Yeonnam-dong dessert café with lemon terrine: Jitheunsan

A friend and I visited Jitheunsan (짙은산) near Yeonnam-dong’s Gyeongui Line Forest Park. We went for the flourless terrine, but the dense cake, warm lighting, and vintage interior also stayed with me.

Where is Jitheunsan, and how late is it open?

The address is 27 Seongmisan-ro 29an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, on the first floor. It is within walking distance of Hongik University Station and close to Gyeongui Line Forest Park, so it was nice to stop by during a walk. When the original post was written, its listed hours were daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. There is no on-site parking.

What are the photo-friendly space and seating like?

At the entrance stood a stone-marker-shaped sign representing a mountain peak. It caught my attention before I even went inside.

The vintage interior and warm lighting came together nicely. It suited the soft, slightly blurred look characteristic of old iPhone photos.

There was also a hand-drawn menu board. My friend and I took photos of each other at our table, and the backdrop and lighting helped us get several shots we liked.

There were window seats beside full-height windows as well as large tables where several people could sit together. It worked well for the two of us to talk and take photos, and I also liked that it stayed open late enough to visit after dinner.

Was there plenty of seating late at night?

Even though I visited late, the café was almost full. Quite a few terrine varieties were sold out, so not every menu item was available to choose from.

What were the price and texture of the lemon terrine?

The two of us ordered one lemon terrine cake, a café latte, and a Lemonicano. They were ₩8,500, ₩6,000, and ₩6,500 respectively.

Jitheunsan’s terrines are desserts made without flour. The lemon terrine I tried was dense and chewy from the first bite. Its bright lemon aroma gave way to a rich nuttiness and sweetness, and I was more satisfied than I expected.

How much are the other terrine options?

The original post lists the following prices for other menu items. The terrine I personally tried was the lemon one.

• Lemon, chestnut, or chocolate terrine cake: ₩8,500
• Cream cheese, matcha, sweet potato, ssukjeolmi (mugwort and roasted soybean powder rice cake), or pistachio cherry terrine: ₩9,000
• Oreo dwaejip terrine cake: ₩10,000
• Raspberry cream cheese or matcha mammoth terrine: ₩10,000
• Terrine parfait: ₩11,500

What was the coffee like with the terrine?

The café latte paired well with the terrine, combining the softness of milk with a pleasantly bitter, nutty note. The Lemonicano added a fresh lemon aroma to espresso flavor, and it made my palate feel refreshed between bites of sweet dessert.

That day, the owner gave us lemon sherbet after we finished dessert, saying it would cleanse our palates. It was refreshing and felt like a clean finish to the meal.

What were the service and restroom like?

The owner was kind, which made me feel good throughout the visit. The service was memorable alongside the desserts and space.

The restroom was inside the café and was clean and well maintained when I visited.

There were maps, a guestbook, and other items posted inside the restroom, so I found myself looking around.

What kind of visit does it suit?

It was a good place to share dessert with a friend, take photos, and talk. I thought it would also suit a date following a walk or dinner. Still, it was not quiet even late at night, and the sold-out menu items were disappointing. Next time, I would like to return with a vintage digital camera.