From Seoul to Daejeon by KTX Train

On my way to Daejeon I took the KTX-Cheongryong train from Seoul Station. In my earlier review of my Busan trip, I covered the general KTX experience—which is pretty much the same regardless of your destination. The KTX ride to Daejeon takes only about 1 hour from Seoul, making it an incredibly convenient option for a day trip. As mentioned in my Busan trip post, KTX-Cheongryong offers the fastest & most comfortable ride, and this time I was lucky enough to get a seat in the Cheongryong train.

Walking from Daejeon Station to Sungsimdang

Once you arrive at Daejeon station, you can easily walk to the city’s central area where most of the famous bakeries and cafes are clustered. When you get off the KTX train head toward Exit 4, which connects you through a long underground passage. This passage leads directly to Jungangro Station all the way to the Jung-gu Office (중구청) area.

Walking from Daejeon Station to Sungsimdang’s main store (near Jungangro Station) takes less than 20 minutes on foot. And you’ll find that all the bakeries I introduce in this post—Sungsimdang, Mongsim, and Cold Butter Bake Shop—are within a 10-minute walking distance from one another. It’s an ideal route for a short day trip exploring Daejeon’s famed bakery scene.

Why Daejeon is Korea’s Bakery Capital

You might wonder why I planned an entire trip just to visit bakeries, but Daejeon is actually home to over 2,000 bakeries and proudly carries the nickname of “Bread City.” Daejeon is known for being passionate about its bakery culture, with visitors from all over Korea forming long lines at popular shops that embrace both traditional Korean and European baking styles.

The rise of Daejeon’s bakery scene is closely linked to Sungsimdang, the most iconic bakery brand in the city (and maybe the country). But beyond Sungsimdang, there’s also a growing network of smaller, artisan bakeries that draw visitors from across Korea.

1.Sungsimdang (성심당 본점)

📍 Google Map Link
🕒 Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
❌ No closed days

The Legendary Bakery of Daejeon

My first stop was, of course, Sungsimdang’s main store (본점). This bakery is nothing short of a local legend, having been established back in 1956. Over the decades, Sungsimdang has become deeply embedded in the culinary identity of Daejeon, even receiving recognition from Pope Francis for its ethical practices and commitment to social responsibility.

Arriving on a Thursday around 11 am, I was pleasantly surprised to find no long lines—a rare weekday serendipity, as the shop is known for having queues snaking out the door on weekends and holidays. Sungsimdang has several branches in Daejeon (including one at Daejeon station), but I highly recommend visiting this main store to experience the full variety of their baked goods and their newest additions.

Best Menu from Sungsimdang

Of course I had to try their most famous 튀김소보로 which translates roughly to “fried soboro,“ a deep-fried, chewy bread stuffed with red bean paste. But instead of the original red bean flavor, I went for the sweet potato version (튀소구마) filled with a soft sweet potato filling.

I brought my soboro upstairs to “Terrace Kitchen”, where you can enjoy anything you purchase from the bakery downstairs. The cafeteria also offers a variety of retro-styled menu from pork cutlets to omurice and pasta, all at a surprisingly reasonable price. It would definitely be a great lunch option if you’re craving something heartier than the bread and desserts from the bakery.

The Viral Siru Cakes from Sungsimdang

Right next to the Sungsimdang main store is Sungsimdang Cake Boutique, nationally famous for its strawberry siru cake that went viral all over Korea. When I visited in May, they were showcasing the seasonal mango siru (망고시루) as fresh strawberries are only available during the winter in Korea. Though I didn’t buy any cake this time, I would definitely recommend this place to any cake lover, but be prepared for long waits especially on weekends.

Bread Pantry at Sungsimdang

Also don’t miss the “Sandwich Station” (샌드위치정거장) on the basement floor, where you can find a variety of Sungsimdang’s best sandwiches, and a “bread pantry” (빵장고)—a self-serve storage area where you can leave your shopping bags from Sungsimdang while you explore the city. FYI it’s operated entirely on trust (you just need to label your bag with your name knowing no one will touch it), a charming example of Korean trust culture.

2.Mongsim (몽심)

📍 Google Map Link
🕒 Operating Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
❌ No closed days

Winner of Daejeon’s Bakery Festival

From Sungsimdang I walked about 10 minutes to Mongsim, a smaller bakery known for its delicate French-style pastries like financiers and madeleines. It’s also the winner of the 2022 Daejeon Bakery Festival, and has since become one of the must-visit stops of any Daejeon bakery hopping tour. Although this Daeheung store I visited is not the main branch, it’s the closest one to Sungsimdang’s main store, making it a convenient stop if you’re planning a compact trip.

Where to Eat Your Mongsim Buys

Mongsim’s store is modest with no seating inside, so I took my purchases to a nearby cafe called Winter Coffee Roasters, where they’re happy to let you enjoy Mongsim’s desserts (if you order a drink from the cafe). I brought two items from Mongsim—vanilla cannelé and pecanpresso madeleine—and paired them with Winter Coffee Roaster’s decaf iced americano.

The vanilla cannelé had a perfectly caramelized, crispy shell giving way to a soft, doughy center infused with sweet vanilla. It had just the right balance between chewiness and crispness, a true test of skill for any cannelé baker. The pecanpresso madeleine reminded me of carrot cake thanks to the nutty and cinnamon-like flavors.

3.Cold Butter Bakeshop (콜드버터베이크샵)

📍 Google Map Link
🕒 Operating Hours: 12:00PM – 7:00 PM
❌ No closed days

French-inspired Korean Patisserie

My final stop was Cold Butter Bakeshop, a newer addition to Daejeon’s bakery scene, especially popular for its creative takes on mochi bread(모찌빵) and salt bread (소금빵) filled with flavored creams.

Although I was already full from my earlier tastings, I couldn’t resist picking up their sweet potato financier. If you have watched the popular Netflix sereis Culinary Class Wars, you might have heard of “basi”(빠스)—a crispy sugar coating. This financier followed the basi trend with a crackling sugar shell surrounding a sweet potato-flavored cake. Cold Butter also offers a wide variety of other financiers, from matcha to Twix to cheese, making it a must-visit for anyone who loves creative takes on classic French pastries.