Greenhouse brunch café in Asan with truffle gnocchi: When You Bite

I'd actually been here before.

Every time it showed up on my Instagram feed I'd think 'I want to go back!' — so I finally returned to When You Bite, the famously popular brunch café in Tangjeong, Asan.

From the entrance, the cute, cozy vibe and the pretty outdoor terrace seating caught my eye right away. On a breezy, nice-weather day like this, the terrace looked perfect for lounging around and soaking up some sun. haha

There's a public parking lot right next to the café, and if spots are full, roadside parking is also possible~

What the greenhouse garden interior looks like

The moment I stepped inside, an involuntary "wow~" escaped me.

Through the stylish arched frames, big lush plants filled the space, making me feel like I'd stepped into a small greenhouse garden in the middle of the city.

There's a huge full-length mirror casually placed on one side of the café — an unmissable photo spot!

Take a mirror selfie against the backdrop of greenery and you'll get an instant, effortlessly aesthetic shot — don't forget to snap one.

Truffle cream gnocchi and spicy seafood pesce pasta

Figuring who knows when we'd fight through the waitlist again, we went all out and ordered a generously full table.

The first thing that completely stole my heart was When You Bite's signature dish: truffle cream gnocchi!

Unlike the usual mushy gnocchi, this one was crispy outside and chewy inside — that crispy-outside, soft-inside texture was pure art. Dip the gnocchi into the thick, savory cream sauce and it's a full-on hallelujah chorus in your mouth.

Pile the gnocchi and sauce onto the accompanying rye bread and take a bite — the bread's plainness and the sauce's richness pair amazingly well. The gnocchi here is the real deal~ it made me realize what I'd eaten elsewhere wasn't real gnocchi at all~

A brunch staple that's never missing, egg Benedict, looked great too. The runny yolk popped with a fork, and the smooth hollandaise sauce with salty bacon ham filled my mouth with happiness. The roasted baby potatoes on the side were fluffy and had that magical taste that kept my fork going back for more.

Just as my mouth started to feel a little greasy from the cream and cheese, the perfectly-timed spicy peperoncino pasta stepped in. It comes in a red cast-iron-style pot, so it stays piping hot until the very last bite~

Can you see it? It's generously packed with plump shrimp and chewy squid. Above all, the broth is spicy and tangy like jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) — any Korean would fall for this flavor without question. I hadn't even drunk the night before, but I still felt like it cured a hangover! hahaha

The truffle mushroom pasta looked amazing too. Cheese and mushroom flavor spread richly through my mouth — the ultimate in chewy texture and savoriness, with a charm that had me scraping up every bit of the sauce~

They're also running a receipt review event~ finishing off with cool ice cream sounds perfect. Today was a feast for both eyes and mouth. If you want a feel-good healing session, I recommend When You Bite, the famous brunch café in Tangjeong, Asan.

How long is the weekend wait, and where to park?

If you want to enjoy a cool americano and delicious food in a great-vibe spot, I highly recommend this for your weekend outing ^^

• Hours: Wed–Sun 09:30–19:00 (last order 18:00), closed every Monday and Tuesday (note: closed Sep 25 for Chuseok)
• Location: 72 Maegokhandeul 8-gil, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, South Korea, 1st floor. 996m from Tangjeong Station Exit 2, near Handeulmulbit Elementary School
• Parking in front of the café is somewhat limited, with room for only 3–4 cars. During weekend peak hours, look for open spots in the surrounding alleys, or just use the nearby public parking lot for peace of mind!
• Weekend waits are basically guaranteed, so aim for an opening run (9:30) or go for a late lunch after 2pm for a much more relaxed visit.

A brunch that's visually and flavor-perfect, enjoyed in a lush greenhouse mood! An Asan hotspot 200% worth the wait.