[Alley Restaurant]③ Tasting Daejeon's Specialty 'Sungsimdang'

We Tell You Everything About Seongsimdang!

The power of alleys is truly remarkable. For some, they become places to reminisce about memories, while for others, they offer something new. Especially when entering unfamiliar alleys, the restaurants you encounter evoke both warmth and curiosity. There are many eateries that stimulate the senses, such as hidden gems and local favorites known only to residents. We have selected four places for the ‘Alley Restaurant’ series that focus on taste and value. Now, shall we enjoy a unique course that can be experienced in the ‘alley’?

The third alley restaurant destination is Daejeon. For an editor born and raised in Seoul, Daejeon is summed up in three words: ‘Sungsimdang.’ After encountering the so-called ‘controversial cake’ that recently heated up SNS, I booked only a train ticket and headed to Daejeon. The controversial cake refers to the fact that it actually had more fresh strawberries than the product image, which ironically caused controversy★

Sungsimdang, an essential stop on any bakery pilgrimage, began as a small steamed bun shop opened in front of Daejeon Station in 1956. It has now become a must-visit spot and a local specialty boasting a long history. In Jung-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City, there is a 190-meter Sungsimdang Street preserving its history. Although it’s a walkable area, I enjoyed a fulfilling and hearty day in Daejeon from lunch to dinner. Here’s everything about Sungsimdang, including a review of the bread purchased at the main store, so don’t miss it!

① Terrace Kitchen

Although it was well past lunchtime, I hadn’t eaten yet, so I chose Terrace Kitchen as my first destination. Terrace Kitchen is the nation’s first bakery restaurant operated by Sungsimdang. Besides Terrace Kitchen, Sungsimdang also runs Flying Pan (a spaghetti specialty restaurant), Piatto (an Italian restaurant), and Udongya (a udon specialty restaurant) as part of its dining business. All are within a 1-2 minute walk from the Sungsimdang main store, but Terrace Kitchen is connected to the main store building, making it the closest and thus my choice.

Pork Cutlet Curry Rice 8,000 won.

It’s popular not only among tourists but also as a lunch spot for nearby residents and office workers. After settling in, you can order through a kiosk. When a message or KakaoTalk alert sounds, you pick up your menu, set your own utensils, water, and side dishes?all self-service. The menu is diverse, including pork cutlet, curry, and pasta, but I ordered the pork cutlet curry rice, the undisputed number one dish, and tasted it. I was amazed by the fluffy egg and the thin fried coating enveloping the thick meat, and then I couldn’t stop admiring the size of the ingredients in the curry. Potatoes, carrots, onions, and more were cut generously and provided without sparing, and I want to give extra points for being able to enjoy this for just 8,000 won.

② Sungsimdang Main Store

After patting my full belly, the Sungsimdang main store caught my eye. Braving the crowd, you grab a tray and tongs at the entrance and pick the bread you want. It was a pity that I couldn’t leisurely browse the displayed bread one by one because the atmosphere was too crowded. The interest was so intense that it was said to be half people, half bread.

I was amazed by the appetizing appearance of the bread and then again by the vast variety. Sungsimdang’s most famous fried soboro, chive bread, sandwiches, baguettes, and croquettes are all available. As you add one or two breads, you might find your tray insufficient. Above all, the reasonable prices play a big part... Check out the reviews of Sungsimdang’s signature menu at the end!

③ Sungsimdang Cake Boutique Main Store

If you’re wondering why the cake mentioned earlier isn’t here, you need to move to the Sungsimdang Cake Boutique. The main store sells bread, while the Cake Boutique offers cakes, tarts, and other desserts.

This is the controversial cake♥

Following the main store, this place is no less impressive. The variety is enormous. Experiencing these visually delightful desserts, which are happy just to imagine, raises the happiness index even more. They also sell slice cakes for those who find whole cakes topped with plenty of fresh strawberries burdensome, so no need to worry.

④ Sungsimdang Old Taste Craft

The reason I went to Daejeon was to buy Sungsimdang bread and desserts. After overcoming the crowd and holding shopping bags heavy with Sungsimdang written on them in both hands, I felt reassured. Only then did I realize I should learn about Sungsimdang’s history! So I moved to Sungsimdang Old Taste Craft. Here, you can enjoy various types of shaved ice such as Korean black sesame bingsu, Nonsan bingsu, and Bomunsan bingsu, as well as traditional drinks like old-fashioned sikhye and omija, fitting the name Old Taste Craft. They also sell traditional snacks like yugwa and manjoo, which are great as return gifts or presents. After exploring Sungsimdang Old Taste Craft and gathering food, head to the Sungsimdang Cultural Center across the street to treat your wallet with cute goods!

⑤ Dong Eunseong

Dong Eunseong, a 10-minute walk from Sungsimdang Street, is the final course of the Daejeon alley restaurant edition. Although it’s a Chinese restaurant, it does not serve jajangmyeon (black bean noodles)! The main dish here is pot jjambbong.

Nampijjamppong (Medium) 19,000 KRW.

Pot jjambbong boasts a spicy yet refreshing taste with mussels, clams, whole octopus, bean sprouts, and various vegetables. The spice level can be adjusted, so those sensitive to spicy food need not fear. The spiciness comes from chili powder, not artificial sweetness like capsaicin, resulting in a clean finish thanks to the seafood and vegetables. Additionally, pot jjambbong is unique in that it contains no noodles initially. You can add noodles separately after eating some of the pot jjambbong.

Sweet and sour pork (Small) 15,000 KRW.

Without a doubt, this place deserves to be called a tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) specialty restaurant. If I ever write an article introducing tangsuyuk specialty restaurants, this will be my first choice! The reason is the sauce that makes the crispy tangsuyuk even more delicious, perfectly targeting the taste buds of Koreans, the garlic-loving nation. Instead of a sauce that is just sweet and easily tiresome, minced garlic is added to create a sophisticated flavor.

Sungsimdang’s Signature Menus♥

Fried sweet potato, fried soboro each 1,600 won.

① Sungsimdang’s signature menu, fried soboro. While anything fried tastes good, fried soboro needs no further explanation. The cookie coating on the surface gives it a crispy texture, and frying it in oil makes it even crispier. Filled with sweet red bean paste and sweet potato filling, the sweetness is felt from start to finish. The red bean paste has a subtle sweetness, so even those who dislike red beans can try it without hesitation. Remember, warming it in an air fryer for about 5 minutes doubles the flavor. There is also a chocolate fried soboro for chocolate lovers.

Buchu Bread 1,800 won.

② Chive bread, one of Sungsimdang’s representative breads comparable to fried soboro. The first bite of chive bread, which contains chives, eggs, and ham, has a strong chive flavor but lacks a stimulating taste, which might be disappointing to some. Taking another bite reveals a somewhat bland taste, which can be perceived as a strength. If possible, you might want to try it with various sauces.

Kakao Sunjeong 2,500 won.

③ I chose Cacao Pure because it wouldn’t be complete without chocolate. This bread is filled with plenty of ganache. Topped with walnuts on iced chocolate, Cacao Pure offers a crunchy texture and is highly recommended to eat with coffee. It’s not so sweet that it melts your tongue, but it definitely pairs well with coffee.

Strawberry Marbling Fresh Cake 6,000 won.

④ A slice cake purchased at Sungsimdang Cake Boutique. Taking a big forkful and putting it in my mouth, I immediately thought, ‘Should I have bought the whole cake?’ The fresh cream is not greasy and harmonizes wonderfully with the soft castella. Controversial cake, I will try again soon!

For the Sungsimdang bread review by an editor from Daejeon, click here

Photo by Yoon Eun-ae