Hapjeong reading café with homemade lime syrup ade: Petrico

Where is Petrico near Hapjeong Station, and what are the hours?

Petrico is a soufflé cake café at 75 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, 500m from Hapjeong Station Exit 2. It's open Mon–Fri 08:00–22:00 (soufflé last order 20:30) and Sat–Sun 10:00–20:00 (soufflé last order 18:30).

Parking is available, and there's a takeout discount. On weekdays, parking is only possible after 18:00 within store hours (first-come, first-served), and not available before 18:00. On weekends and holidays, parking is relatively easy to find (still first-come, first-served).

Even when the sun's blazing, it's cool in the shade — that autumn season perfect for stacking up some mental nourishment. After outdoor reading, I headed to a soufflé cake spot everyone raves about: Petrico.

Right as you walk in, you spot a uniquely shaped table.

What to order at Petrico: fruit soufflé and homemade syrup ades

• Fruit soufflé ₩18,000
• Coco lime-ade ₩7,500

You check the menu and order at the kiosk. The signature soufflé comes in four varieties: classic, fruit, choco banana, and a hearty platter. There are also two tarts (lime / vanilla bean cheese) and a seasonal pear & lime granita.

You can feel Petrico's sincerity in every ingredient. They use organic matcha, unrefined sugar in their sweet drinks, and make the syrups for their ades in-house.

They use TWG, a premium tea brand, so they're clearly serious about tea too. The ice cream on the affogato is Häagen-Dazs, no less! There's also a milk tea cold-brewed for 24 hours with unrefined sugar and fragrant tea leaves.

Is Petrico good for reading and laptop work? Seating and table layout

Petrico is nice because both the space itself and the gaps between tables are generously wide. There are six bar seats, twelve two-tops, three four-tops, and one six-top.

Overall the furniture is a bright wood tone, and though the table and chair designs are all different, they blend together well. Black accents add a modern touch, and red-framed chairs add a pop of color. I also liked how the lighting varies slightly from seat to seat.

They've got a good range: six bar seats, twelve two-tops, three four-tops, and one six-top. The table height is perfect for laptop work or focused reading. And the four-top-and-up tables would work well for meetings or small gatherings, too.

How the fruit soufflé and coco lime-ade taste at Petrico

Petrico's soufflé pancakes start cooking the moment you order. They're baked with care, so you'll need to wait 20–30 minutes. (I'd recommend giving yourself a little extra time if you visit on a weekend!)

Here comes the fruit soufflé, topped with four kinds of seasonal fruit — orange, gold kiwi, blueberry, and caramelized banana! Each soufflé layer is generously sized.

Fresh out of the oven and puffed up soft and cloud-like, the soufflé cake is light and nutty at once. Drizzled with maple syrup, with its distinct flavor, and dipped in whipped cream for a subtle sweetness — delicious. Add the tangy-sweet seasonal fruit and my mouth was full of layered flavor in harmony. The toppings change with the seasons, so it'd be fun to come back each quarter and see what fruit pairing shows up next.

The coco lime-ade, made with the café's own homemade lime syrup and a touch of mint, was fragrant, and the chewy coconut texture rounded it out perfectly. Even after lingering over an hour, it kept its bold flavor all the way to the last sip. Totally satisfied!!!

With soft music playing in the background, thoughtfully made dessert, and a refreshing drink, it was a time of pure, unmistakable happiness. I'll definitely be back at Petrico to try the tarts.