about it as a top Bucheon bakery. Eaten as a meal with no jam or butter, it never got boring and I kept reaching for more. I really couldn't stop!

The financier I got from the Naver receipt review event

At Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch, you get a financier (a small butter cake) as a gift if you take part in the Naver receipt review. I spotted the sign while looking around one side of the shop and joined in too.

I left a review with 3 photos and the good points, and the plump financier I received was made with 100% milk cream, so maybe that's why the flavor was seriously rich and soft. With every bite the nuttiness and sweetness of the butter came together so well that it didn't feel like a freebie at all; the quality was excellent. Thanks to that lovely bonus, I walked home with a happy smile to the very end, arms full of bread and my steps light.

Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch at a glance

• Shop name: Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch
• Address: 183-1 Gyeongin-ro, Sosa-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor)
• Highlights: 70-hour low-temperature fermentation, 0% chemical additives, preservatives and margarine, a Bucheon bakery featured on the TV show Master of Living (생활의 달인)

If you want truly tasty bread that also looks after your health, I'd definitely stop by.