Dessert café in Mapo, Seoul for mugwort terrine: Jitheunsan

Jitheunsan (짙은산) in Yeonnam-dong is a café I have returned to several times whenever I craved terrine. This time, I stopped by alone after work and had mugwort terrine and cold brew. The familiar space felt comfortable, but it was more crowded than I expected on the weekday evening I visited.

Where is Jitheunsan, and is parking available?

The address is 27 Seongmisan-ro 29an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, on the first floor. At the entrance is a sign shaped like a summit marker. It suited the café's name, and I sometimes saw people taking photos in front of the entrance.

The hours listed when the original post was written were 8:30 AM to 11 PM daily. On-site parking is not available. The original post mentions the Yeonnam-dong Public Parking Lot, Yeonnam 4 Street Public Parking Lot, and Yeonnam 3 Public Parking Lot nearby. I took public transportation.

What is terrine, and what did I choose?

Jitheunsan specializes in flourless terrine cakes. Rather than light and fluffy cake, they have a dense, rich texture. I liked how each bite felt substantial yet melted softly, so I often thought of this terrine when I came to Yeonnam-dong.

I chose the mugwort terrine again. Because I like mugwort's subtle, nutty aroma, I naturally went for the same flavor. I ordered cold brew to drink with it.

What was it like sitting alone on a weekday evening?

I came to enjoy coffee and dessert quietly on my own, but there were quite a lot of customers even on that weekday evening. It is worth keeping in mind if you are expecting a quiet atmosphere.

I sat by the window. Inside, there were window seats for one or two people as well as large tables where several people could sit together. It looked suitable for taking a break alone or stopping by with friends or a partner. Looking out the window for a little while suited me well after work.

Did the mugwort terrine and cold brew work well together?

I could feel the terrine's dense texture from the moment I cut it with a fork. Its mugwort aroma came through subtly, and the texture was substantial. To my taste, it was not a dessert where only the sweetness stood out, so it went well with coffee.

I like pairing dense terrine with nutty coffee. This cold brew also felt like a clean finish after the mugwort terrine, so I was satisfied. There were several drink options besides coffee.

I chose the familiar mugwort terrine again this time, but next time I would like to try another flavor I have not had yet. It is a place I will think of again when I want to take a short break with a dense dessert and coffee.