Songpa café with salt bread and egg tart: Grid Cafe

I went to Grid Cafe (그리드 카페) in Ogeum-dong, Songpa-gu, to eat an egg tart. But the pollock roe and gamtae salt bread stayed with me more. I chose the last remaining one, and enjoyed the contrast between its crisp exterior and moist interior.

Where is Grid Cafe?

It is at 146 Macheon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, near Ogeum Park. The bakery café is decorated with wood, and I thought it would be nice to stop by for brunch after a weekend morning walk in the park. The hours listed in the original are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is closed on Mondays.

Should you go early to choose from the breads?

There were not many breads left when I visited. Since the café displays information about when breads come out, it would be better to check before visiting if you have a particular bread in mind. However, the original text does not give a specific schedule.

I went after seeing that you should arrive early to find bread, but there were still few options. The seats were almost full, so I just managed to sit down, and I picked up the last salt bread. Based on my visit, there may be little bread left after 3 p.m. on weekends.

I ordered at a kiosk. I was disappointed that I could not choose the melon salt bread I wanted to try.

Was it comfortable to stay and study alone?

Some customers came with family or friends, but there were also many people who had come alone like me. It was not particularly noisy when I visited, so I felt it would be fine to stay and study alone. However, almost all the seats were occupied.

What did the pollock roe and gamtae salt bread taste like?

I ordered the last remaining pollock roe and gamtae salt bread. At first, I worried that it might have been sitting out for a long time, but it suited my taste when I tried it.

The outside was very crisp, while the inside was moist. I liked the texture, which was different from bread that is simply soft.

I could taste the savory umami of the pollock roe, and the seasoning was just right for me. There was also plenty of gamtae, so I enjoyed the entire salt bread.

What coffee did you have with the bread?

I chose coffee made with nutty-tasting beans. Grid Cafe says it makes its coffee with beans supplied by Fritz Coffee Company.

How was the egg tart’s texture and sweetness?

I liked that the egg tart was packed with filling. The pastry shell had layers but was not dry, and the inside was smooth like pudding. I prefer this texture to a firm, cookie-like shell.

However, it tasted sweet to me, so I could not eat much. I took the remaining egg tart home. I was satisfied with the filling and size, but I would have liked it even more if it were a little less sweet. It was the kind of flavor I wanted to have with coffee.

How much are the egg tart and salt bread?

These are the main menu prices listed in the original. I did not find the bread prices especially burdensome.

• Egg tart: ₩3,700
• Chocolate tart: ₩4,000
• Plain salt bread: ₩3,000

Can you enter with a pet?

According to the original notice, pets are not allowed inside.

What bread would I like to try next time?

There are two types of salt bread: soft salt bread and crack salt bread. I liked the pollock roe and gamtae salt bread I had this time, so I would like to return for more salt bread. I am also curious about the melon salt bread I could not choose this time.