Dobong café after Uicheon running: Uisagye chimney gimbap

I’ve fallen hard for running again, so here I am, happily jogging along like a cool(?) runner 🌝 The real reason I can stick with it, rather than running itself, is finding pretty cafés and good restaurants near my route 😇.. The highlight of this day’s Uicheon run was visiting Uisagye (우이사계), a café in Chang-dong ✨

Uisagye after running along Uicheon

• Location: 178 Uicheon-ro, Dobong-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 도봉구 우이천로 178)
• Hours: 10 AM–9 PM
• Chimney bread is unavailable every Wednesday
• There is no dedicated parking, so Chang 3-dong No. 1 Public Parking Lot, a 5-minute walk away, is recommended
• Separate restrooms for men and women, high chairs, and children’s drinks are available
• Pets are welcome, and decaf coffee can be ordered

Neatly settled beside Uicheon, Uisagye was created by renovating a red house that is a whopping 50 years old 🙂 The warmth of its time-worn red brick meets a modern sensibility, making this chimney bread spot feel wonderfully atmospheric even just passing by and looking at it ✨

Specializing in coffee and chimney bread, with a view of Uicheon’s changing seasons all at once, this Chang-dong café is perfect for dropping in and resting comfortably whenever you’re out running or taking a walk 🤎

• Chimney bread ₩5,500
• Chimney gimbap ₩8,800
• Americano ₩4,500
• Uisupenner ₩6,000
• Matcha latte ₩5,800

Red-brick exterior and outdoor tables

The exterior was so pretty from the moment I spotted it in the distance while running that I wanted to finish my run right away ☺️..

The outdoor tables I saw before going in immediately caught my eye—the atmosphere itself was just so lovely 👀 Sitting outside when the autumn breeze is gently blowing would be pure happiness, I think 🤎

Wood-toned spaces on the first and second floors

Soft natural light streamed in by the windows, filling the whole space with a calm, subtle mood 💖 The warm wood-toned interior, with the grain left beautifully visible, made me feel much more relaxed and settled 😌

The red staircase leading up to the second floor was a real focal point ♥️

Head upstairs and a woody, cozy atmosphere opens up. Uicheon flows past one set of windows, while the other gives you an expansive view of Baegundae Peak on Bukhansan—such a top-notch view 💘

The second-floor terrace also had the best atmosphere 💗

There were lots of objects to look around at on both floors, which made exploring fun ☺️

After much deliberation(?), I chose the corner table by the second-floor window 🤎

Ordering chimney gimbap and a matcha latte

From the tray and chimney-bread tool(?) to the mugs, what at Uisagye isn’t pretty, exactly ..?

They had a full lineup of different chimney breads and desserts, plus drinks for kids. Everything looked delicious, but I ordered chimney gimbap and a matcha latte!

Chimney gimbap ₩8,800 / Matcha latte ₩5,800

I wanted a late breakfast, and I wondered if chimney bread alone might be a little lacking, so I chose the chimney gimbap—and what an excellent choice it was 🫢 Inside the crisp-outside, chewy-inside chimney bread were arugula, jambon ham, and Emmental cheese, so it absolutely worked as a meal 🤎

The outside of the bread had a slight sweetness too, making that sweet-and-salty combination just right 😍 It was plated so beautifully that both my eyes and my mouth were happy ..! One sip of the matcha latte I ordered alongside it brought a rich, pleasantly bitter taste with a touch of sweetness, and it did its part perfectly in replenishing my sugar after exercising 💚 I usually only drink coffee, but having a matcha latte for the first time in a while felt like a refreshing change of pace!

Filling up while looking at that pretty view after a run made all my fatigue melt away ✨ If I run along Uicheon again next time, I definitely want to come back and try another kind of chimney bread! I totally recommend this pretty Chang-dong café to anyone looking for somewhere to stop after a walk or run along Uicheon.