Ulju, Ulsan bakery café with pond views: MUG (카페 먹)

I visited MUG (카페 먹) for baked goods and drinks around Eonyang in Ulsan. The pond in front of the ink-black building and the gallery-like interior stayed with me. Of everything I tried, I especially liked the bam cheesecake (chestnut cheesecake), with its distinct chestnut flavor, and the tart MUG lemonade, which wasn't sweet.

Where is MUG, and how is the parking?

The address is 90 Hyangsandagae-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea (울산 울주군 상북면 향산다개로 90). The listed hours were 10:00 AM–8:00 PM daily, with last orders at 7:30 PM.

The large open lot directly in front of the café was used for parking. Even that spacious area had plenty of cars on the weekend, but the parking lot itself felt roomy. The location did feel rather out of the way, though.

What are the pond-facing seats and interior like?

I'm told MUG carries the meaning of overcoming and healing from the pain of a wildfire. The building was ink-black, fitting its Korean name. A wide, shallow pond stretched out in front, and the building's reflection on the water was striking when viewed from the side.

Walking inside felt like entering a gallery. The ceilings were high, and the spacious interior was divided into separate areas. The large windows facing the pond looked like picture frames, with a row of seats in front.

It was crowded when I visited at lunchtime on the weekend. The window seats by the pond were popular, so getting one took some timing. The counter farther inside, near the center, was separate from the seating, which made ordering feel less hectic.

Is there outdoor space for children and dogs?

Dogs were welcome, and the café also had a zone welcoming children. There was a large yard with walking paths, and going up the steps led to a cozy outdoor seating area. With the green grasses in view, it was somewhere I'd want to sit on a nice day.

What else is available besides bread and coffee?

The bakery reportedly uses Lescure butter. I could also see cold brew being made inside the café.

There were two kinds of water: lemon and grapefruit. I could warm up bread myself, and wrapping paper was provided for taking leftover bread home, which was handy.

What's on the bakery and drinks menu, and what does it cost?

The signature desserts were cinnamon rolls topped with cream. There were three varieties—blueberry cream cheese, apple and tiramisu—and I thought each was a good size for two people to share. The prices below are those listed in the original post.

• Blueberry cream cheese cinnamon roll, apple cinnamon roll and tiramisu cinnamon roll: ₩6,800 each
• Real oksusu-ppang (corn bread): ₩6,200 / Geobugi melon bread (turtle melon bread): ₩5,800
• MUG black latte and MUG lemon smoothie: ₩7,500 each / MUG lemonade: ₩7,000
• 100% organic Hadong matcha latte: ₩7,500
• Omija ade (five-flavor berry soda): ₩7,000 / Plum smoothie: ₩7,500
• Avocado smoothie: ₩8,000
• Blueberry yogurt smoothie and strawberry yogurt smoothie: ₩7,000 each

Drinks with “MUG” at the start of their names reflected the café's ink-black theme. The cream and toppings on the cinnamon rolls caught my eye too, making it hard to choose.

The other breads had distinctive shapes too, which made choosing fun.

There were cake slices in the refrigerated display too. I felt like having a soft dessert, so I chose a slice of chestnut cheesecake.

How were the MUG lemonade and blueberry yogurt smoothie?

Is the MUG lemonade very sweet?

The MUG lemonade was ₩7,000. It combined lemon and raspberry, but its ink-black color caught my eye because it looked so unexpected for lemonade. The contrast with the colorful top made me take several photos.

To my taste, it was refreshing and tart, with hardly any sweetness. It tasted like freshly squeezed lemon, and I liked that emphasis on lemon. It left a clean finish too.

Does the blueberry yogurt smoothie have a strong fruit flavor?

The blueberry yogurt smoothie was also ₩7,000. It was made by blending blueberries with yogurt, and I was a little puzzled at first that it came in a paper cup.

A little blueberry syrup on top gave it a pronounced fruity aroma. I liked that neither the blueberry nor the yogurt overpowered the other. I'd come looking forward to the baked goods, but the drinks were satisfying too, and the prices felt reasonable for how they tasted.

How did the cinnamon roll and chestnut cheesecake compare?

What disappointed me about the blueberry cream cheese cinnamon roll?

The blueberry cream cheese cinnamon roll was ₩6,800. I chose it for the blueberry compote and cream cheese on top, but there was less cream cheese than I'd expected. I thought the raised part was cream cheese too, but cutting into it revealed that it was cinnamon roll.

There was cinnamon sugar rolled through the inside, and the cinnamon flavor wasn't strong. Dipping each bite into a little cream cheese worked well, but I still wished there had been more of it.

What were the chestnut cheesecake's flavor and texture like?

The chestnut flavor in the cheesecake was distinct, well beyond a subtle hint. The nutty sweetness of the chestnut went well with the cheese, and I enjoyed it.

The texture was fairly firm, so it didn't fall apart easily when I ate it with a fork. I thought cutting it into pieces with a knife first would make it easier to eat. Of the desserts I tried, the chestnut cheesecake was the one I'd want again.

What would I order on another visit?

If I went back, I'd choose the chestnut cheesecake and MUG lemonade. The pond views from indoors and the green walking paths stayed with me too. Still, weekend lunchtime was crowded, and the cinnamon roll could have used a little more cream cheese.