It is spring, a season when you must fully enjoy the outdoors before summer arrives. Perhaps because the weather gets warmer every year, April 2026 has been quite hot. During the day, the heat was almost like summer. This makes it a time when one feels more rushed to check the weather and head outside. Once winter passes and the weather becomes perfect for enjoying coffee outdoors, there was a specific cafe I had always wanted to visit. This was the day I headed to Jangchung-dong(장충동) specifically for that cafe.
Jangchung-dong is a step away from the bustling crowds. Although it is in the heart of downtown Seoul, I recommend this area as a secret hideout and a perfect basecamp for travelers who want to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. Located right in the middle of Seoul’s major attractions—Namsan, Dongdaemun, Euljiro, Myeongdong, and even Hannam-dong further down—it sits at the center of the city’s best areas. This is also why Seoul’s representative 5-star hotels, such as the Shilla Hotel, Banyan Tree Club & Spa, and Ambassador Seoul Pullman, are clustered here.
Additionally, when talking about Jangchung-dong, one cannot leave out the National Theater of Korea(국립극장), where you can watch traditional Korean performing arts, and the Jangchung Arena(장충체육관), Korea’s first indoor gymnasium and a current hub for sports and entertainment. The Korean professional volleyball season begins in mid-October every year and lasts until early April the following year. If you visit during this time, I highly recommend watching a home game for ‘GS Caltex (Women)’ or ‘Woori Card (Men)’ at Jangchung Arena to experience Korea’s uniquely passionate cheering culture. During the off-season, this venue hosts K-pop idol fan meetings and concerts, so checking the schedule before your trip is a must!
If you are looking for a neighborhood that satisfies accommodation, culture, sports activities, and gourmet food all within a relaxed atmosphere, I highly recommend Jangchung-dong.
+ The route for this day started on a Sunday morning and took about 5 hours.
P3R:C COFFEE 펄시커피
- Address: 1F, 34-57 Dongho-ro 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 09:30 – 19:00
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p3rc.official
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
This is the cafe that served as the reason for my visit to Jangchung-dong. I happened to see a photo of this place and decided that I must visit as soon as the weather was nice enough to enjoy coffee outside. Since I visited on a Sunday morning almost right at opening time, I was able to spend some quiet time without other customers for a while. I even saw a cat, appearing like the master of the house, taking a nap in a comfortable, shaded spot under the gentle breeze. I ordered an Americano, a ‘Stella B Latte‘, and a financier. Although I am an Americano lover, I recommend trying the ‘Stella B Latte’ at least once, as it has a delightful cherry-chocolate flavor.
Ddung-ddung-i Halmeoni-jib (뚱뚱이할머니집/Fat Grandma’s House)
- Address: 174-1 Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 10:00 – 23:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ddungddung1
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
In fact, when people think of Jangchung-dong, Jokbal (족발/braised pig’s trotters) is the first thing that comes to mind. Naturally, one must eat Jokbal here. When you go to theJangchung-dong Jokbal Alley, there are many Jokbal restaurants lined up, which always leads to a dilemma: which one is the real deal? I debated between ‘Pyeongando Jokbal(평안도족발)’ and this one, but I decided to try ‘Ddung-ddung-i Halmeoni-jib(뚱뚱이할머니집)’ first, as recommended by a local Dongguk University student.
A great thing about this place is that they offer sets based on the number of people. Other places often sell Jokbal only in sizes like small, medium, or large, which can be too much when ordered with Makguksu(막국수/buckwheat noodles), but you don’t have to worry about that here.
The freshly served Jokbal was thick and moist. I enjoyed every bite, and personally, wrapping it in a lettuce leaf with garlic and ssamjang (쌈장/seasoned soybean paste) was the best combination. However, the Makguksu had a fairly ordinary taste, so rather than having high expectations for it, it’s better to think of it as a side dish to accompany the Jokbal. (This means you should focus your main attention on the Jokbal!)
Taegeukdang Bakery (태극당)
- Address: 7 Dongho-ro 24-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 08:00 – 21:00
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taegeukdang
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
After finishing the Jokbal, I took a look around Twelve Namsan and Fritz Jangchung for future visits, and then headed to Taegeukdang, the oldest bakery in Seoul. It is located just a one-minute walk from the Jokbal restaurant toward Dongguk University Station(동대입구역). If you want to experience traditional Korean retro-style bread, I recommend visiting. There is a spacious seating area inside where you can eat with coffee, but since I was so full, I took away some choux cream bread, mooncakes(월병), and salad bread (사라다빵), and shared a Monaka ice cream(모나카 아이스크림) on the spot. (If I hadn’t been so full, I would have eaten the vegetable salad bread right then too.)
The Monaka ice cream was great because it wasn’t too sweet, and among the breads I took home, the choux cream bread was the most delicious. There is a list of their signature breads posted near the door inside the store, so be sure to check it.
HAUS Coffee & Dessert
- Address: HAUS, Jangchungdan Park, 257-8 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 08:00 – 21:00
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haus_coffee_dessert
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
The weather was truly beautiful. I felt it was a bit of a waste to just go home, and after eating the Monaka ice cream, I started craving an iced Americano. Since I also wanted to walk, I headed to Jangchungdan Park across from Taegeukdang. While walking and wondering if there might be a small cafe inside the park, I discovered ‘HAUS Coffee & Dessert.’ Because it was located inside the exceptionally green park and had the special charm of being a Hanok (한옥/traditional Korean house) cafe, I decided to spend some time there. I ordered an Americano and the Soft Persimmon Sujeongwa(연시 수정과), which was sweet and delicious, so I recommend trying it at least once. (For reference, Sujeongwa(수정과) is a traditional Korean drink made by boiling ginger and cinnamon and sweetening it with honey or sugar.)
Safe travels, Soy Kim
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