Garlic butter salt bread eat-in at Goyang bakery Boulangerie Tan

I went to the KINTEX area two days in a row. Sunday was for a Back Number concert at KINTEX, and Monday I went to Hyundai Department Store KINTEX branch, where I found a delicious bakery in the basement food hall — so here's an introduction.

A bakery that started in Paju getting a spot in a Hyundai Department Store made me curious about just how good it must be.

KINTEX's must-visit bakery, Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX branch!

Where is Boulangerie Tan at Hyundai Department Store KINTEX, and what are the hours?

Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX branch is in the basement 1st floor of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX, 817 Hosu-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Hours are Mon-Thu 10:30-20:00 and Fri-Sun 10:30-20:30, and they change depending on the department store's holidays and business hours.

When I went to the Back Number concert, I worried about parking so I took GTX-A to KINTEX Station, and the department store is also just a short walk from there. This time I drove, and the underground parking lot was spacious and pleasant. After parking, I took the escalator near valet parking up one floor and found Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX branch right nearby.

If you're wondering where to go for a bakery near KINTEX, just come here~~

The lineup is smaller than the original Paju store, but that just means only the most popular core items made the cut, so you can't go wrong with any pick.

What's in the display case at Boulangerie Tan?

The display case at Boulangerie Tan KINTEX has the signature carrot rapee chicken salt bread along with various other salt breads, chimney-shaped cornet pies, fluffy ciabatta, and even the currently trendy chocolate baguette — it really steals your attention. Everything sits in the case so it's hygienic, and you just pick what you want and order. The carrot rapee chicken salt bread was freshly made for me.

The salt, butter and baking rules behind Boulangerie Tan's bread

I think what's made Boulangerie Tan popular even with picky department store customers is their uncompromising production principles. Made and sold the same day is a given, and they use a natural levain (sourdough starter) they cultivate in-house in the dough, which apparently gives the bread a soft texture and full flavor. They only use organic flour, French flour, natural butter, and dairy whipping cream, so you can imagine the quality. Personally, I dislike plant-based cream because it feels greasy and cloying, so this was a very welcome detail.

Buy 3 salt breads, get 1 free — and the ₩9,900 Americano set

And pay attention! Boulangerie Tan KINTEX was running a promotion where buying 3 kinds of salt bread gets you 1 free gourmet butter salt bread. I actually didn't know about this — when I unpacked my order, there was an extra salt bread in there and I was confused for a second, then realized what happened once I saw my photos haha. I'd actually ordered the ₩9,900 Americano set. Anyway, until 2pm you can get the carrot rapee chicken salt bread and an Americano at set price.

The packaging bag is clean and pretty too. Inside was a nicely designed card explaining the story of Boulangerie Tan, this must-visit KINTEX bakery, along with storage instructions.

Can you eat in? The communal table right outside the shop

There's a round communal table right outside Boulangerie Tan KINTEX, plus more tables nearby, so eating in is totally an option! I'd originally planned to take everything home, but I wanted the salt bread so badly I just sat down right there~

Plain salt bread with Topan sun-dried salt and gourmet butter

The plain salt bread! Made with gourmet butter, it has great flavor and a crisp bottom, while the inside is chewy and moist, overall a clean, understated style you just keep eating. The butter cave passes the test too! It uses Topan sun-dried salt, which gave it a very appealing savory saltiness. I wanted to eat the other one so badly but held myself back~

Saved the rest for home~

Carrot râpée chicken salt bread, the signature

The signature carrot rapee (carrot slaw) chicken salt bread! You could call it a salt bread version of a sandwich, and it wasn't bland at all — pretty filling. The carrot rapee especially had a crunchy texture, and it was packed with cheese and chicken, making it great as a meal substitute.

Choco cream salt bread

The choco cream salt bread with a thick layer of chocolate coating on top! The cream inside was also full of smooth chocolate aroma and felt luxurious. Of course, being a salt bread with a crispy bottom, it couldn't not be delicious — the sweet-and-salty balance was so good~

Garlic butter salt bread

The garlic butter salt bread uses domestic garlic, so the garlic flavor is intense, but the sweet cream layered in between was also delicious, the kind of taste that has you licking your fingers.

A KINTEX must-visit bakery with high-quality salt bread made from good ingredients — Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX branch! Next time I definitely have to try the cornet pie.