Sillim brunch café, Christmas decor & lunch set for 3: Jakeunttaompyo

Sillim Station brunch: what is Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom like?

If you're looking for a brunch spot near Sillim Station, Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom (작은따옴표 도림천점) lets you enjoy daytime sunshine and Christmas decor at the same time. I'd seen the interior and the view out the window on social media, and they stuck in my mind, so even though the neighborhood was a bit unfamiliar, I really wanted to go. It had turned chilly the last few days, so I figured the windows would be shut, but by the time I arrived for my 12:30 reservation the weather was gorgeous.

The windows were already wide open and bright sunlight filled the room. Antique furniture, a green tree and golden lights made me feel like I'd teleported to some café in Europe. Like travelers escaping everyday life, the three of us had an exotic brunch.

Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom location and opening hours

• Address: 36-1 Gwancheon-ro, 2nd floor, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, about 4 minutes on foot from Sillim Station Exit 4
• Hours: Mon–Thu 12:00–23:00 / Fri 12:00–23:30 / Sat–Sun 11:00–23:30
• Break time: weekdays 15:30–17:00 (alcohol only during this time)
• Last order: Mon–Thu 22:00 / Fri–Sun 22:45
• Parking: no private lot; use Seowon-dong Public Parking Lot No. 1 (₩3,000 per 60 minutes)
• Reservations: Naver Reservation, CatchTable
• Time limit: 2 hours 30 minutes

Is the atmosphere good in the daytime too?

There's no shop sign outside the building, so it can be confusing the first time.

Climb the stairs from the 1st floor and you're greeted by a green wall with frames, a mirror and a neon "Salon" sign. The tablet at the entrance said to come straight in with no waiting.

Inside, dark green walls, a wooden ceiling and a chandelier fill the space. It was only early November, but seeing a Christmas tree and garland already made me realize something I'd forgotten.

Wine glasses hang in rows above the bar counter, and a melting-shaped clock catches the eye. With all the whiskey and wine bottles, I got curious about the evening mood too.

One wall has a year's bucket list packed onto a chalkboard. It's fun to look at the items crossed out one by one.

Our seat was in the central hall. It was around lunchtime with few guests, so we could stay quietly. Fresh air drifted in through the open windows, and I loved watching the street trees swaying in the breeze. It was far too warm an afternoon for November.

If you book ahead, a handwritten welcome card with your name is waiting on the table. Being asked what kind of day I'd had made my heart go all soft.

The coaster says "Be yourself, be you, be us." It's a space where delicate sensibility shows in every little prop.

Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom menu and prices

Soups and salad

• Onion soup ₩13,000
• Mushroom soup ₩12,000 (comes with 4 pieces of grilled baguette)
• Tomato soup ₩8,500
• Salmon herb salad ₩10,000

Pasta

• Black olive pasta ₩16,800 (topped with shrimp, bacon, dill and lemon zest)
• Jambon cream pasta ₩17,800
• Handmade gnocchi ₩19,000
• Truffle gnocchi (price varies)

Bread

• French toast ₩17,000
• Handmade herb baguette ₩3,000

Main dishes

• Cottage pie ₩25,000 (an English home-style dish of mashed potato baked in the oven)
• Fresh truffle cottage pie (price varies)
• Honey cod ₩23,000
• Beef bourguignon ₩32,000

Small dishes

• Grilled black cheese ₩15,000
• Gambas al ajillo ₩18,500

Coffee

• Americano ₩4,500
• Café latte ₩5,500
• Grapi coffee ₩7,000
• Salon de Fran ₩7,000
• Café Royal ₩6,500
• Vanilla latte ₩5,800
• Flat white ₩5,500

Decaf

• Cold brew Americano ₩10,000
• Cold brew latte ₩10,500
• Cold brew vanilla latte ₩11,000
• Whisty ₩12,000

Drinks

• Green passion fruit ade ₩6,800
• French health juice ₩8,500
• Matcha choco cream latte ₩8,000
• Affogato ₩8,000
• Paris-style chocolat ₩11,000
• Yuja Earl Grey tea ₩5,800
• Peppermint tea ₩4,500

Desserts

• Tiramisu ₩7,500
• Pistachio tiramisu ₩8,500
• Gelato ₩7,500

What's in the lunch set the three of us ordered

The three of us ordered the ₩51,000 lunch set and two Classic Coffees at ₩5,000 each. For the lunch set we chose the cottage pie (regular), mushroom soup and black olive pasta.

• Lunch set ₩51,000: cottage pie (regular) + mushroom soup + black olive pasta
• Classic Coffee ₩5,000 x2

Americano

The Americano at Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom has a nutty, rich flavor, perfect to drink hot with a meal.

The coffee cup is pretty too, and with the chandelier light reflecting in it, the coffee looks like a jewel.

Mushroom soup

The mushroom soup was full of that nutty mushroom aroma, as if sautéed in butter. The seasoning was just right and it tasted luxurious. Dipping crispy baguette in it and piling it on top was heavenly, haha. The baguette vanished fast with just one bowl of soup.

Cottage pie (regular)

I thought cottage pie was a pie with a dough base. But it's actually mashed potato seasoned with spices and baked in the oven.

Scoop up a spoonful and hot steam rises. On a chilly day, one bowl would thaw a frozen body in no time. Both the soup and the cottage pie tasted deep and rich, like eating home cooking in Europe. You keep going back for another spoonful.

Black olive pasta

The black olive pasta is topped with plump shrimp and bacon. The lemon zest adds a tangy note. The slightly wide noodles were cooked just right, chewy and springy. The green herb leaves made it nicer to look at and to eat.

Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom FAQ

Are there performances during the day?

Performances at Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom are held only in the evening. They start at 8 pm Monday to Thursday, and at 7:30 pm and 10 pm Friday to Sunday. Each lasts about 30 minutes, with a separate ₩9,000 per person performance fee.

Can you park there?

There's no private parking lot. Seowon-dong Public Parking Lot No. 1 costs ₩3,000 per 60 minutes.

Do you need a reservation?

We booked, and the entrance had a notice saying to walk in with no waiting. If you want a window seat or a performance seat, it's best to reserve ahead via Naver Reservation or CatchTable. With a reservation, one drink and one meal per person is the baseline. Dessert doesn't count as a meal.

Can you go at Christmas?

There's word that they'll run a Christmas course in late December. For dates and prices, it's most accurate to check the official Jakeunttaompyo Instagram account.

Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom tips

Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom is about a 4-minute walk from Sillim Station Exit 4. There's no separate shop sign, so use the Seoul Bapjip building on the 1st floor as your landmark. It runs as a brunch café by day and a dining bar by night. On weekdays, 15:30 to 17:00 is the brunch break time. The standard time limit is 2 hours 30 minutes.

• Pick your menu via the QR code on the table and pay when you leave.
• Menu items marked with an S on the menu are the signatures.
• To enjoy the sunshine, I recommend visiting around lunchtime.
• After the meal, it's nice to stroll along Dorimcheon stream right next door.

A Sillim brunch that brought back Christmas excitement

At Jakeunttaompyo Dorimcheon-jeom, which I visited for a Sillim brunch, I felt I'd found again the Christmas excitement that shrinks a little every year. It's a great place to enjoy brunch like a traveler escaping daily life, and for couples it's a good space to make memories on a special day.

There was a line printed at the top of the receipt.

Are you living as yourself right now?

Even a single receipt makes you reflect on yourself. In the welcome card and every little prop, I could feel the delicate detail of an owner who loves art. If a sunny daytime brunch is this happy, I'm curious how the evening wine bar would be. There are still lots of dishes I want to try, so we promised to come back. Next time I'd like to enjoy the evening jazz performance too.