Jongno 3-ga bakery at opening: rice cheese & chestnut loaves, Munhwa

Today I visited Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵), a bakery in Jongno 3-ga. They only sell bread made that day, which makes me trust it more. And any bread that doesn't sell that day is given to children in need, people with disabilities and other underserved groups, so it's a kind-hearted bakery too :)

Where is Munhwa Bakery and how does entry work?

Munhwa Bakery is a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Jongno 3-ga Station. It's right by the station, so it's very easy to reach.. The hanok-style (traditional Korean house) exterior really catches your eye.

The inside isn't big, so if there are people in the shop, you wait outside and go in after. A sign says two parties can enter at a time. I went right after opening, so I got straight in.

Customers don't pick up the bread themselves. You tell the owner what you want and they pack it for you right away. Bakeries often sell out if you go late, so it's best to go early!

Munhwa Bakery bread menu and prices

I photographed all the bread they had on the day I went, so please use it as a reference. The most famous one here is probably the garlic bread. I hear many items sell out in the afternoon, but I ended up doing an accidental opening-time run, so the shelves were packed full.

• Injeolmi bread (injeolmi is a soft roasted-soybean-powder rice cake) ₩3,500
• Peanut bread ₩3,800
• Mugwort rice cake bread ₩5,400

• Black sesame bread ₩3,800
• Milk cream bread ₩3,500
• Cheese bread ₩5,400
• Squid ink condensed milk bread ₩4,200

• Rice chestnut loaf ₩5,500
• Rice cheese loaf ₩5,900
• Maple cream cheese bread ₩4,900
• Sweet potato bread ₩3,800
• White red-bean paste bread ₩3,800
• Walnut bread ₩3,500

• Onion bagel ₩5,500

• Coffee bread ₩5,500
• Garlic bread ₩6,500

How do Munhwa Bakery's rice cheese and rice chestnut loaves taste?

I picked out a few things at Munhwa Bakery and took them home. I used to sweep up everything whenever I went to a bakery, but these days I buy only what I can eat and go more often.

I saw on Instagram that this is supposedly the tastiest way to eat bread. Bakery owners might not love it though.. haha. I was craving the most basic kind of bread, so I chose two kinds of sliced loaf.

Rice cheese loaf, ₩5,900: fluffy bread dotted with cheese

Munhwa Bakery's rice cheese loaf is a cheese loaf studded with bits of cheese. It's made with rice, so it's probably a little healthier, right? The bread itself feels soft and fluffy, and with cheese dotted on the outside and inside, it's nutty and has a great texture. It goes perfectly with coffee or milk.

Rice chestnut loaf, ₩5,500: streusel-like crust packed with chestnuts

The surface of Munhwa Bakery's rice chestnut loaf is a bit like soboro (crumbly streusel topping), that delicious flavor!!! I wanted to peel off just the crust and eat it. It's packed with chestnuts so it's filling, and if you like chestnuts it's a sure thing. The flavor isn't strong but subtle, which made me reach for more and got me hooked.

It's chewy, not very sweet, and maybe because it's loaded with chestnuts, even one slice is filling enough to work as a meal replacement. I finished it in no time.. next time I should buy more (hahaha). I ate both loaves in one sitting and they never felt greasy or got boring, which I liked.

Is Munhwa Bakery in Ikseon-dong worth a visit?

If you come to the Ikseon-dong area, I think it's worth stopping by Munhwa Bakery. The bread is tasty for the price and there's a wide variety, so I was satisfied.