this place I went to in Mangon I assure you, is one of the best cafes in Seoul. it’s cozy, hidden, chic, but most important of all, they serve the best french toast I’ve ever had in my life for a very affordable price.
the cafe isn’t the most conveniently located to a tourist, but it’s around 5 minutes walk away from Mangwon station. so it’s not too difficult to find. It’s located on the 2nd floor of this building above!
the place is pretty much run by this one guy. he’s the chef, the cashier and the waiter, so you gotta be patient if there’s too many people. but given the small space, the place can’t really accommodate too many.
the space feels very homey, with a kitchen no bigger than what you’d get in a typical studio in Seoul. its space is maxed out and utilized to its fullest. and the golden toasts sits at the bottom refrigerator. sitting at the counter, I can see the chef carefully taking out each piece of pre-soaked baguette instead of the usual bread loaf.
at only 3,000won and an extra 1,000won for toppings, can I say, that this is not just the most delicious toast, but also an absolute bang for buck for what it is. I would happily come here every week if I still lived in Seoul. the most popular according to the owner is the ice cream toast and I can absolutely see why. the vanilla ice cream is silky smooth and fragrant, tasting almost like moose. the combination of warm and cold here balanced out so well and did I mention that the insides are soft and just perfectly sweet? everything about this toast, I like. my only regret is that I didn’t order more.
my best friend got the almond cream cheese toppings which was as good, but honestly I liked the ice cream one a tad bit more. they also had savory toasts which we didn’t opt for but definitely going to come back for next time!
sneak peak of the soft insides. mmm.
seating wise, it’s not the most comfortable, but the coziness of the place and also the toast makes up for it. drinks were nothing out of the box, but I definitely enjoyed my lemonade, even on a cold winters day.
the other shops on the same building were all closed when we went, but they were all so tastefully designed so I had to show you guys!
I went right at the end of November and was shocked that some autumn leaves were still surviving. this tree in particular is especially pretty. if you are going to Seoul after the “peak” season, try going to Hongdae and somewhere south and you may just be in luck to find a few autumn trees!
Kiosque 키오스크 ($)
57-194, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 2F
서울특별시 마포구 월드컵로19길 74 2F
12:00 – 21:00 daily
closed on Sundays
Jamie’s Rating:
taste ☆☆☆☆☆
atmosphere ☆☆☆☆
service ☆☆☆☆
hygiene ☆☆☆☆☆
would return ☆☆☆☆☆
value for money ☆☆☆☆☆