Hongdae bakery garlic baguette better than Mokpo's: Mandong Jegwa

I was out for a meal in Hongdae and couldn't just walk past Mandong Jegwa 🥖 The Hongdae area has so many good restaurants and things to see that you end up spotting a lot of bakeries too along the way, but Mandong Jegwa's original branch is famous enough that I'd heard the name for years. It's the kind of place any bread lover has heard of at least once, so since I was already in Hongdae, I really wanted to stop by in person.

Where is Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch, and what are its hours?

Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch is at 32 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, about a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:00.

• 🥐 Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch
• 📍 Address: 32 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
• 🚇 Nearest station: Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3, about 10 min walk
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• 🚗 Parking: No store parking
• 🅿️ Parking: Use nearby paid public lots

Inside Mandong Jegwa: the shop and its bread display

Walking inside, there were way more 🥖bread varieties on display than I expected! Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch isn't a huge space, but the layout was clean and organized, so browsing the bread wasn't awkward at all.

Bread prices at Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch

• Maple — ₩4,900
• Pretzel — ₩5,000
• Emmental — ₩5,200
• Walnut — ₩4,300
• Mugwort rice cake bread — ₩4,900
• Squid ink bread — ₩4,100

• Bottom bread — ₩3,500
• Chestnut red bean mugwort loaf — ₩7,200
• Sweet pumpkin ciabatta — ₩6,200
• Bacon ciabatta — ₩4,900
• Fig campagne — ₩5,800
• Cucumber baguette — ₩6,900
• Garlic baguette — ₩7,000

• Milk cream bun — ₩3,500
• Injeolmi bread — ₩3,500
• Jalapeño ciabatta — ₩4,800
• Kaya coconut — ₩4,500
• Chili sausage bread — ₩4,300
• Tortilla bread — ₩4,300

• Cheese mallangi — ₩1,200
• Rusk — ₩1,500
• Chestnut bread loaf — ₩4,900
• Yakbap bread — ₩3,800
• Sweet potato bread — ₩3,500
• Shrimp baguette — ₩5,500
• Salty soboro — ₩3,600

• Cappuccino bread — ₩5,600

How many tasting samples does Mandong Jegwa give you?

While I was picking out bread, a staff member kept cutting up sample pieces of different breads for me. I think I tried about five kinds!

After going back and forth between all the breads, I ended up picking the garlic baguette and cappuccino bread, which are apparently the most popular items at Mandong Jegwa! 🥖 I was especially curious about the garlic baguette since I'd heard it's the most sought-after item there, and sure enough, it looked delicious just from the visual alone!

They packed the cappuccino bread in a cooler bag!

How does the 7,000-won garlic baguette taste?

Garlic baguette🧄🥖 Mandong Jegwa's garlic baguette has a crisp crust with a soft, moist inside. There was plenty of what seemed to be condensed milk glaze brushed on top, so it came through both sweet and nutty at once. It has that strong classic garlic bread aroma, and once you take one bite, your hand just keeps reaching for more! I've also had the garlic bread at that famous bakery in Mokpo known for it, and honestly I think this one is even better..💕 I only meant to eat one piece but I kept going back for more, haha😂

Eating the garlic baguette with the cappuccino bread

Cappuccino bread☕️🥐 Mandong Jegwa's cappuccino bread is soft and nutty, and it worked to balance out the intensity of the garlic baguette in between bites. Eating them together with coffee was so much easier than just eating bread nonstop, and it would also make a great snack or afternoon coffee pairing. Actually eating it made me suddenly crave coffee, so off I go to brew some..☕️

What to pick at Mandong Jegwa on a first visit

If you're eating in Hongdae and looking for a nearby bakery, it's worth stopping by the famous Mandong Jegwa and picking up at least one popular item. Next time I come back to Hongdae, I want to try some of the other breads I didn't get to this time. If you're a first-time visitor like me and not sure what to choose, I'd recommend starting with the popular garlic baguette! 🥖☕️