Tartine Bakery Dosan (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★☆☆

Judging by the rate Tartine Bakery has been expanding in Seoul, it won't be long before they eventually catch up with Paris Baguette as the biggest bakery shop nation-wise (3,316 branches in 2018). Okay, I'm pushing it a bit but Tartine are seriously moving fast. I don't even know this new branch near Dosan Park exists when I was here 5 months ago.



Located just behind The Pancake Epidemic Seoul, the two-story bakery cafe boasts a greenhouse-like setting that's very eye-catching.



The glass-walled cafe is filled with natural sunlight; well, in fact a little too much natural light that they had to put the blinds on.



Originated from San Francisco, Tartine Bakery has been a huge hit ever since landing its first overseas branch in Hannam-dong more than a year ago. This is their fourth location in a little more than a year (Hannam-dong, Ryse Hotel in Mapo and Dogok SSG Food Market). Not too shabby at all.  



It's obviously a very popular meeting place for the ladies as I was the only male customer during my visit.



It's afternoon tea time so why not some quiche and almond tea cake made with Jeju green tea?



There are two things that are not to be missed for any visit to Tartine Bakery - their Morning bun and frangipane croissant.



Frangipane croissant (6,200 won) - One of Tartine's best sellers.



Inside the flaky pastry shell was light almond cream filling. 



I love the toasted almonds on top but the pastry could have been a little more flaky (It's more crunchy than flaky).



Pain au chocolat (5,300 won) - Very flaky and the chocolate filling was very delicate. A very nice interpretation of the classic French breakfast viennoiserie.



On the other side, they have some simple cakes such as cream puff, lemon cream tart, coconut cream tart, cheesecake, carrot cake and chocolate truffle cake displayed in their counter but too bad I was a little full to sample any of them.



The frangipane croissant was one of the most expensive croissant I've paid for in my entire life! So, the fact that it didn't crack my list of 10 of the best croissants in Seoul is surely disappointing to say the least.

Food Rating: 5.5/10
Price: ₩₩₩₩
Address: 24, Eonju-ro 168-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Closest Metro Station: Apgujeong Rodeo / Apgujeong
Tel: +82 070-4333-4350
Opening Hours: 9:00am - 10:00pm daily