Cod roe mayo salt bread at Paun Coffee Gyoha, a Paju Unjeong café

Paun Coffee Gyoha branch, a café in Paju's Unjeong area. Words and photos © Kim Kkongung

I went for a drive out toward Paju and it felt like a waste to just turn back, so I stopped at a café. These days salt bread seems to catch my eye wherever I go, and this time I wanted to try something a little different, so after some searching I ended up at Paun Coffee Gyoha branch. I usually like the plain classic salt bread, but I'd heard this place had a variety like cod roe mayo and basil tomato, so I had to check it out.

Where is Paun Coffee Gyoha, and where do you park?

Paun Coffee Gyoha branch is located at 65 Chaekhyanggisup-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, 1F. There's parking for about 2 cars inside the building, and if no spots are visible, staff will direct you to a nearby alternative parking area.

When I arrived, the exterior gave off a clean, calm impression. There were quite a few customers even on a weekday, but the atmosphere didn't feel chaotic at all, and even before stepping in I was already looking forward to the bakery.

Inside Paun Coffee Gyoha: atmosphere and seating

Walking into Paun Coffee Gyoha branch, the high ceilings and clean white-toned interior stood out, and I was greeted by the smell of coffee mixed with the savory scent of fresh bread.

There was a good variety of table seating, plus window bar seats, making it a comfortable spot for gatherings as well as solo visits. There's also a dedicated bakery corner inside the store, which got me even more excited about the bakery menu.

What's on the menu at Paun Coffee Gyoha

The coffee menu had a wide range of choices, from Americano to filter coffee, flat white, and the Jangdan bean cream latte. There were also various other drinks like lemon tea, ade, misugaru (roasted grain powder drink), and Hallabong pearl yogurt.

And the bakery case had cod roe mayo, mocha bun, chocolate, basil tomato — seeing the salt breads displayed, there were more varieties than I expected, so it was hard to decide. In the end I picked the cod roe mayo and basil tomato salt breads, plus an Americano and a Jangdan bean cream latte.

What we ordered and what it cost

• Cod roe mayo salt bread ₩4,500
• Basil tomato salt bread ₩4,200
• Americano ₩4,500
• Jangdan bean cream latte ₩6,000

What does the cod roe mayo salt bread taste like?

I started with the cod roe mayo salt bread. It had that signature salt bread texture — crispy outside, soft inside — and the cod roe mayo added a savory, salty note.

Compared to plain bread, the umami from the cod roe made it feel more like a light meal than a snack. Paired with the Americano, the saltiness went really well with the coffee.

And the basil tomato salt bread?

Next up was the basil tomato salt bread. The distinct basil aroma combined with the tomato's fresh tang, giving it a completely different feel from the cod roe mayo one. The bread itself was mild, so the basil and tomato flavors came through naturally without overpowering it.

Both breads had pretty strong flavors, so pairing them with a clean Americano felt like it reset my palate each time. Personally, I still think Americano is the most reliable pairing for bread.

The Jangdan bean cream latte, made with Paju Jangdan soybeans

Out of curiosity I also ordered the Jangdan bean cream latte. Paju is known for Jangdan beans, so it was fun seeing them used in a coffee drink.

With cream on top, I expected it to be quite sweet, but it turned out less heavy than I thought, with a subtle nutty flavor. It has a distinctly different taste from a regular latte, so if you're looking for something different, it's worth trying at least once.

How to enjoy Paun Coffee Gyoha in Paju

If you're looking for a café in Paju's Unjeong area, Paun Coffee Gyoha branch is worth a stop. Especially if you love salt bread, I'd recommend picking two different flavors instead of just one and splitting them.

Overall, it was a great place to enjoy bread and coffee together, and I liked that there's a menu item like the Jangdan bean cream latte that highlights something local to the Paju region. Next time I'd like to try some of the other breads I missed this time. If you're looking for a salt bread spot in Paju's Unjeong, Paun Coffee Gyoha branch is worth checking out.