Blue Ribbon croissant bakery in Yangsan: six breads to go at Choi

This post was written after a visit made using a discount benefit provided through Super Members.

Hi everyone, it's Ssukssuki. 🌱 Today I want to share my visit to Choi CHOI Main Branch, a large bakery café in Hopo, Yangsan. This time I visited using a discount through Super Members. Once I got there, the place turned out to be bigger than I expected, with a really wide variety of breads. Above all, out of everything I tried, the mango croissant was so good that it really stuck with me.

Where is Choi Main Branch? A big bakery café in front of Hopo Station

Choi Main Branch is located at 83 Yangsan-daero, Dong-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. It's right in front of Hopo Station, so it wasn't hard to find, and the building has "CHOI bakery cafe" written in big letters, making it easy to spot. The building itself is quite large, so even before going in I thought, "They probably have a lot of bread varieties here." ^^

Where do you park at Choi Main Branch?

Choi Main Branch has a big PARKING sign on the side of the building, so I could easily find the entrance to the parking lot. When I'm looking for a Yangsan café, whether parking is easy is something I consider important. Being able to use the parking space inside the building made it convenient to visit by car.

The croissant award sign at the entrance

One thing caught my eye at the entrance of Choi Main Branch. There was a 2024 LE PAIN BAGUETTE & CROISSANT CHAMPIONSHIP – BLUE RIBBON sign posted. I visited without knowing about this, but seeing the croissant-related sign naturally raised my expectations for the bread.

Inside the store, there were also photos of the chef along with certificates and medals on display. I could tell this was a place that puts quite a bit of care into the bread-making process and the bakery overall.

How many kinds of bread does Choi Main Branch have?

I properly started browsing the bread. Looking at the display case at Choi Main Branch, there was everything from croissants to loaf breads, baguettes, croquettes, and sweet dessert breads — such a wide variety. If you love bread, it would probably take a while to go through it all. As I was looking around, I kept thinking "I want to try this too..." and spent quite a while choosing. 😊

The croissants especially caught my eye. Looking at those distinct layered folds, it was hard to just walk past.

A bakery counter that looks as good as it tastes

This bread was so pretty in shape that I took a photo of it. With its layered folds and red decoration on top, it looked less like bread and more like a small work of art. These days, bakery cafés matter for taste, but I think the visual fun of just looking at them is a big part too.

Cakes and gift boxes at Choi Main Branch

There wasn't just bread — cakes were displayed in a variety of styles too, from fruit-topped cakes to chocolate ones, so it would be worth browsing if you need a cake for a special occasion. On one side there were also packaged products, so it was worth a look if you're searching for something to give as a light gift.

Mango croissant: my favourite of the day

This time at Choi Main Branch I picked out several kinds of bread, but the one I enjoyed most was the mango croissant. At first I chose it just because it looked so pretty, but once I took a bite, it was even better than I expected. 😊

The croissant's distinctive layered folds were crisp and nutty, and the mango on top was sweet and moist. The crisp croissant and soft, sweet mango together made a really great combination. It went especially well with coffee. It wasn't just a sweet dessert — the nutty flavor of the croissant came through too, so I kept reaching for more.

As I was eating it, I quietly thought, "I have to buy this again next time." ^^ If it's your first visit to Choi, I'd personally recommend trying the mango croissant. My top pick from this visit! 👍

Red yeast rice bread with a chewy texture

If the mango croissant was the dessert I enjoyed most on the spot, the one that surprisingly won me over after bringing it home was the red yeast rice bread from Choi Main Branch. Eating it, I found it chewier and denser than regular white bread. At first I even wondered, "Is this maybe made with rice?" it was that chewy.

I wasn't able to confirm the exact ingredients, so I can't say for sure it's made with rice, but the texture I tasted myself was definitely chewy and dense. Also, I sometimes feel a bit heavy after eating bread, but this red yeast rice bread sat light on my stomach afterward, which I liked. If I go again, I'd like to buy both the mango croissant and the red yeast rice bread again.

The six breads I took home from Choi Main Branch

What I bought that day was 2 red yeast rice breads, 2 Italian croquettes, 1 mango croissant, and 1 mentaiko baguette. I picked 6 total, mixing sweet breads, savory salty breads, and a loaf that's good for eating at home.

What did it cost? 36,300 won down to 21,300 won

This time I used a discount through Super Members. The regular price for the bread I bought was ₩36,300. With a ₩15,000 discount applied, the amount I actually paid was ₩21,300.

• Regular price ₩36,300
• Discount ₩15,000
• Amount actually paid ₩21,300

These days, even a few items at a bakery café can add up quickly, so getting a ₩15,000 discount off the actual payment felt like a pretty big benefit. I visited using this discount benefit, but I wrote about the taste of the bread and the store exactly as I experienced it myself.

What is the second-floor seating like?

After picking out bread at Choi Main Branch, I also checked out the upstairs space. Going up, it was much bigger than I expected. The seats had plenty of spacing, and there was a variety of seating types, including sofa seats and table seats.

In the gray-and-white interior, the transparent blue chairs served as a stylish accent point. Above all, with so many full-length windows, the space felt bright and open.

Nakdong River views from Choi Main Branch in Hopo

Choi Main Branch is right in front of Hopo Station, and another feature is being able to enjoy views of the Nakdong River from the window seats. The store's own description mentions you can also see Geumjeongsan Mountain and the railway tracks, and around sunset you can watch the Nakdong River glow.

When I go to a café, the taste of the bread and coffee matters, but I also really love just sitting comfortably and looking out at the scenery. Being able to relax and unwind for a while in such a spacious place was something I really liked too. Next time, I'd love to visit around sunset and have a coffee while watching the Nakdong River glow. ☕🌇

Ssukssuki's closing thought on Choi Main Branch

If you're looking for a large bakery café in Hopo, Yangsan, Choi Main Branch is worth stopping by. With so many bread varieties, there was fun in choosing, and the spacious layout made it easy to relax.

And what stuck with me most from this visit was, of course, the mango croissant! The crisp, nutty croissant combined with the sweet, moist mango made it the tastiest thing I tried. ❤️ The red yeast rice bread also stayed with me for its chewy texture and how light it felt afterward.

Next time I go to Choi, I think I'll order the mango croissant plus the red yeast rice bread again. 😊 If you're looking for a Yangsan café near Hopo for good bread and a relaxed time, I hope this helps.

Choi Main Branch: address, parking and hours

• Address: 83 Yangsan-daero, Dong-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
• Location: Near Hopo Station
• Parking: Available inside the building