Jongno 3-ga bakery: coffee & garlic bread still moist at home, Munhwa

While visiting Jongno 3-ga in Seoul, I finally stopped by Munhwa Bakery, a place I'd been curious about for ages. I love bread and always hunt down famous bakeries, but this one has a warm story behind it, not just good taste, so I was extra excited :-) Okay, starting the review!

What kind of bakery is Munhwa Bakery?

Munhwa Bakery is on Donhwamun-ro near Jongno 3-ga, and its rule is to sell only bread made that day. So whenever you visit, you get fresh bread, which was the thing I liked most.

I hear the popular breads often sell out by late weekend afternoons, so if there's something you want, I'd recommend going a bit earlier.

What happens to the leftover bread?

Bread that doesn't sell isn't thrown away. It goes to people who need it, such as children who miss meals, elderly people living alone and free meal centers. This philosophy is exactly why Munhwa Bakery left such an impression on me.

It didn't stop at making delicious bread; sharing warmth with the community really touched me. Buying a loaf felt like joining in on something good, which made it even more meaningful.

There's a receipt review event too, so keep that in mind!

How much is the bread at Munhwa Bakery?

The breads ranged from ₩3,500 to ₩6,800. Here are the prices of the different kinds!

• Popular coffee bread ₩5,600
• Garlic bread ₩6,800

I grabbed these two first :-)

• Rice chestnut loaf ₩5,800
• Rice cheese loaf ₩5,900
• Maple cream cheese bread ₩4,900
• Sweet potato bread ₩3,800
• White red-bean paste bread ₩3,800
• Walnut bread ₩3,500

• Onion bagel ₩6,000

• Milk cream bread ₩3,500
• Black sesame bread ₩3,800

• Injeolmi (roasted soybean rice cake) bread ₩3,800
• Peanut bread ₩3,800
• Mugwort rice cake bread ₩5,700

How does the coffee bread taste?

I picked the coffee bread and garlic bread and took them home. Even the walk back, smelling warm bread, put me in a good mood.

I tried the coffee bread first. The moment I opened the bag, a gentle coffee aroma spread out, and it was really appealing. Coffee lovers would probably be happy with the smell alone.

The coffee bread was moist and soft, and not too sweet, so it was easy to eat. The bittersweet coffee note and the sweetness blended nicely, and each bite made me happy. I think it would pair really well with an americano.

How does the garlic bread taste?

Next up is the garlic bread. I personally love garlic bread, and Munhwa Bakery's tasted even better because the garlic flavor is rich but not harsh.

The outside was nicely crisp and the inside moist, so the texture was great, and plenty of garlic butter had soaked in for a very rich flavor. Salty and nutty, I meant to eat just one but kept reaching for more.

Is it still good as takeout at home?

I ate it at home, and the moisture and flavor were still all there, which I was happy about. Maybe because it was baked that day, it didn't turn dry even after some time.

If you're looking for good bread in Jongno, give Munhwa Bakery near Jongno 3-ga a visit. Popular breads can sell out quickly, so I'd suggest not leaving it too late. Next time I want to go a bit earlier and try the other popular items too.

Delicious bread and a warm heart, all in one place at Munhwa Bakery. If you're after a special bakery in Jongno, Seoul, I confidently recommend it.