# Solo café visit for cardamom bun and yuzu lemon madeleine: Lemangdoré - By Haeju (https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-evening-plate/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Updated Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Cafés › Jung-gu, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored visit to the store. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [Tiếng Việt](https://superchart.com/vi/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [ไทย](https://superchart.com/th/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](https://superchart.com/id/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [Bahasa Melayu](https://superchart.com/ms/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) · [Español](https://superchart.com/es/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/index.md) ## In short Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a three-floor dessert and coffee bakery café on Mugyo-ro, between Gwanghwamun and City Hall stations in Jung-gu, Seoul. Drawn in by a cardamom bun she'd seen all over her algorithm, she visited solo and ordered an Americano Blanc, cardamom bun, and yuzu lemon madeleine, finding the coffee's acidity matched its description and the madeleine's coating shattered satisfyingly. If you like cinnamon rolls, Lemangdoré's cardamom bun is worth trying. ## Good to know - **Americano Blanc**: ₩6,500 - **Cardamom bun**: ₩5,400 - **Yuzu lemon madeleine**: ₩3,900 - **Size**: All 3 floors are Lemangdoré, each with a different concept - **Work environment**: Outlets on 2nd floor, group/meeting seating - **3rd floor**: Lounge in collaboration with furniture brand Fritz Hansen - **Amenities**: Blankets provided - **Location**: 17 Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea — between Gwanghwamun and City Hall stations, near Cheonggyecheon *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* Has anyone tried a cardamom bun?! It kept popping up on my algorithm lately and I got so curious I went out of my way to find one!! ## Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun, between Gwanghwamun and City Hall stations On a weekday I'd planned to see the Deoksugung exhibit at MMCA Seoul, so I scouted dessert spots nearby! Lemangdoré is famous for its desserts, and it happened to sell cardamom buns too, so I went straight over 👅💦 ### Vibe and floor layout ![Exterior of the Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun building on Mugyo-ro](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-01-1o58h-900.webp) ![Entrance of Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun with the heart logo](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-02-1jwvo-900.webp) It's located between Gwanghwamun and City Hall stations — just look for the building with the heart logo. It's close to Cheonggyecheon too, which was a nice bonus. ![Sign and logo at Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-03-5okro-900.webp) I looked up what 'Lemangdoré' means — apparently it's French for 'golden hand'! Coffee and bread made by golden hands, maybe?!! ![Coffee beans and goods displayed on the 1st floor of Lemangdoré](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-04-mkd73-900.webp) ![Interior of Lemangdoré with different concepts per floor](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-05-e94x7-900.webp) All three floors are Lemangdoré, so there was plenty of seating. The 1st floor also sells coffee beans and goods. Each floor has a different concept, which made it fun to explore ..ฅʕ•̫͡•ʔฅ The 2nd floor is great for meetings or groups, and it's well equipped with outlets, so it's good for people working. This is the spot for a study café in Gwanghwamun. ![3rd floor Lemangdoré lounge seating in collaboration with Fritz Hansen](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-06-4p879-900.webp) The 3rd floor is so peaceful too. It's a lounge done in collaboration with furniture brand Fritz Hansen, and the vibe is really nice. ## A look at the Lemangdoré menu ![Coffee menu board at Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-07-1o59h-900.webp) ![Menu describing Lemangdoré's coffee bean varieties](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-08-111wn-900.webp) ![Menu listing non-coffee and seasonal drinks at Lemangdoré](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-09-sgjyg-900.webp) Being a coffee-focused spot, they have a wide variety of beans. The non-coffee menu isn't ordinary either. I'd love to come back every quarter for the seasonal drinks. ![Dessert display case at Lemangdoré](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-10-1wkfd-900.webp) ![Various Lemangdoré desserts on display](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-11-199mi-900.webp) But as I said, my real target was dessert..🤍 So many kinds, and every single one looked pretty, so it was hard to decide. One mouth, a million desserts. ![Bakery display case with the cardamom bun at Lemangdoré](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-12-1wycl-900.webp) ![Choco baguette, apple pie, and other pastries on display at Lemangdoré](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-13-1k26f-900.webp) They also have the trendy cardamom bun and a choco baguette. The owner's personal favorite is apparently the chausson aux pommes, an apple pie pastry! ## What I ordered solo — Americano Blanc, cardamom bun, yuzu lemon madeleine ![Order of Americano Blanc, cardamom bun, and yuzu lemon madeleine](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-14-v98hx-900.webp) - Americano Blanc (₩6,500) - Cardamom bun (₩5,400) - Yuzu lemon madeleine (₩3,900) This is what I ordered solo ლ(╹◡╹ლ) ![A cup of Lemangdoré's Americano Blanc](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-15-1lg7b-900.webp) ### How the Americano Blanc bean tastes For the coffee, I chose the Blanc bean, and it was surprising how closely it matched its description. Green apple, berry sweetness, and clean finish. The menu describes it as 'like summer light,' and I could really taste a pleasant acidity that felt like summer ✨ I prefer lighter coffee over heavy coffee, so this was totally my type — recommend! ![Two Lemangdoré desserts served on logo-stamped plates](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-16-1t950-1200.webp) ![Cardamom bun and madeleine served alongside coffee](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-17-14184-900.webp) Even the plates have the Lemangdoré logo stamped on them, so cute.. I brought back two desserts I figured would pair well with the coffee, after a lot of deliberation. ### Yuzu lemon madeleine Worried the cardamom scent might be too strong, I started with the madeleine. The yuzu lemon coating had this crisp, shattering feel as the knife cut through it — so good. ![유자 레몬 코팅을 자른 마들렌 단면](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-18-k9bq8-900.webp) ![Yuzu lemon madeleine cut into bite-sized pieces](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-19-17cxb-900.webp) The lemon and yuzu scent came through at just the right level, and the madeleine itself was light yet moist, basically melting in my mouth. I saw it's also sold as a gift set — I really recommend the madeleine --<-<-<@ It'd make a great thank-you gift too. ![Lemangdoré's cardamom bun on a plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-20-11698-900.webp) ### So how does the cardamom bun taste? Next up, the cardamom bun I'd been dying to try! It's made with cardamom sugar, which is sugar infused with the cardamom spice. There's a strong cinnamon scent too, so apparently it's a cousin of the cinnamon roll. The outside shatters crisply. I expected it to be dry, but the inside was slightly moist!! The outside was sweet and the inside less so — a nice balance. ![Cross-section of the crispy-outside cardamom bun](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-21-w9s1q-900.webp) It's basically a cinnamon roll with cardamom added, and I could smell the same scent I've picked up in chai tea lattes. Turns out cardamom is actually one of the spices in chai! It's a slightly refreshing, fragrant spice, so even people who don't like spices might want to give it a try — especially if you like cinnamon rolls 🤍 It's a bread I think I'll keep thinking about. ![Cardamom bun and coffee set on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-22-1hhwi-900.webp) ## Even blankets provided — I'd come back Cafés these days blast the AC so it can get cold, but they even had blankets ready. The staff were kind, and both the coffee and desserts felt made with care, so I think I'll be back. ![View from a window seat at Lemangdoré](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-23-175xt-900.webp) ![Final interior shot of Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun-24-1ubzv-900.webp) If you're looking for a great dessert spot near Cheonggyecheon, give Lemangdoré a try! ## Where it is - Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun (레망도레 광화문점) - 17 Mugyo-ro, 1st–3rd floor, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 중구 무교로 17 1층, 2층, 3층 - 37.5674271, 126.9790862 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A0%88%EB%A7%9D%EB%8F%84%EB%A0%88%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5674271,126.9790862,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-evening-plate/le-main-doree-gwanghwamun-cardamom-bun/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt