Seocho cake shop, kid-approved Strawberry Mango Flower: Chef Cho

Going to buy a cake always makes me a little giddy. This time I went to Chef Cho (쉐프조), which has a great reputation as a Shinsegae Gangnam cake spot. It's in Sweet Park, in the basement of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch near Express Bus Terminal Station. I'd always glanced at the showcase while passing by, and this time I finally got to taste it :)

Chef Cho Shinsegae Gangnam: location and showcase

The Chef Cho shop is inside Sweet Park on B1 of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch. It's 222 m from Exit 3 of Express Bus Terminal Station and connected underground, so it's easy even on a rainy day.

Once you stand in front of the shop, you can't take your eyes off the showcase. There's a cake ringed with whole strawberries, a cake with mango rolled up like roses, and a pretty pistachio-colored cake, all lined up in a row. The cakes are packed so tightly that photos come out pretty from any angle.

One of the "Four Kings of Cake" on Master of Living, a certified master baker

Next to the register is a gold plaque reading "Master of Living (생활의 달인) Four Kings of Cake," with a chef profile board beside it. The chef has run Chef Cho for over 20 years and is a certified Korean master baker (제과기능장). The résumé is packed: Tokyo confectionery school, training at a Japanese confectionery college, Carpigiani gelato in Italy, and training at ENBP in France. Reading this while buying a cake somehow makes me trust the place more.

I like the brand principles too: 100% animal-based fresh cream, fresh fruit delivered daily, and the skills of a certified Korean master baker. Chef Cho also runs the Mullae main shop, Bread Company Chef Cho, and Chef Cho Boutique.

How much is Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Flower No. 1?

We chose the Strawberry Mango Flower No. 1 for ₩53,000. It's a fresh cream cake topped with both strawberries and mango.

I wondered if a strawberry cake would feel off in summer, but with mango on top it fits the season perfectly. The colors are lovely too, so just putting it on the birthday table lifts the mood.

Chef Cho whole, mini and slice cake prices

Here are the other cake prices I saw in the Chef Cho showcase.

Whole cakes

• Strawberry Mango Flower No. 1 ₩53,000
• Real Mango Rose No. 1 ₩56,000
• Pistachio Forest No. 1 ₩56,000
• Cacao 52% Whole Chocolate Strawberry No. 1 ₩53,000

Mini size

• Pure Milk Strawberry Dome ₩39,000
• Dark Chocolate Forest ₩39,000
• Cacao 52% Whole Chocolate Strawberry ₩41,000
• Pistachio Forest ₩43,000

Cake slices

• Real Strawberry Fresh Cream ₩9,800
• Real Mango Fresh Cream ₩9,800
• Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream ₩9,800
• Matcha Chocolate Strawberry ₩11,000
• Pistachio Forest ₩11,000

Other

• White crêpe roll with fruit ₩13,800

For a small group, the mini size seems right; for a family gathering, No. 1 fits. If you just want a taste, slices are around ₩10,000, so they're less of a commitment.

Strawberry Mango Flower: how it looks and a cross-section

Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Flower has whole strawberries ringed around the edge of the top and big pieces of mango piled in the middle. When I opened the box at home, the kids shouted first. A sprig of rosemary in the center makes the colors pop.

The sides aren't plain cream either. Strawberry slices and mango are designed to show through the cream.

Turn the cake around and there's fruit everywhere with no gaps. When I cut into it, the sponge had three layers. Each layer has thick fresh cream, with strawberries and mango packed in between. The fruit isn't just sitting on top; it's full all the way through.

Is Chef Cho's cake very sweet?

The fresh cream on Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Flower really isn't sweet. Maybe it's the 100% animal-based cream, but it's clean and light. After a slice, you don't feel like reaching for water. I hate when my throat gets dry and clogged from cake, and there was none of that here.

The sponge is on the fluffy side. It gives softly under a fork and melts lightly in your mouth. I think it suits people who like to eat several light slices more than people who like heavy, rich cakes.

The fruit is fresh. None of the strawberries were mushy, and the mango cubes are big enough to chew. The reason the cake isn't bland is the natural sweetness of the fruit.

The kids' reaction

The kids' reaction was the clearest :) Each ate a slice and kept saying "this is really good." They usually leave the cream behind, but this time they cleaned even that. I'd happily buy it again.

Weekend wait: reserve and pick up right away

I visited Chef Cho at Shinsegae Gangnam on Sunday at 12 p.m., and because I'd reserved ahead, I picked up my cake with no wait. I knew a weekend department store basement would be crowded and worried, but choosing, paying and getting the cake packed didn't take long.

The staff kindly explained each cake and its features step by step, which made choosing easy. If you want a particular cake on a weekend, I really recommend reserving, since popular cakes can sell out depending on the time.

Summer packaging and storage

Chef Cho's cake comes in a pink box, wrapped once more in a plastic bag, with the handle coming up from the top. A brand sticker on the side of the box reads "20-year tradition cake house." The cake must be refrigerated, and the shelf life is noted as 2 days when chilled.

I was worried because it was summer, but the cream stayed intact all the way home. That matters more than you'd think when buying a whole cake in summer. They also included candles, so we could stick them in and light them right at home.

With lots of candles stuck in the cake, it became the kids' favorite moment.

Chef Cho Shinsegae Gangnam: frequently asked questions

• Q. Where is Chef Cho Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam? A. In Sweet Park on B1 of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch, 176 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul. It's 222 m from Exit 3 of Express Bus Terminal Station.
• Q. How much is the Strawberry Mango Flower? A. ₩53,000 for No. 1.
• Q. Is there a wait? A. We reserved and visited on Sunday at 12 p.m., and picked up right away with no wait. I recommend reserving on weekends.
• Q. Is it very sweet? A. The sweetness isn't strong. It uses 100% animal-based fresh cream, so it's on the light side.
• Q. Do they give you a cooler bag? A. Yes, they gave us one. We could carry it home with peace of mind even in summer.
• Q. How should I store it? A. It must be refrigerated, and the shelf life is noted as 2 days when chilled.
• Q. Is it okay for kids? A. The cream is light and there's lots of fruit, so my kids ate it all, even the cream.

Who is Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Flower for?

A cake is ultimately something that creates the mood of the day. Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Flower is pretty to look at and easy to eat, and the whole family was satisfied. The cream isn't sweet, so adults can enjoy it comfortably, and the generous fruit won over the kids. The careful cooler bag in summer left a good impression too.

I'd happily recommend it to anyone who wants dessert after a good meal around Shinsegae Gangnam, anyone looking for a Shinsegae Gangnam cake, or anyone who needs a no-fail cake for a birthday or anniversary. Next time I want to try the Pistachio Forest or the Real Mango Rose.