Jongno bakery for creamy garlic bread takeaway: Munhwa Bakery

I happened upon Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵), a tiny, homey bakery near Jongno 3-ga, and was practically drawn inside. Whenever I head toward Jongno, I find myself looking for a good bakery to take the edge off my hunger, and this time I discovered a real gem. The weather has turned pleasantly cool again lately, so I recommend it as a bakery to visit while strolling around Ikseon-dong and Seosulla-gil!

Munhwa Bakery’s location and cozy little-shop atmosphere

Munhwa Bakery is on the first floor at 65 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Even from the outside, its warm, retro feel created by the wooden details makes it stand out from afar. It is not a large shop, but that snugness means the nutty, sweet scent fills the space while you choose your bread, which put me in such a good mood.

It is such a charming neighborhood bakery that there is even a notice asking customers to enter two parties at a time because the interior is small. It is even cuter because it is tiny. There is often a wait, but perhaps because I came at an in-between time on a weekday afternoon, there was no line and I was able to quickly get my order to go :) It did not look as though there was a space to eat inside! The owner can also slice the bread if you ask ;))

Garlic bread, coffee bread, and the display-case selection

The breads I bought that day were Munhwa Bakery’s popular garlic bread (₩6,800) and fragrant coffee bread (₩5,800). The display case was packed with varied, appetizing breads that anyone could enjoy, including injeolmi bread (bread with toasted soybean rice-cake powder), mugwort rice-cake bread, black sesame bread, cheese bread, onion bagels, and rice chestnut loaf, so I happily agonized over what to choose.

Don’t they look delicious just from the photosㅠ???

• Cheese bread ₩5,400; squid ink condensed milk bread ₩4,500; injeolmi bread ₩3,800; peanut bread ₩3,800
• Mugwort rice-cake bread ₩5,700; black sesame bread ₩3,800; milk cream bread ₩3,500; garlic bread ₩6,800
• Walnut bread ₩3,500; white bean paste bread ₩3,800; coffee bread ₩5,800; onion bagel ₩6,000
• Rice chestnut loaf ₩5,800; rice cheese loaf ₩5,900; maple cream cheese bread ₩4,900

The breads are all reasonably priced! On my next visit, I want to try the squid ink condensed milk bread and the onion bagel!!!!!!!!

Creamy, moist garlic bread

First up, the garlic bread I had been most excited for was genuinely gasp-worthy. It may look ordinary at first, but when you bite into it, the inside is incredibly moist and soaked through with creamy garlic sauce. Crispy outside yet soft and moist inside, it was the textbook definition of crispy-outside, tender-inside bread.

The sweet, intense garlic aroma spread all through my mouth, and I immediately understood why so many people call it their all-time favorite garlic bread. With coffee or milk, it has that dangerously moreish flavor that keeps you reaching for another bite. It is so sweet and creamy, totally different from an ordinary baguette!!

Gently fragrant coffee bread

The coffee bread I tried next was also excellent, with a gentle coffee aroma and soft texture. The bread itself had great flavor, so it was not overpowering, yet it had a charm that kept drawing my hand back. It tasted wonderfully like bread baked with care inside this little shop.

If you are planning to visit near Jongno 3-ga or Ikseon-dong, I highly recommend stopping by Munhwa Bakery, a small bakery tucked into an alley with a warm feel. One moist, sweet garlic bread alone can make for a very happy moment! If you love bread, don’t let this chance pass you by!!