Yeongjong Haneul City salt bread café, 10-minute wait: 5PM sunset hour

I visited 5PM sunset hour, famous as a salt bread spot on Yeongjongdo. Conclusion first: it was properly crispy outside and moist inside. Savory and salty, and once I took a bite it was hard to stop. But I waited 10 minutes for this one salt bread, so let me start with that story.

Where is 5PM sunset hour in Yeongjong Haneul City?

5PM sunset hour is on the ground floor of the KCC Swiss Mall building in Yeongjong Haneul City, so it's not hard to find. The orange sign and red parasols stand out from far away. There's a chalkboard at the entrance listing when the bread comes out. If you time your visit, you get the best bread, right? ^^

When does fresh bread come out at 5PM sunset hour?

According to the chalkboard at the entrance, salt bread, bagels and scones come out at 9 a.m., and financiers, egg tarts and butter rice cake (buttertteok, a chewy rice cake) come out between 10 and 11. Be sure to check the board before you go in. It said canelé is only available from Friday to Sunday. They also take reservations for sandwich loaves, so if you're after the loaf, ask ahead.

The salt bread sold out right in front of me

While I was waiting in line at 5PM sunset hour, the salt bread sold out right in front of me, and I had to wait 10 minutes for the next batch. It's a famous Yeongjongdo salt bread place, so there were really a lot of people. I was standing in line, and the salt bread ran out exactly at my turn, can you believe it? They said the next batch would take 10 minutes.

For a second I was disappointed, but then I thought, isn't this actually good? Wait just 10 minutes and I get piping hot, fresh salt bread. Total lucky-vicky moment ^^ (a Korean slang for turning bad luck into good luck)

The inside of 5PM sunset hour is on the small side. But there are orange and red props and posters here and there, so looking around while waiting was fun.

Salt bread varieties at 5PM sunset hour

Besides the basic 5PM salt bread, 5PM sunset hour has quite a variety, including ice cream salt bread, ham cheese salt bread and mocha salt bread. Just pick based on the price tags on the display case.

Is the salt bread better value as a set?

I felt that buying the salt bread at 5PM sunset hour as a set is generally better value. My whole family loves salt bread, so one each was just right.

Drinks are 10% off for takeout, on every menu item. Gift packaging costs an extra ₩500 for the box, so keep that in mind.

Coffee at 5PM sunset hour is ₩3,800 for an Americano and ₩4,300 for a café latte. The Kkokku latte (₩5,000), marked with a star on the menu, is the signature, so I'm going to try that next time.

How much are the financiers and egg tarts?

Financiers (small almond butter cakes) at 5PM sunset hour are ₩2,800 for plain and ₩3,200 for almond, and ₩3,500 each for macadamia cream cheese, fig cream cheese and Valrhona chocolate. While browsing the display case as I waited, I saw so many desserts that it could easily count as a great Yeongjongdo dessert spot too.

Isigny butter rice cake is ₩2,500 each (4 for ₩9,000), and the vanilla bean egg tart is ₩3,500 each (2 for ₩6,500). I was so focused on the salt bread that day that I didn't try them, but they're on my list for next time.

The outdoor red parasol seats are the best spot

The inside of 5PM sunset hour is small, but outside there are red parasols and a few chairs. The weather was nice, so I sat in the outdoor chairs for the 10 minutes I waited for the salt bread.

Once I sat down, eating outside felt so much fresher and nicer than eating inside. The park is right in front, so there was a nice little breeze too.

How did the fresh salt bread taste?

The fresh salt bread at 5PM sunset hour was crispy outside and moist inside. Finally, my fresh salt bread! When I tore it in half, there was a hollow where the butter had melted, and the layers were still moist. The salt grains on top crunch a little, and the savory and salty flavors come up together.

After finishing one, I understood why everyone lines up. The 10 minutes I waited were not a waste at all.

Honest review of 5PM sunset hour

5PM sunset hour is busy, so you may have to wait if your timing is off, but you get fresh, tasty bread in return, so I'm happy with it. The owner was also very kind and handled customers well, so I think you'll enjoy a cup of coffee there.

If you like salt bread, 5PM sunset hour, the Yeongjongdo salt bread spot, is worth a visit at least once. My dream is to eat salt bread with a morning coffee on a weekday morning like this, and I'm eagerly waiting for that day to come!