Mullae cake shop: my birthday strawberry dome with in-laws, Chef Zo

For my birthday this time, I prepared a slightly special cake. Chef Zo (쉐프조) is a place I've gone to for cakes for ages. Last time I tried Chef Zo's peach berry cake at Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam, and it had a charm all its own, different from a strawberry cream cake. This time I decided to have the signature cake from Chef Zo Mullae Main Store for the first time in a while.

And that's the strawberry dome cake. I was so happy to visit Chef Zo again, using my birthday as the excuse, haha. A birthday cake to celebrate myself! Chef Zo, I love you~

What kind of cake shop is Chef Zo Mullae Main Store?

Chef Zo is a cake specialty shop run by a master baker (제과기능장) known as one of the "Four Cake Kings" from the TV show Master of Living (생활의 달인). The main store is on Mullae-ro in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, near Mullae Station.

Chef Zo is known for using 100% dairy fresh cream and making cakes that bring out the natural flavor of good ingredients. Its strawberry cream cake is especially famous, which also makes it well known as a Yeongdeungpo cake favorite.

Besides cakes, Chef Zo Mullae Main Store sells bread made with organic flour and natural yeast, kabocha squash tarts made with squash boiled in-house, and more.

There are seats in the shop too, so it looks like a decent spot to enjoy dessert with some good-smelling coffee.

Reserving the strawberry dome cake and its price

Chef Zo's strawberry dome cake No. 1 is ₩46,000 and can only be bought at the Mullae Main Store. For my birthday I used my review-team perk (체험단) to reserve a Chef Zo cake.

Because I reserved quickly, I could pick up the cake right on my birthday. The one I chose is Chef Zo's signature strawberry dome cake.

The dome cake is only available at the Mullae Main Store. Strawberry dome No. 1, ₩46,000. I'd been thinking about this cake for days, so I can't tell you how long I waited even after reserving it.

Birthday pickup, and the Mont Blanc tart saved for next time

I finally met the dome cake on my birthday! It looked so good I wanted to rush home and open it. Actually, I'd planned to pick up my husband's favorite Mont Blanc tart and some milk bread along with the cake.

But I was already carrying a birthday cake box I'd received as a gift, so carrying anything more was too much. Sadly, I put it off until next time. I got home with two cake boxes and finally opened the box.

Does the dome cake have fresh strawberries even out of season?

The writer's Chef Zo strawberry dome cake had fresh strawberries on it even though it wasn't strawberry season. The moment I saw the cake, one strawberry had fallen off. I couldn't resist that. My hand moved first and into my mouth it went, haha.

Since it's out of season, I assumed they'd be frozen strawberries, so I was surprised they were fresh. So good~~

The round shape of the strawberries and cream together was so cute. Maybe I was just in a good mood because it was my birthday? I kept turning the cake this way and that, snapping photos.

I like cake any day, but a birthday cake is somehow extra special. Absolutely, haha.

Cutting the strawberry dome in half: inside and taste

When I cut the dome cake in half, there were layers of strawberries and fresh cream. It was so pretty I wanted to leave it as it was, but I cut it in half to share with my in-laws.

It looked cute on the outside, but the cross-section looked even more appetizing. The strawberries and cream in layers got me even more excited.

Thinking about sharing it, I felt I'd picked the right birthday cake. And then, finally, time to taste! The first bite had a moist sponge and really soft cream. It melts away in your mouth.

There were plenty of strawberries too, adding a fresh tang every time I ate them with the cream. When a cake is too sweet, you sometimes get sick of it after a few bites, but the dome's soft cream and fresh strawberries blended well and were easy to eat.

It was a birthday cake with a cute look and a taste I was happy with.

Is Chef Zo's strawberry dome worth recommending as a birthday cake?

If you're looking for a good cake shop in Seoul or a Yeongdeungpo cake, Chef Zo's strawberry dome cake is worth a look. If you like the combination of moist sponge, soft cream and strawberries, keep it in mind as a strawberry cake favorite.

Next time I'll definitely pick up my husband's favorite Mont Blanc tart and milk bread. A day that began happily with a birthday cake, and Chef Zo after a long while. See you again, Chef Zo, haha!