Gwangjin, Seoul café for crisp kouign-amann: Stack Bakery

I was in the Konkuk University area for the first time in a while and found an absolutely delicious bakery café. It was Stack Bakery Konkuk University Station Main Branch, and I was genuinely shocked when I tried the bread. Hahaha.

It suited my taste so perfectly that it felt like some of the best bread I have had this year. It was not merely tasty—the crunch was really on another level. From that crisp! texture when I took a bite to the nutty flavor, I loved it so much that I kept thinking about it afterward. I think I found a truly great bakery café.

Getting to Stack Bakery from Konkuk University Station

It is between Konkuk University Station and Jayang Station, about 600 m from Exit 5 of Konkuk University Station.

The sky was clear and blue on the day I visited. I took a bus from Jamsil Station toward Konkuk University, and since I could get off at a stop close to the café, it was easier to find than I expected.

When I went inside, a large mirror and cute croissants welcomed me. There were charming little details from the entrance onward, which put me in a good mood for no reason. Hahaha. So cute.

French-style pastries in the shop

Further inside, the place was full of bread. There were so many varieties that I found myself wondering which one to choose first.

There were all kinds of French-style pastries, from plain croissants with a real buttery flavor to kaya croissants with kaya jam and gourmet butter, kouign-amann, and pain au chocolat.

They all looked freshly baked, crisp, and appetizing, so I spent quite a while deciding. Haha. Stack Bakery says it carefully makes everything in-house, from mixing the dough through baking, so I was really looking forward to it. You could actually glimpse the baking being made in the back of the shop.

But this Konkuk University café, Stack Bakery, was not just an ordinary neighborhood bakery café. It was already quite well known for its croissants, and I heard it became even more recognized after appearing in content by Thibault Geoffray, a French model-turned-YouTuber.

It was introduced alongside croissant-famous places such as Montage and Antique, and apparently received the very high score of 8.8. Hahaha. Super Junior also held its 19th-anniversary livestream right here, and Honey J has visited too.

With its reputation as a croissant destination, plus broadcasts and celebrity visits, it was already a well-known bakery café around Konkuk University. I came to the right place.

Relaxing upstairs on the second floor

After ordering and heading upstairs, I found a lovely space.

I liked that it was more spacious than expected. The seating was generously arranged, so I could sit comfortably without feeling cramped. Large windows brought in a wide view outside and gave the space a natural openness.

There were fresh flowers too, and the atmosphere was pleasant. It was also so, so nice for visiting alone and leisurely enjoying coffee and bread.

There are blankets and chairs for storing personal belongings, too. Haha.

The coffee and bread I ordered

• Handmade vanilla bean latte ₩6,000
• Plain kouign-amann ₩4,500
• Pain au chocolat ₩5,200
• Stack Croissant ₩4,500
• Tomato cheese pastry ₩4,500
• Egg and cheese pastry ₩4,800

I usually like sweet coffee, so I ordered a vanilla latte and several breads.

Stack Bakery says it uses coffee beans blended directly by a roaster with 15 years of experience. Maybe that is why my vanilla latte tasted rich in coffee yet smooth and delicious.

But the breads were even more delicious. Hahaha. Truly, every single one I tried was good. Above all, what surprised me was the crunch.

Egg and cheese pastry

There is egg inside, and when I took a bite, the clean taste of the egg and the nutty flavor of the cheese went together so well.

The outside was wonderfully crisp, so every bite really revealed the pastry's layers. Its nutty, mild flavor was so good with coffee.

The signature Stack Croissant

I also tried the Stack Croissant, Stack Bakery's signature item.

The outside was crisp and the inside fluffy, with a subtle but rich buttery aroma, so I immediately understood why it is the signature item. It was one of the best croissants I have had this year.

Tomato cheese pastry

The bright flavor and freshness of the tomato came through first.

The cheese added a nutty, smooth flavor, and the tomato-and-cheese pairing worked really well. Thanks to the tangy tomato, it was not rich or heavy and tasted clean.

Pain au chocolat and plain kouign-amann

The pain au chocolat had an incredible look right from the start, right? Hahaha. Even the coated outside was absolutely insane. I was impressed from the moment I saw how beautifully the layered pastry structure had held its shape. Every crisp layer was so pretty that I almost felt bad breaking it apart to eat it. I carefully took a bite, and it did not disappoint.

Everything was delicious, but the most outstanding one of all was the plain kouign-amann.

Seriously, its outside was insane. Hahaha. The moment I bit into it, it was so, so crisp that it practically shattered. The exterior was coated with sweet caramel syrup, so the sweetness burst through along with that crunchy texture.

The kouign-amann's distinctive layers were especially intact, and I kept marveling as I ate it. It was among the best breads I have had this year, and if you go to Stack Bakery, I really hope you try the plain kouign-amann. Hahaha.

The owner was kind, too, and I liked it even more because it felt like they truly cared about bread, making it right in the shop!!

The breads I tried at Stack Bakery were all so delicious that I ate them in genuine amazement. Trying each one made me understand why this place is famous for croissants and pastries. My favorite thing, of course, was that wonderfully crisp texture.

I am curious about the breads I did not get to try this time, so I plan to visit again when I am in the Konkuk University area. If you love delicious bread, be sure to try the crisp croissants and pastries at least once!!!