Bucheon bakery for chewy barley bread: Chamsae Bori Sikppang

Where is Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch?

Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch (참새보리식빵 부천본점) is at 1F, 183-1 Gyeongin-ro, Sosa-gu, Bucheon. The hours listed in the original are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is closed on Monday and Thursday, and closes early when the bread sells out.

The bakery is at Simgok Overpass Intersection, about a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 of Bucheon Station on Line 1. It is on a main road, and parking is unavailable, so walking is the better way to visit.

How was the morning wait, and what bread did I choose?

I visited early in the morning, but there was already a line. When I arrived, though, I only waited outside briefly before going in. This is a takeout-only bakery, so I chose the bread and packed it to go.

They used to sell mini loaves in several flavors, including cheese, blueberry, and chocolate. During this visit, they were focusing on three types: daesang chalbori bread, grain bread, and rye bread. All three were plain and chewy, and worked well as a meal substitute.

After entering, I picked up a shopping basket placed to the side and chose my bread.

I put one of each bread flavor in my basket and chose two financiers. Instead of the sparrow-shaped madeleines I had seen before, they were selling square financiers this time.

How was the milk cream I tasted at checkout?

I sampled the mascarpone milk cream while paying. It was nutty and smooth, and I wanted to buy some, but I could not keep it refrigerated because of my next appointment. Unfortunately, I only tasted it this time and decided to buy it another day.

What were the packed bread and financiers like?

I took out the packed bread and tasted each one. With three kinds of bread plus the financiers, it felt like a generous amount.

The financier had a sticky, dense style that reminded me slightly of a muffin. It became sweeter the more I chewed, and was good with milk or coffee.

The grain chalbori bread was the smallest of the breads I chose. It was not sliced, so I tore it apart with my hands and found it soft and moist.

There was a sweet, soboro-like topping on top, so the first bite was sweet. As I chewed, I noticed the crisp texture and nuttiness of the nuts. I kept tearing off small pieces and ended up eating it all there.

The daesang chalbori bread and grain bread had holes of different sizes inside. They were pleasantly chewy rather than dry. The grain bread also had nuts in the dough, which made it feel more filling.

I did not feel heavy after eating them, and their mild flavor kept me reaching for more. They would also be good to buy in several bags, freeze, and warm two or three pieces at a time in the microwave. I did have to wait in line in the morning, but the wait was short, and I left with plenty of bread suitable as a meal substitute.