Cheonan brunch café with truffle and tomato risotto: Pino Cafe

I went for brunch at Pino Cafe (피노카페) at the foot of Taehaksan in Pungse, Cheonan. Conclusion first: two risottos and a whole pizza, and I loved all three.

Pino Cafe Cheonan location, opening hours and parking

Pino Cafe is at 99-23 Hyuyangnim-gil, Pungse-myeon, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, and it is open daily 10:00–20:30. I'd check the hours once before you visit.

• Address: 99-23 Hyuyangnim-gil, Pungse-myeon, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam
• Hours: daily 10:00–20:30 (check before visiting)
• Parking: lot in front of the café + second lot
• If both are full, the public lot in front of the Taehaksan management office is also available (1-minute walk)

Can you have a full meal at Pino Cafe, not just coffee?

Yes, it's a café where you can eat a real meal. The menu has quite a range: pasta, risotto, pizza and even steak, so it's already known as a go-to brunch spot in Cheonan.

Pino Cafe's atmosphere at the Taehaksan entrance, inside and out

Pino Cafe sits right at the entrance to Taehaksan. I often come to walk on Taehaksan and drop in for coffee, but today I came with a head full of excitement for brunch. The decor starts at the entrance, and it looks like a scene from a fairy tale~

Brunch dishes we ordered at Pino Cafe and their prices

We ordered truffle cream risotto (₩16,000), tomato risotto (₩16,000) and a shrimp & potato pizza (₩19,900). I thought I'd ordered truffle cream spaghetti, but it turned out I'd ordered risotto, haha. Lesson: always choose carefully and double-check your order!!!

• Truffle cream risotto ₩16,000
• Tomato risotto ₩16,000
• Shrimp & potato pizza ₩19,900

You can adjust the spice level of dishes, so just mention it when you order.

Have a good look through the other menu items too before you choose.

Pino Cafe main hall, annex or terrace: where to sit?

The main hall has a well-balanced mix of colors, and the annex is a simple, quiet space. While waiting for the food I took a walk around. The photo here shows the inside of the main hall. The interior is so lovely that even an amateur like me got really pretty photos.

This is the annex. The simple interior looks clean, and it was a great spot for a quiet meal.

Step outside and you'll see the terrace right away, with tables set up there too. At midday the sun was a bit strong, so it felt rather hot.

Pino Cafe photo spots and gardens for kids

Outside Pino Cafe I found a space kids would really love. If you come with a child, it's a photo-zone area where you'll want to take plenty of pretty pictures.

Beautiful spaces keep unfolding, as if you were in a fairy-tale world.

Pino Cafe has a garden of about 3,000 pyeong, and there were more guests out in the garden than indoors. It's right next to Taehaksan Natural Recreation Forest, so it has a calm you definitely don't get at a city café. It's a healing theme park in nature, with a garden that's beautiful in every season. Also, the outdoor area is pet-friendly.

How does Pino Cafe's private forest tent zone work?

The forest romantic private tent zone (a "camnic", camping plus picnic, space) allows pets and has heating and cooling. I heard you can use it for ₩5,000 if you order ₩50,000 or more. It's a romantic spot for making lots of family memories. Best of all, it has heating and cooling, so thumbs up. A space of your own to eat and rest with nature as your companion sounds wonderful. Next time I want to eat in the camnic spot.

How do Pino Cafe's tomato and truffle cream risottos taste?

The long-awaited food finally arrived~ It looked pretty, and above all it tasted so good that I was even more surprised!

Tomato-packed risotto: tangy and clean

As the name says, the tomato risotto is packed with tomato. The tangy tomato sauce leaves your mouth feeling clean. I tend to find rich food heavy, so I like tomato sauce, and in this risotto every grain of rice was distinct and plump shrimp came whole, so I enjoyed it a lot. If rich flavors are too much for you, I'd start with the tomato risotto.

Truffle cream risotto: a subtle truffle aroma

The moment you scoop up a spoonful of the truffle cream risotto, a subtle truffle aroma rises. The smooth cream sauce coats the rice, so I kept going back for one bite after another. If you like cream risotto, definitely try this one. I worried it might be heavy, but it wasn't at all, and the mushrooms gave it a wholesome taste.

Shrimp & potato half-and-half pizza

The shrimp & potato pizza comes half shrimp, half potato. You get two flavors on one pie, so it's great for sharing. Alternating a slice of shrimp and a slice of potato, before I knew it only an empty plate was left, haha. Two risottos and a pizza made for a table packed full.

After-meal coffee and the receipt-review egg tart

If you write a receipt review at Pino Cafe, you get an egg tart as a gift, so keep that in mind. After the meal I picked coffee and orange juice for dessert, and after posting our review we happily ate the egg tart too. The coffee had a rich, refined flavor too, enough to make you say "mm, nice" without thinking~

Who Pino Cafe Cheonan is best for

• People who want brunch and a walk near Cheonan
• People who want a big café with real meals rather than a coffee-only place
• People looking for a spot for a family outing or a get-together with friends
• People who want photos in a large garden

Tasty brunch plus a stroll through the big garden: Pino Cafe in Cheonan was plenty for a day out.

Pino Cafe Cheonan FAQ

Is parking easy at Pino Cafe?

There's a lot in front of the café and a second lot. When they're full, use the public lot in front of the Taehaksan management office, about a 1-minute walk to the café.

Can you eat a meal at Pino Cafe, not just coffee?

Yes. With meals like risotto, pasta, pizza and steak, it works well for brunch or lunch.

How do you order at Pino Cafe?

You order and pay at the counter first. You can also ask for the spice level to be adjusted when you order.