Pangyo brunch café, garlic oil pasta and bulgogi: Eight Years Pangyo

The relaxed feel of a small brunch café

It's a small brunch café started as a first venture by a young guy who loves coffee and food, and with his long years at a franchise plus a culinary-school background he serves meals that are distinctly Eight Years' own. But more than anything, the pretty interior with a young sensibility, the comfortable, nature-friendly atmosphere, and the kind prices on top.... There's no better place to enjoy brunch.

Eight Years Pangyo visitor information

Eight Years Pangyo (에잇이얼스 판교점) is at 1F, 12 Pangyoyeok-ro 2beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, South Korea (경기도 성남시 분당구 판교역로2번길 12 1층). It's 969m from Exit 1 of Sunae Station.

• Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00, closed every Monday
• Last order 15:00
• Dogs are welcome on the terrace
• No same-day, terrace or weekend reservations
• Assigned seats and reserved seats can't be changed; they say you can switch to a terrace seat after arriving if one is free
• Parking is possible to the right as you face the shop, but it's tight. Use an empty spot in front of the shop or the public parking lot — 1 hour is covered if you park in the public lot

An interior that's the total opposite of the outside

The café's exterior doesn't exactly jump out at you compared with the other places, but step inside and the complete reversal charm bursts out. Between the tables there were low side tables acting as partitions, which don't block your view much but still create a private feel.

It's decorated with pretty little objects, so just sitting in there put me in a good mood, and the pretty, moody photos came pouring out.

Even the ordering counter is neat and pretty, as if every single thing was placed with calculation.

Bread from a specialist bakery, branded beans from a former roasting champion, and rich, delicious coffee from a barista with 13 years of experience.... On the Pangyo Baekhyeon café street, my favorite these days, I think this is the best value spot of the lot.

Waiting for brunch on the terrace

To always serve a healthy meal, they say they've been sourcing fresh ingredients directly from Garak Market for 5 years.... While we ordered and waited, I couldn't wait for the food. When we walked in there were a lot of groups that looked like get-togethers of several people, so the terrace, which is mostly two-seaters, thankfully had room. Autumn weather like this doesn't last long, so the terrace it had to be~

Garlic oil pasta and bulgogi ciabatta sandwich

The garlic oil pasta (₩14,000) is loaded with shrimp and vegetables in a special house-made base, so it's very rich in savory flavor, and the slight kick of spice is its charm.

The bulgogi ciabatta sandwich (₩13,500) serves 1 to 1.5 people, with house-marinated beef bulgogi (marinated beef), jalapeños, fresh vegetables and plenty of cheese~ This one too has a touch of jalapeño, mild enough not to be spicy, adding flavor, and every single ingredient tastes alive. And they even cut it into 4 pieces so it's easy to eat — what a thoughtful touch~~ Heading off the disaster of more than half the filling falling out while you cut it!!! haha

A terrace that runs into the park

It's not exactly huge, but with the high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the park and yard on every side it feels open, and not even a small empty wall is missed — each one is prettily decorated with tasteful pictures.

The interior is photogenic and I loved it, but to soak up this autumn you have to head out to the terrace. The time when you can enjoy the sun like this, neither hot nor cold, doesn't last long....

It's so green~ Being able to enjoy this park like a backyard is probably the biggest advantage of the Baekhyeon-dong café street. Gotta hurry and go back again before it gets cold~~~