Bucheon bakery, post-workout open-run & matcha lunch: Chamsae Bori

I stopped by Chamsae Bori Sikppang (참새보리식빵), the Bucheon bakery everyone talks about! It's been a while since my last visit, and the sign has been redone and looks much cleaner.

Chamsae Bori Sikppang Bucheon main branch: hours and closing days

The Bucheon main branch opens at 10am and closes when the bread sells out. It is closed every Monday and Thursday.

• Opens: 10am
• Closes: when sold out
• Closed: every Monday and Thursday

How long is the weekday morning wait?

I got there around 9:50am on a weekday, and by about 9:55am roughly 8 people had lined up behind me. I came straight from my workout, so I ended up doing an open-run without meaning to, haha.

They say it won a Grand Prize on SBS's Master of Living (생활의 달인) and was ranked the No. 1 loaf in Korea. Back when Chamsae Bori had cheese loaves and all kinds of cream breads, I was busy trying the flavored loaves and actually never picked the barley loaf or the grain barley loaf, so I was curious how they'd taste and feel.

At exactly 10am a staff member opened the door! There were baskets right in front, and everyone grabbed one and filled it with several loaves.

The loaves had just come out that morning, so some were still unwrapped, left to cool for a bit.

How do the Grand Prize barley loaf and the grain barley loaf taste?

When I ate the Grand Prize barley loaf at home, it was really chewy. A glutinous barley loaf praised by a master baker? Straight into the basket it went!

I also picked two grain barley loaves. One went to my parents and I took one home, and as expected the nutty, chewy texture didn't feel heavy even while I'm watching my diet. My parents said it was delicious too, which made me proud.

There's tasting bread in front of the counter, so try a piece.

Look how golden and well baked it is.

Receipt review financier event

At Chamsae Bori, if you join the Naver receipt review, you can get a tasty financier (a small almond butter cake) too!

I got one too, haha.

Can you still get the loaf you want if you go late?

When the shelves run empty, the staff refill them right away, so unless it's very late in the afternoon I think you can still get the bread you want. I went in at 10 on a weekday, and about 8 people were behind me, but they all picked quickly, paid quickly and left.

Chamsae Bori now has a goods exchange corner too.

How to store Chamsae Bori loaves and the best way to eat them

Keep the bread at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer, seal it and freeze it, then thaw at room temperature for half a day before eating.

• Room temperature: within 3 days
• Freezer: sealed, then thaw at room temperature for half a day before eating

The next day I spread matcha spread inside a grain barley loaf and had it for lunch! The bread was really chewy and nutty from the grains, and I enjoyed it so much. My parents liked it too, so I think I'll be visiting often.