Yeonnam-dong, Seoul bakery: sweet potato & Emmental next day, Mandong

Why I walked into Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch

I was sitting in the café across the street on a weekday afternoon when I noticed people kept going into this bakery, so I got curious and went in. I already knew Mandong Jegwa (만동제과) as a famous bakery-pilgrimage spot in Gangneung, so I was happy to find it in Yeonnam-dong too.

One-line summary: I went in because of the crowd and came out with more bread than I planned.

Where is Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch, and when is a good time to visit?

Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch is located between Hongik Univ. Station and Yeonnam-dong, and the layout suits takeout.

Even on a weekday afternoon, customers kept coming in. A lot of the bread had already sold out for that time of day, but there was still a good variety left.

One-line summary: steady customers even on weekdays, with some items sold out in the afternoon.

What is the shop like inside?

The shop is small, with no tables, so it is built around takeout.

The breads are generally big, so the value for the price felt good, and I liked that there is a wide variety to choose from to suit your taste.

The staff also helped with samples, so you can naturally taste several items before choosing.

One-line summary: a takeout-focused shop, but strong on samples and variety.

The 4 breads I bought at Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch, and prices

• Emmental (₩5,400)
• Walnut (₩4,200)
• Sweet potato (₩3,500)
• Red bean cream (₩3,500)

I only meant to grab a few, but I liked the samples enough that I ended up with more than expected.

One-line summary: after the samples, you end up buying more than planned.

Red bean cream (₩3,500): red bean, cream and cheese

I picked the red bean cream (앙크림) on a staff recommendation. It looks like a squid ink cheese bread on the outside, but inside there is red bean and cream, so it tastes nutty and gently sweet.

With the cheese flavor added, it felt like a mix of several tastes, an easy, safe bread to enjoy.

One-line summary: a bread with red bean, cream and cheese that is fun to eat.

Sweet potato (₩3,500): the most memorable bread of this visit

I chose the sweet potato bread because it is my usual taste, and it was the most memorable one this time.

It felt like a chestnut bread made as a sweet potato version, with a soboro (crumble topping) texture on the outside, so I kept reaching for more.

It is not overly sweet, so it is easy to eat and well balanced.

One-line summary: an addictive bread of sweet potato and soboro.

Walnut (₩4,200): good value, bought for the family

I chose the walnut for my family. It is big for the price, so the value felt good, and the nutty flavor is easy to eat.

The reaction was not big at first, but it ended up being the one people reached for most.

One-line summary: good value and an easy pick for the family.

Emmental (₩5,400): plenty of cheese, and fine the next day

The Emmental bread looked big from the start, with plenty of cheese inside and a clearly savory flavor.

I especially liked that it didn't fall apart in taste when I ate it the next day after refrigerating it, which makes it good for takeout.

Personally, I liked it so much I wondered why I didn't buy more.

One-line summary: great cheese flavor and still satisfying the next day.

Is Mandong Jegwa bread still good the next day?

On the day, the breads tasted soft and nutty overall, and eating them the next day, the taste didn't fall apart as much as I expected. The same day is of course best, but it was good enough for takeout.

One-line summary: takeout bread that holds up fine until the next day.

What I liked and what I didn't about Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch

What I liked

• The breads are generally big, so the value was good
• Samples let me try a variety of items
• The taste holds up not just on the day but also the next day

What I didn't like

• Popular items may be sold out depending on the time of day
• The shop is small, so eating inside isn't possible

Verdict: an easy takeout bakery to drop into in Yeonnam-dong

If you are looking for a bakery in Yeonnam-dong or a spot near Hongdae, Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch is an easy takeout bakery to stop by, and the breads felt solid and reliable overall. I especially liked that they were fine shared over the next day too, and I regretted not bringing home more varieties.

One-line summary: a satisfying bakery where I want to buy more next time.

Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch info

• Name: Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch (만동제과 연남점)
• Address: 32 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 서대문구 연희로 32)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00

Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch Q&A

Is Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch busy on weekdays?

Visitors come steadily even on weekday afternoons.

Is Mandong Jegwa bread okay to take away and eat later?

It is fine to eat even the next day.

What is Mandong Jegwa famous for?

It has a range of signature items, such as garlic baguette and bagels.