Bucheon bakery for barley bread: Chamsae Bori Sikppang

I’ve returned to Chamsae Bori Sikppang’s Bucheon main branch (참새보리식빵 부천본점) several times. This time, I went at opening time on Sunday and bought three kinds of sandwich bread. Their mild, nutty flavor stayed with me, but I’ve had to wait on every visit, and arriving late can mean the bread I want is already sold out.

How far is the bakery from Bucheon Station, and is there parking?

The bakery is at Simgok Overpass Intersection, about a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 of Bucheon Station. The address is 183-1 Gyeongin-ro, Sosa-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 1F (경기 부천시 소사구 경인로 183-1 1층). There is no parking.

The hours listed in the original post are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with regular closures on Mondays and Thursdays. The bakery says it closes early once all the bread has sold out.

How long did I wait at opening time on Sunday?

I arrived at 10 a.m. on Sunday and waited about 10 minutes. Thinking back over my visits, I don’t think I’ve ever waited more than 30 minutes, even when the line was long. Most of the bread tends to sell out during the morning, though, so I recommend arriving at opening time if you have a particular variety in mind.

They controlled entry by letting one group in when another left. Once inside, I could look over the bread without feeling crowded.

How do the three barley breads compare?

During my visit, there were three varieties: Daesang chalbori sikppang (glutinous barley sandwich bread), gongmul chalbori sikppang (mixed-grain glutinous barley sandwich bread), and homil chalbori sikppang (rye and glutinous barley sandwich bread). The bakery’s information said it uses butter made from 100% New Zealand dairy cream instead of margarine, and that the bread undergoes 70 hours of fermentation.

Is Daesang chalbori sikppang good on its own?

The Daesang chalbori sikppang was moist and chewy. Its mild, nutty flavor had a subtle sweetness, making it delicious without any toppings. It’s my family’s favorite of the three.

What is the texture of gongmul chalbori sikppang?

The gongmul chalbori sikppang tasted the nuttiest of the three to me. It contained several grains, and I liked the bite of the nuts scattered through it.

How does homil chalbori sikppang differ from the other two?

The homil chalbori sikppang is a mini loaf. It was slightly denser than the other two, with a distinctively earthy rye flavor.

What did I buy, and how much did the bread cost?

This time, I bought two loaves of Daesang chalbori sikppang and one each of the gongmul and homil varieties. These were the prices at the time of purchase.

• Daesang chalbori sikppang: ₩6,500 per loaf; bought two
• Gongmul chalbori sikppang: ₩6,000 per loaf
• Homil chalbori sikppang: ₩3,700 per loaf

Are there creams or jams to go with the bread?

Beside the checkout was a sampling area for mascarpone milk cream. The cream was smooth and melted in my mouth. It added sweetness to the bread without being overly sweet, and on my previous visit, I bought some as soon as I tasted it.

They also sold strawberry jam to go with the bread.

During my visit, a notice advertised a free financier (small French almond cake) for posting a receipt review on Naver.

It had been a while since my last visit, and I noticed they had added keycaps and stickers to their merchandise.

Why would I return, and what are the drawbacks?

The mild, nutty flavor is what has brought me back several times. I especially like the moist, chewy texture of the Daesang chalbori sikppang and would buy it again. There is a wait, though, and the bakery can sell out early, so timing matters if you want to choose from the breads you have in mind.