Jongno bakery for chewy garlic bread: Munhwa Bakery

While I was in Jongno to sell some gold, a staff member told me that Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a famous bakery in the area!

Ikseon-dong has so many places to eat, from cafés and desserts to bakeries. Still, even after visiting lots of places, I think there are some that make you think, “I have to come back here next time.”

Munhwa Bakery was that kind of bakery for me on this visit. It is close to Jongno 3-ga Station, so it is easy to stop by while wandering around Ikseon-dong, and I loved the texture of the breads I tried. Next time, I am going to buy a more generous amount.

Getting to Munhwa Bakery from Jongno 3-ga Station

It is only a short walk from Jongno 3-ga Station, so it is very accessible. It is also in an easy spot to pop into while looking around the Ikseon-dong alleys, making it a nice place to add if you are looking for a bakery around Jongno 3-ga or Ikseon-dong.

Breads I chose as gifts

This time, I bought breads to eat myself as well as some to give to someone I know. For the gifts, I chose onion bread, garlic bread, and injeolmi bread.

When choosing a gift, something too grand can feel like a burden for both people, but a few different breads make such an easy little gift. If you pick one of each kind, the person receiving them gets to try different flavors too, which I think is nice.

It also seemed like a great fit for anyone visiting Jongno or Ikseon-dong who wants a simple food gift to bring back for family or friends.

How were the coffee bread and garlic bread?

I tried the coffee bread and garlic bread. What I remember most about both was, of course, their wonderfully chewy texture.

They were not dry or crumbly in your mouth; the more I chewed, the chewier they became, so I kept reaching for more. I already love garlic bread and often choose it whenever I go to a bakery, and I enjoyed Munhwa Bakery's version too. The coffee bread was also perfect as an individual snack.

At first, I thought I would take photos and eat them slowly with coffee, but once I started, they disappeared in no time.

Ah, I should have bought more.

That was the very first thought I had after finishing them. I think it is a more accurate review than simply saying they were delicious.

Next time, onion bread and injeolmi bread too

I gave the onion bread and injeolmi bread to someone else this time, so I did not get to try them myself. If anything, that gave me one more reason to return to Munhwa Bakery.

Next time, I plan to buy the garlic bread and coffee bread again, along with the onion bread and injeolmi bread I missed this time. With so many varieties, it looks fun to choose according to your tastes, and it would be great to buy several and share them.

An Ikseon-dong bakery I want to revisit

Just because somewhere is famous does not always mean you want to return, right? Whether I want to buy and eat something again after trying it is my standard for judging a good place, and Munhwa Bakery is somewhere I want to revisit.

Especially if you love bread with a chewy texture, it is worth stopping by. Being close to Jongno 3-ga Station makes it easy to include on an Ikseon-dong outing, and it is convenient to pack up a few breads you want and take them with you.

The next time I am in Ikseon-dong, I will buy the garlic bread and coffee bread again and load up on the breads I did not get to try this time! If you are looking for a bakery near Jongno 3-ga or in Ikseon-dong, remember Munhwa Bakery. For me, it is a bakery whose breads vanished so quickly that I was sad—and that is why I want to go back.