Solo weekday brunch café in Juyeop: arugula sandwich at Like Like

Where is Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch, and is there parking?

Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch (라이크라이크 일산주엽점) is a brunch café in the heart of the Juyeop Station district, in Unit 109 on the first floor of Sidae Plaza (115-1 Juyeop-dong, Ilseoseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi). It's easy to reach by public transport, and the building's parking works smoothly, so it was also a very convenient stop when I came by car.

On a weekday I wanted some solo healing time and a fresh, zesty brunch, so I went looking for a quiet, pretty café. Near Juyeop Station I found a place that locals rave about for its sandwiches piled with fresh arugula and its cozy atmosphere. That's how I ended up at Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch, on the ground floor of the Juyeop-dong shopping strip.

Is Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch comfortable for eating alone?

The tables are spaced generously and the lighting is moody, so I never felt awkward having brunch and a drink by myself. Stepping into the first-floor shop in Sidae Plaza, I was greeted by a cute, snug and tidy interior.

Sunlight drifted softly in by the window, and just sitting there felt properly healing.

The owner welcomed me with a bright smile, and the whole shop was kept clean, which put me at ease from the moment I walked in. Some people were there alone and others were chatting quietly together, so it was a perfect spot to spend calm time.

How does the arugula cream cheese sandwich (₩12,400) taste?

The arugula cream cheese sandwich at Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch costs ₩12,400, and with heaps of arugula and a thick layer of cream cheese, it was totally worth it. After grabbing a seat I went to the counter to look over the menu. There's a wide range, from a filling French toast plate to eggs Benedict and a bulgogi double cheese panini (pressed Italian-style sandwich), so choosing by taste is half the fun.

I always love the combination of nutty cream cheese and arugula, so I picked the arugula cream cheese sandwich (₩12,400) as my main meal.

When the sandwich arrived on a neat plate, I actually gasped! The arugula was so fresh you could see it, piled in without any stinginess, with smooth, rich cream cheese spread thickly between the layers.

I took a big bite, and behind the crisp, nutty bread, the slightly bitter, fresh arugula and the smooth, tangy cream cheese came together amazingly well. The ingredients were so generous that every bite filled my mouth with a fresh, clean flavor. Honestly the best.

Is the blueberry yogurt smoothie (₩7,000) very sweet?

The blueberry yogurt smoothie (₩7,000) at Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch isn't artificially or overly sweet; the blueberry tang and the yogurt base were nicely balanced. To go with the sandwich I ordered the blueberry yogurt smoothie, which had a lovely, vivid purple color.

It came packed into a pretty glass, and when I took a big sip through the straw, the rich sweet-tart blueberry and the refreshing, nutty yogurt wrapped softly around my mouth. It was great to sip between bites of the sandwich, and the portion was generous enough to enjoy leisurely through the whole brunch.

Adding a red velvet cream cheese cookie (₩4,500) for dessert

From the dessert corner by the counter at Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch I added a red velvet cream cheese cookie (₩4,500), a sweet-and-salty finish that's crisp outside and chewy inside. After happily finishing the sandwich, I was craving something a little sweet. The cookie had a pretty reddish red velvet dough with a thick dollop of cream cheese set right in the center.

I broke it apart by hand, and it had that classic homemade cookie texture: moderately crisp outside, nice and chewy inside. The mild cocoa flavor typical of red velvet combined with the salty, nutty cream cheese in the middle for a perfect sweet-salty-sweet-salty balance, ideal as a closing dessert. Finishing with the cookie made my solo brunch time feel even more complete.

Tips for visiting Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch

• Location and parking: It's in Unit 109 on the first floor of Sidae Plaza, and parking in the building works well, so it's very convenient to drop by car.
• Wide brunch lineup: Besides the arugula cream cheese sandwich, there's a French toast plate, eggs Benedict, a bulgogi double cheese panini and plenty more to choose from.
• Good for eating alone and unwinding: The cozy, snug mood makes it a nice place to come solo, have a sandwich with a smoothie, and take a break.

Verdict: a 200-out-of-100 weekday solo brunch near Juyeop Station

My solo weekday brunch at Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch, a little mood-lifting break, earned a score of 200 out of 100. From the arugula cream cheese sandwich, whose fresh arugula and smooth cream cheese gave it an exceptional clean taste, to the tangy blueberry yogurt smoothie and the chewy red velvet cream cheese cookie, every item was excellent in flavor and quality.

The cozy, pretty atmosphere meant I could eat good food by myself without worrying about what anyone thought, and I came away properly recharged. Parking is easy too, so I think I'll keep coming back alone whenever I have a free weekday. If you're looking for a snug brunch café with generous ingredients in Juyeop-dong, Ilsan, or near Juyeop Station, definitely stop by Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch on the first floor of Sidae Plaza! I recommend it with confidence.