Jaein Patisserie (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★★☆

My first stop following our yakiniku lunch was supposed to be a visit to Jaein Patisserie, a French bakery and dessert shop nestled in the heart of trendy Hannam-dong. But I was struggling to decide whether to visit the Blue Elephant showroom upstairs first. Decision, decision.....

Jaein Patisserie is tucked away on the second floor of an unassuming building, just one level below the Blue Elephant store. Despite its modest exterior, this little gem is one of the most exciting French patisseries in Seoul right now.

At the helm is Chef Jae In Lee, the owner-pâtissier known for his playful creativity. He enjoys blending Korean flavors with classic French techniques, which has led to some truly imaginative creations including a Paris-Brest with ginkgo nut curd and cream, or soy sauce-infused madeleines.

Although none of those more unconventional treats were on display this afternoon, there were still plenty of intriguing options to tempt us like the SAE-DAM (featuring basil and tomato) and a Pear Charlotte that looked too pretty to eat.

And there he was, Chef Jae In Lee right behind the counter!

In a perfect world, we would’ve found a cozy corner inside Chef Lee's café and lingered over our sweet treats but this being a typical Sunday, the waiting time to dine in was close to two hours. So, we ended up taking some of these outdoor.

Corn financier (₩4,200) – Very very flaky and buttery at the same time. Simple but so satisfying.

Watermelon (₩12,000) – I chose this over the SAE-DAM (the basil and tomato cake) only because little nugget was the one having it.

This beauty had three distinct layers, each offering a different flavor and texture.

Below the refreshing top layer of watermelon was a rich pistachio cream, all sitting on top of a crispy pastry base subtly infused with hibiscus. The combination of textures and the harmony between flavors made this one truly memorable.

Jaein Patisserie reminded me of another sweet discovery — Balance Patisserie in Seongsu-dong, which I stumbled upon back in 2023. It instantly became one of my favorite spots for French pastries in Seoul (They have since relocated to Anguk). Today was a bit like déjà vu, another unexpected find (well, it was on my itinerary to start the trip), and another patisserie that completely won me over.

Food Rating: 7.5/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 683-47 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Hangangjin

Tel: +82 507-1449-2454

Opening Hours: 1:00pm - 7:00pm (Wed - Sun)