Bucheon bakery, warm whole rye and Grand Prize loaves: Chamsae Bori

What kind of bakery is Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch?

Chamsae Bori Sikppang (참새보리식빵), Bucheon main branch, is a sticky-barley loaf specialist on Gyeongin-ro in Sosa-gu, Bucheon. It was reportedly named "the best loaf of bread in Korea, No. 1 nationwide" on the SBS show Master of Living (생활의 달인). My partner has been obsessed with baking healthy bread lately and recommended this place, so I went with high hopes to see how it tasted.

Chamsae Bori Bucheon main branch: hours, closures and parking

• Hours: 10 a.m. until sold out
• Regular closures: every Monday and Thursday
• No parking

Do you still have to queue at 10:30?

Yes. I got there at 10:30 and the line already stretched outside the shop. I had searched beforehand and read that it sells out fast, so going early was recommended, but I didn't pay much attention and just set off. When I went to cross the crosswalk in front of the shop I saw the line, and a quick peek showed people lining up inside too, buying in order.

Even in the 10 minutes or so I waited outside, the line kept growing behind me. Inside, the warm, nutty smell of barley filled the shop and my mouth started watering. It was packed, so I couldn't really look around, and there wasn't much bread on the shelves. The staff were busily restocking the shelves, but they were already quite empty.

Which loaves were left when I arrived at 10:30?

By 10:30 the grain sticky-barley loaf was already sold out, so I bought the Grand Prize sticky-barley loaf and the rye sticky-barley loaf. The shop is small, so you line up with a basket and put the bread in as you go, but there was nothing to agonize over: the grain loaf was already gone. I wanted one of every kind, but I had no choice and picked just two.

Not long after I bought mine, I could see people turning away because everything had sold out, which really showed how popular it is. If I'd been a little later, I would have made the trip for nothing.

Where can you check whether Chamsae Bori is sold out?

The Bucheon main branch shares real-time sold-out notices and same-day updates in a KakaoTalk open chat room. To avoid a wasted trip, checking the open chat before you go is a must.

Do they slice the bread?

They do slice loaves on the spot, but mine had just come out of the oven, so slicing wasn't possible. I took it home whole, packed as it was.

The mascarpone milk cream I tried as a sample in the shop was so rich and smooth that no store-bought version comes close, and it brought out the flavor of the bread even more.

What does the Grand Prize sticky-barley loaf taste like?

Tasting it at home, the bread was truly special.

As the signature item, the Grand Prize sticky-barley loaf has a texture somewhere between bread and rice cake (tteok), which was exactly my taste. The nutty flavor of barley spreads through your mouth, yet it isn't chewy at all and is very soft, so everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy it. Maybe because of the 72-hour slow, cold fermentation, my stomach didn't feel bloated afterward, it sat comfortably, and it was so filling that it worked great as a meal replacement.

Who is the rye sticky-barley loaf for?

The rye sticky-barley loaf I bought with it is one I strongly recommend to health-conscious people. It isn't coarse; the deep, rich flavor of rye blends with the mild taste of sticky barley for a refined result. For anyone watching their blood sugar or looking for bread that's easy to digest, it seems like an ideal choice.

When is the best time to go to Chamsae Bori Bucheon?

It's so popular that I recommend arriving right at the 10 a.m. opening. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a bakery near Bucheon Jayu Market or a healthy bread bakery near Bucheon Station. You get both health and flavor, so it's also a great pick to share with your parents. I plan to go back soon to go after the grain sticky-barley loaf I missed because it sold out.