Jongno bakery for breads to share with parents: Munhwa Bakery

Visiting and entering Munhwa Bakery in Ikseon-dong

Whenever I head out around Ikseon-dong or Jongno 3-ga, it is so fun to browse the hanok alleys and pretty cafés. This day, I stopped by Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) to look around and pick out some snacks to take home~

There is usually a bit of a wait, but I arrived at around 2 p.m. on Saturday. There was absolutely nobody there, so I went straight in haha. The interior is small, so only two parties can enter at a time~

Hours are 11 a.m.–8 p.m. every day, although they can close early when the bread sells out ㅠㅠ This popular Ikseon-dong bakery even appeared on Running Man—shall we take a look~?

Breads I looked over at Munhwa Bakery

Injeolmi bread 3.8 It was round and flat, generously coated in soybean powder, with cream inside~ I tried it once before, and I loved its chewy texture! Peanut bread 3.8 I heard this was a must-try at Munhwa Bakery, so I picked one up~ True to its name, its color brought savory peanuts to mind, and even at a glance it looked like it would have a nutty cream rather than just be sweet. Of the breads I chose, this was actually my third favorite. Mugwort rice cake bread 5.7 Its color caught my eye before anything else. It had a deep green hue as though mugwort had gone into it, and its shape suggested a chewy, rice-cake-like texture. Since “rice cake” is in the name, I think people who like a denser, chewier bite than ordinary bread would enjoy it! I should try it next time~

Black sesame bread 3.8 Its deep color made it relatively easy to spot in the display. It looked like it would have that nutty, rich black sesame flavor, so I recommend it to anyone with an old-fashioned palate haha. Milk cream bread 3.5 It looked plain on the outside, but it has springy milk cream inside, making me curious about what it would look like cut in half. It was my fourth favorite among the breads I tried. Squid ink condensed milk bread 4.5 Personally, this was one of the items that caught my eye most from the display. The deep black squid-ink bread and white condensed milk made such a pretty contrast. I was curious because it really seemed like sweet condensed milk would pair with a bite of black bread, and it ended up being my second favorite!!

The onion bagel and loaves my mother chose

Onion bagel 6.0 This was a large, thick bagel with a big presence in the display. Unlike a regular bagel with a smooth surface, it looked as though it would have the distinctive fragrant, savory flavor of onion. It was my mother’s number-one pick, and both its size and texture looked satisfyingly filling. The onion bagel had onion in the cream cheese, so the bite was great too. Mom said it was delicious and sang its praises for two days.

Rice chestnut loaf 5.8 With the neat, squared shape of a classic loaf and rice and chestnuts inside, it seemed as though it would be mild with a subtle sweetness. It looked like the kind that would work well as a meal or with jam too haha. Rice cheese loaf 5.9 This looked like a loaf combining the mildness of rice bread with the savory flavor of cheese. It was my mother’s second favorite among the breads she tried. Rather than being simply sweet, it had cheese in it, making it perfect for breakfast or a snack!!

Sweet potato bread 3.8 The sweet-potato-like color and rounded shape were adorable. It seemed like a good choice for anyone who enjoys sweet potato’s fluffy, gently sweet flavor more than plain bread. White bean paste bread 3.8 It had a neat, clean overall shape. It felt like a classic bread with the soft, sweet taste of white bean paste: not flashy, but familiar in the way of an old neighborhood bakery. Walnut bread 3.5 Its appearance already gave off a plain, wholesome feel. With walnuts inside, it looked like it would offer nutty flavor and a pleasant bite, so I recommend it if you like nuts haha.

Coffee bread 5.8 If you like the aroma of coffee, this is the kind of item that makes you curious from the name alone. It is a dessert where you can enjoy the slightly bitter aroma of strong coffee alongside the bread’s chewiness, and it looked like it would pair nicely with a cup of coffee.

The garlic bread I ranked number one

Last but not least, the long-awaited garlic bread!!!!! Garlic bread 6.8 This was the bread I ranked number one this time. It already looked long and appetizing in the display, but when I cut it open, the outside was nicely browned and the inside looked moist with garlic flavor, which made it especially tempting.

Holding a piece in my hand and eating it as in the photo, I loved getting both the crisp part and the soft part together~

An Ikseon-dong bakery that is great for takeaway

I visited while looking for a popular bakery in Ikseon-dong, and it felt less like somewhere to pop into while having coffee in the neighborhood and more like a place to browse many kinds of bread, choose what suits your taste, and take it away. If you are looking for breads that can stand in for a meal rather than desserts that are just overly sweet, or breads that are nice to choose with your parents, definitely stop by once!!