Hongik Univ. Station bakery at 7pm: cucumber baguette, Mandong Jegwa
In short
Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch (만동제과 연남점) is a Yeonnam-dong bakery on Yeonhui-ro in Seodaemun, Seoul, known for its signature cucumber baguette. On a second visit with his wife around 7pm after work, the writer took home the cucumber baguette and a few other breads. He liked the cream cheese and crunchy cucumber enough to finish a whole baguette. Verdict: the Mandong Jegwa cucumber baguette is worth the trip, but almost nothing is left by evening, so come in the afternoon to see every bread.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3 · 8-min walk (store listing, Oct 7, 2026)
- Address
- 32 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch)
- Signature item
- Cucumber baguette (a baguette filled with cucumber and cream cheese)
- Other breads spotted
- Corn mayo bread, jalapeño ciabatta, bacon ciabatta
- How to order
- For some breads, tell the counter how many you want and the staff bag them for you
- Timing tip
- Almost no bread left around 7pm; an afternoon visit is recommended
- Getting there
- Take a bus from Hongik Univ. Station toward Gajwa; about a 1-minute walk from the stop
as written by the visitor on Jul 9, 2026
Back to a Yeonnam-dong bakery with my wife after work: Mandong Jegwa
Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch (만동제과 연남점) is such a famous Yeonnam-dong bakery that my wife and I headed over after work as a little Yeonnam-dong outing. I love bread so much that I enjoy going on bakery pilgrimages, and this was my second visit to Mandong Jegwa. Last time I came home with a whole load of bread, so I went this time wondering what I'd find.
Mandong Jegwa pops up every single time you search for good places near Hongik Univ. Station. It had been a while, but the antique, stylish look of the shop gave off such a vibe that I was excited before even stepping inside.
The black brick exterior is enough to catch the eye of anyone walking past, and Mandong Jegwa's special mood comes through right from the entrance. And the sign just says "bread" (빵), with nothing else. How committed to bread can you be, haha.
What's the atmosphere and ordering system at Mandong Jegwa like?
Inside Mandong Jegwa the shop is full of the smell of toasty bread, and for some breads you don't pick them up yourself: you just tell the counter how many you want and the staff bag them for you. The moment I walked in, that warm bread smell filled the whole place and made me happy.
The display shelves held all kinds of bread neatly arranged, looking as if they'd just come out of the oven. Every one looked so good that even the time spent deciding what to pick was fun. The shelves on both sides were already sold out and only the middle row was left, which was a bit of a letdown, but oh well...
For some breads, you don't pick them up yourself. You tell the counter how many you want and the staff carefully pack them, so it felt much more hygienic and organized.
Why I chose Mandong Jegwa's signature cucumber baguette
On this visit to Mandong Jegwa, I picked the signature cucumber baguette as my main item.
I'd long heard that among Yeonnam-dong bakeries, Mandong Jegwa is famous for its cucumber baguette, so I was really curious about the taste. While the staff were packing my bread, I looked around and saw corn mayo bread, jalapeño ciabatta, bacon ciabatta and more, all looking delicious. For bread lovers, Mandong Jegwa might just be heaven. Every item in the lineup was tempting.
How did the Mandong Jegwa cucumber baguette taste?
The Mandong Jegwa cucumber baguette is a baguette, crisp outside and chewy inside, generously filled with cucumber and cream cheese, and the freshness of the cucumber cut the richness of the cream cheese. I bought a few breads including the cucumber baguette, took them home with a fluttering heart, and finally tried them properly.
Inside the baguette, crisp outside and chewy inside, were plenty of fresh cucumber and cream cheese. The moment I took a bite, the crunch of the cucumber and the deep flavor of the cream cheese came together and it tasted absolutely fantastic.
The flavors worked together far better than I'd imagined, and I instantly understood why everyone recommends Mandong Jegwa as a Hongdae favorite. In particular, the cucumber's freshness cleanly cut the richness of the cream cheese, so it's a taste that people of any age or gender would probably like.
I cut it into bite-size pieces and kept popping them in my mouth, and before I knew it I'd finished a whole baguette. It's that addictive. The bread itself has great flavor and they don't skimp on the filling, so it works as a filling snack or even a light meal.
If you want proper bread near Hongik Univ. Station, or you're looking for a good bakery to stop by on a Yeonnam-dong date, I strongly recommend Mandong Jegwa.
The quality made it clear why it's counted as a must-visit on the bakery pilgrimage route. Next time I come to the Hongdae area, I plan to buy the jalapeño ciabatta and corn mayo bread I didn't get to try this time. Do try the feast of bread at Yeonnam-dong bakery Mandong Jegwa for yourself.
Evening visit tips and how to get to Mandong Jegwa
When I visited Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch around 7pm after work, there was hardly any bread left.. I think you'd need to go in the afternoon to try every kind of bread.
- Around 7pm, the shelves on both sides were empty and only the middle row was left → for a wider selection, an afternoon visit is recommended
- Take a bus from Hongik Univ. Station toward Gajwa, and Mandong Jegwa is almost 1 minute from where you get off
- Plenty of buses run from Hongik Univ. Station, so keep that in mind
Where it is
32 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 서대문구 연희로 32
Mandong Bread Yeonnam: hours, menu and prices →
