Seocho cake shop, Sunday line, last strawberry mango cake: Chef Cho

Why Chef Cho for a birthday cake at Sweet Park, Shinsegae Gangnam?

I went to Chef Cho (쉐프조, CHEF CHO) in Sweet Park on B1 of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam to buy my husband's birthday cake. Sweet Park is full of great dessert spots, so I couldn't decide, but when I searched ahead, tons of posts recommended Chef Cho for cakes. Reviews saying its fruit fresh-cream cakes are especially famous are what brought me here.

• Address: B1, 176 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul (Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam)
• Hours: Mon–Thu 10:30–20:00 / Fri–Sun 10:30–20:30
• Closed: Shinsegae Gangnam's store holiday (once a month)

When I got to Chef Cho there was a long line for cakes, and you could tell right away how popular the shop is.

In front of the shop I spotted a sign reading <Master of Life Cake Four Heavenly Kings (생활의 달인 케이크 4대 천왕)>. There was also a note introducing it as the brand of a chef who is a Korean Master Baker (제과기능장).

Chef Cho is known for using 100% dairy fresh cream and fresh fruit delivered every day. According to the sign, the cakes carry the know-how of running a bakery for over 23 years and a Master Baker's skill.

Chef Cho's display case on a Sunday afternoon: what was sold out?

Looking closely at the showcase, the roll cakes packed with fruit and the fresh-cream cakes looked so tempting. I was already so excited!

Since I came on a Sunday afternoon, quite a few popular cakes were already sold out, which was a bit of a shame. Guess you really have to be early to get more of them! Still, the cake I wanted was left!

How much are Chef Cho cakes? Display case menu and prices

Chef Cho's No. 1 whole cakes were ₩53,000, minis ₩39,000–43,000, and slice cakes ₩11,000. Running through the showcase, the Real Mango Cake No. 1 was ₩53,000. It was really impressive: thinly sliced mango was arranged on top like a flower, and the look alone grabbed my eyes.

Chocolate Whole Strawberry No. 1, ₩53,000

• Strawberry Flower No. 1, ₩53,000
• Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Mini, ₩39,000
• Real Mango Fresh Cream Mini, ₩39,000
• Pistachio Forest Mini, ₩43,000
• Vanilla crepe roll with fruit, ₩13,800

Matcha Strawberry Chocolate slice cake, ₩11,000

Pistachio Forest slice cake, ₩11,000

Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Cake No. 1: getting the very last one

But what I was after was Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Cake No. 1! The price is ₩53,000.

When I arrived, 3 Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Cakes were left, but as I stood in line the customers ahead of me bought them one by one, and before I knew it only the last one remained. I was on pins and needles that it would sell out, but luckily it was still there when my turn came, and I got it safely.

Chef Cho packaging: are candles and an ice pack included?

Chef Cho packed the cake neatly too. They included candles and an ice pack, so the cake stayed fresh during the trip home.

Chef Cho's strawberry mango cake at a husband's birthday party

The moment I opened the Chef Cho cake box at home, the hefty look of all those strawberries and mangoes piled on top made me even more excited. 🎂🥭🍓

It's beautiful just to look at ❤️

Then the birthday party began! With the candles lit, the colors of the strawberries and mango looked even prettier. The Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Cake has strawberries around the edge and a generous heap of mango in the middle, which gave the birthday table just the right mood.

How does Chef Cho's strawberry mango cake taste? Cross-section and cream

We blew out the candles and I quickly cut the cake. Is the cake the star of the day today?!

Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Cake doesn't just have fruit on top; the inside also had plenty of strawberries and mango. There was a lot of cream too, but it wasn't greasy at all, and the sponge was moist and soft. After one bite I could see why Chef Cho is so famous.

The cream wasn't overly sweet and tasted clean, with the freshness of the fruit blending in naturally. Some cakes these days are so sweet you get sick of them after a few bites, but this was just pleasantly sweet.

The soft, light texture typical of dairy cream was especially impressive. The true flavors of the strawberries and mango came through, and with the moist sponge the overall balance was great.

Is Chef Cho at Shinsegae Gangnam's Sweet Park worth it?

If you're looking for a cake at Shinsegae Gangnam's Sweet Park, Chef Cho is a place I'd absolutely recommend. The Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream Cake nails both looks and taste, and I was very happy with it. Just note that popular items can sell out later in the day, so if there's a cake you want, come a little earlier! That's the end of my Gangnam Shinsegae Sweet Park outing 👍