Mangwon bakery scoop strawberry cake & melon pan: Boulangerie Copain

Boulangerie Copain (블랑제리코팡) is a European-style bakery you'll run into on a stroll around Mangwon. The baker trained at a five-star hotel bakery and bakes authentic European bread every day, and the shop is known for the croissants and baguettes shown on Master of Living. Here's my review.

Where is Boulangerie Copain in Mangwon, and where can you park?

Boulangerie Copain is at 115 Huiujeong-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (1st floor), a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 of Mangwon Station. It's a great stop before or after a walk around Mangwon or a visit to Mangwon Hangang Park, so it works as a date spot too.

If you're driving, I'd recommend the public roadside parking lot in front of the shop (455-17 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul). I hear it costs ₩150 for the first 10 minutes, up to ₩20,000 max.

When is the best time to go to Boulangerie Copain?

Boulangerie Copain was on Master of Living episode 612, the baguette/croissant episode aired on February 26, 2018, so it's already a famous bakery in Mangwon. To enjoy the bread even more, I'd go right when it opens. That way you get warm, freshly baked bread.

On top of that, Boulangerie Copain gives up to 30% off every day after 7 pm, so it's perfect for a visit after work. Wait, 30% off? That's a total steal.

What are the signature items at Boulangerie Copain?

Drawing on his experience baking at a five-star hotel, the baker kneads and bakes by hand every day to bring out the true flavor of croissants and baguettes, so you get a crisp outside and a moist inside.

The signature items at Boulangerie Copain are these five.

• Croissant
• Baguette
• Choco baguette
• Basil crunch
• Ham cheese baguette

From scoop strawberry cake to angbutter: browsing the display

Boulangerie Copain had a strawberry cake you eat with a spoon, too. A scoop-it-with-a-spoon strawberry cake! It looked super easy to eat.

There's also a castella cream bread (soft sponge-cake bun) filled with smooth milk cream.

I also spotted the crispy, nutty angbutter (red bean and butter bread) made with whole red beans and pure New Zealand butter, plus a lemon cake.

Why the choco baguette and basil crunch are so popular

The choco baguette and basil crunch in particular have regulars who come from far away, I hear.

And this is the signature choco baguette.

Is a baguette sandwich good as a meal?

The sandwiches made with Boulangerie Copain's baguettes were good as a filling meal, a brunch item or a quick bite, and they really feel healthy.

My picks from Boulangerie Copain and a Han River picnic

This is what I picked!

Boulangerie Copain is close to Mangwon Hangang Park, so it's great for a picnic too. Enjoying the bread leisurely by the Han River sounds lovely.

I couldn't walk past the melon pan (melon-shaped sweet bun), which felt just like a Japanese bakery bread.

What I liked about Boulangerie Copain is that you find everyday bread you can enjoy without fuss rather than flashy bread. Plain campagne (country bread) and meal breads, crisp baguettes, and richly flavored croissants: it aims to be a European-style bakery anyone, young or old, can enjoy, so people come for breakfast bread, kids' snacks and brunch bread.

What kind of place is Boulangerie Copain?

If you love bread, Boulangerie Copain in Mangwon is a must-visit. Start your day happily with healthy, tasty bread. This is how the shop introduces itself.

• Baker from the Shilla Hotel
• Appeared on SBS Master of Living, episode 612
• Runs a bakery café and a HACCP-certified bakery factory
• Supplies Market Kurly, Baemin B Mart and Coupang online
• Master of croissants, master of baguettes

Maybe it's because the baker uses skills from a five-star hotel bakery to carefully bake authentic European bread every day, but the bread at Boulangerie Copain was really easy on my stomach, with no bloated feeling, which amazed me. If you come to Mangwon, Boulangerie Copain is one of the places you have to stop by.