Gunsan bakery for salt bread and chewy barley loaf: Hongyun Bakery

I really love bread, so I tend to seek out the bakeries said to be famous in every region. I thought Gunsan only had Iseongdang, but it turns out there is another master baker's shop that locals strongly recommend! It is Hongyun Bakery, a bakery in Susong-dong, Gunsan, that carefully bakes bread with Korean-grown ingredients.

First impressions of Hongyun Bakery in Susong-dong, Gunsan

Right from the building exterior, a huge sign proclaiming “Korea Master Baker” immediately caught my eye. The entrance had such a strong master-craftsperson aura that I was already excited before going in. One wall proudly displayed the owner's many honors, medals, and master baker certificates, raising my confidence in the bread by 200%! As soon as I arrived near the shop, the nutty, sweet scent of bread gently drifted through the air and made me walk faster without even realizing it!!

Bread selection, from cakes to sandwich loaves

The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by a jaw-dropping sight. So many kinds of bread were packed neatly into the glass cases and displayed all around the shop. For cakes, there seemed to be the largest selection of classic whipped-cream fruit cakes! You know fruit cakes are the real star of a neighborhood bakery, right?ㅠ From whipped-cream cakes piled high with colorful fresh fruit to tarts and roll cakes, they all looked perfect as gifts for a special day.

There was everything from sausage bread, pizza bread, and garlic baguettes that looked freshly baked and warm, to nutty scones and pastries.

One side was neatly arranged with snack items such as madeleines and cookies, plus mild sandwich loaves and whole-wheat breads. And the loaf I bought used entirely Korean-grown ingredients!!

It was so fun to browse that I wandered around with my tray for quite a while. There is about one table for eating in, but other customers were using it, so I could not photograph it.

They had sandwiches, drinks to pair with them, and beverages for everyone from children to adults, so it seems like a great place to visit when you need a quick snack for the kids.

The breads I chose and the total bill

There were so many things I wanted that I seriously debated for a while, then picked out the best-known items and the ones that looked especially delicious! They accept all kinds of payment methods, so there is no worry even if you leave your card behind~

• White glutinous rice-barley loaf: ₩7,000
• Garlic Dottori: ₩5,000
• Sweet potato cream cheese bread: ₩5,300
• Salt bread: ₩2,800
• Paper bag: ₩100
• Total: ₩20,400

At chain bakeries these days, the bill quickly gets high even when you do not pick up much. But considering the wholesome bread made by a master baker and the generous sizes, I thought this was excellent value. The eco-friendly paper bag holding my bread read, “When you eat our bread, our farmers are happy too.” I was especially impressed that Hongyun Bakery uses white glutinous rice barley, a Gunsan specialty, along with Korean-grown agricultural products. Somehow, it made my heart feel warm too.

Salt bread, tasted first in the car

I could not wait, so I tore open the wrapper and had a taste as soon as I got in the car!

Salt bread, ₩2,800

The first thing I tried was salt bread, now an essential item at pretty much every bakery. Coarse salt was dotted over its nicely browned surface, and when I tore it in half, the inside pulled apart in moist, chewy layers! The bottom had a buttery feel but was not very crisp, while the interior was soft yet chewy—a salt bread with an addictive texture. The combination of saltiness and buttery flavor was so good. That said, people who love a real crunch might find it a little disappointing. But I fell for the chewiness, so even as a crunch lover, I could forgive it..?

How Garlic Dottori and sweet potato cream cheese bread tasted

Garlic Dottori, ₩5,000

I was also very satisfied with the savory breads! Garlic Dottori was generously soaked with a pungent-sweet garlic sauce, so flavor burst through my mouth with every bite. At first I thought, Is the sausage a little thin? But it had a nice snap, and considering the overall balance of the bread, I decided it suited this much better than a large sausage would have. This one had a surprisingly chewy texture too! It is a crowd-pleasing flavor that probably will not divide opinions.

Sweet potato cream cheese bread

The soft, sweet sweet-potato filling with nutty, salty cream cheese was the perfect sweet-and-salty combination, and with an Americano, I just kept eating it endlessly. You could really tell they did not skimp on the filling. The sweet potato flavor is a little stronger than the cream cheese, though, so it may disappoint you if you are expecting a lot of cream cheese! The soboro crumb topping was so delicious, haha.

Chewy barley loaf toasted in the air fryer

The loaf was chewy, and it got wonderfully crisp when toasted in the air fryer, but I could not take photos ㅠㅠ This is Hongyun Bakery's signature chewy barley lineup! Its exterior already had an exceptional nutty aroma, and it was clearly much chewier than an ordinary wheat loaf. The more I chewed, the more the barley's subtle sweetness and nuttiness came through.

More than anything, bread often leaves me feeling heavy, but perhaps because it contains Korean barley, this one felt comfortable after eating and did not sit heavily at all. I thought it would be perfect for parents or as a snack for children. This is absolutely a place deserving of its Korea Master Baker title. The bread tastes great, of course, but it also considers health by using Korean-grown ingredients, which made me happy throughout the meal. The shop has such a friendly atmosphere, and the variety of bread is so extensive that next time I want to sweep up all the other signature breads I missed this time! If you are planning a trip to Gunsan or looking for a delicious, wholesome bakery near Susong-dong, be sure to stop by Hongyun Bakery. I completely, highly recommend it! 💛