EasyTicket Sungsimdang — the bakery everyone says you have to visit in Daejeon. But once you’re actually there, there are so many kinds of bread that it’s hard to know what to buy, right? EasyTicket rounded up the must-try items that regular bread-tour veterans genuinely recommend, plus which branches and times keep the lines shortest.
🥐 Before Your Sungsimdang Bread Tour, Know This First
Sungsimdang isn’t just a bakery. The first floor of the main store alone stocks over 100 kinds of bread, and each item comes out of the oven at a different time. That’s why deciding in advance “what time, which branch, and which bread” you’re going for is what makes or breaks your bread tour.
Many Sungsimdang breads lose their flavor by the next day even if refrigerated. Buy only as much as you can eat that day if possible, and for gifts, pick something that keeps well, like Twigim Soboro.
🍞 7 Essential Breads You Have to Buy
1. Twigim Soboro (Twiso)
Sungsimdang’s forever number one. This signature item is fried like a donut, coated in a crumbly soboro topping, and filled with sweet red bean paste. It first launched in 1980 and still looks the same today.
2. Pantarong Buchu-ppang (Chive Bread)
Packed with savory chives and egg, this is the first thing savory-bread fans grab. It usually hits the shelves around 8:30–9:00 AM, so time your visit if you’re after it.
3. Choco Twiso
The chocolate version of Twigim Soboro. It comes out a bit later, between 9:00 and 10:00 AM, and is one of the fastest-selling items at the main store.
4. Bomunsan Meari (Bomunsan Echo)
A rolled pastry bread whose charm is its flaky, layer-by-layer texture. Warm it slightly before eating and the flavor comes through even more.
5. Myeongnan Baguette (Pollock Roe Baguette)
A meal-replacement bread combining salty pollock roe and butter. It’s also popular as a snack alongside wine or beer.
6. Mango Siru / Strawberry Siru (Seasonal)
Sungsimdang’s cake lineup. Mango Siru is priced at 43,000 KRW (source: Sungsimdang official), while Strawberry Siru comes in a smaller size (43,000 KRW) or a main-store-exclusive 2.3kg size (49,000 KRW). Sold only at the Cake Boutique, DCC branch, and Lotte Department Store branch.
7. Fig Gâteau
A dessert cake with whole figs baked right into the moist sponge. Pairs nicely with tea.
🚶 Line-Skipping Tips — the Main Store Isn’t Actually the Right Answer
The first myth to bust on a Sungsimdang bread tour is the idea that “the main store is the standard choice.” The main store has the widest bread selection, but that also means the longest outside line. It’s an everyday sight for the queue to stretch past the storefront, down the nearby alley, and toward the underground shopping arcade (source: The Daejeon Ilbo). On days when the Siru cake series launches, reports have said a 3 AM opening-run queue still stretched 200 meters.
✅ The Most Comfortable Branch: Lotte Department Store Daejeon
Pulling together various reviews, the branch that combines a wide bread selection with the most comfortable shopping experience is the Lotte Department Store Daejeon branch. The reasons are clear.
- Inside the department store, so the air conditioning and walkways are comfortable, with wide aisles
- Among the branches, it has the widest bread selection, carrying everything from the Siru cake series to sandwiches and traditional pastries
- A dedicated “Bbangbbang Cart” (a tray cart) lets you push it around and load up your bread
- You can use the department store parking lot, so carrying a lot of bags is less of a hassle
- Reachable on foot from Yongmun Station on Subway Line 1
On weekday mornings you can get in with almost no wait, and even on weekend afternoons it’s relatively quiet compared to the main store or the Daejeon Station branch.
🥈 Second Best: The DCC Branch (the Quietest One)
As the most recently opened branch, it’s the only one not near a subway station. That actually keeps it quieter than the other branches, and it’s easy to reach by car. The convention center’s basement parking also offers a free hour on weekdays, which is a nice bonus.
❌ The Main Store Is Only Manageable if You Go on a Weekday
There’s an old tip floating around that the main store has 5 registers, each with its own line, but these days, the line outside the store is the dominant factor. It’s common to have to wait 1–2 hours just to get inside on some days.
On weekends, even arriving right at the 8 AM opening, the line is already very long. If you really need to go to the main store, weekday mornings from 10 AM to noon or weekday late evenings after 9 PM are relatively less crowded. Taking a weekday off instead of going on the weekend is a much better use of your time.
🚄 The Daejeon Station Branch Is for Transferring Passengers
Located on the second floor of Daejeon Station, this branch is convenient if you’re transferring through on the KTX. That said, it carries fewer bread varieties than the main store and doesn’t sell cakes. It’s a good fit for anyone who just wants to “stop by quickly and grab Twiso.”
Branch Comparison at a Glance
| Branch | Comfort | Bread Variety | Parking | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotte Department Store Daejeon | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Wide (Siru cakes ✓) | Department store lot | Bread tours with lots of bags, buying cakes |
| DCC Branch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Wide (Siru cakes ✓) | Convention center basement | Driving in, a quieter visit |
| Daejeon Station Branch | ⭐⭐⭐ | Limited (no cakes) | Difficult | KTX transfers |
| Main Store (Eunhaeng-dong) | ⭐⭐ | Widest overall | Cramped | Only worth it on a weekday morning |
🏬 Sungsimdang Branch Hours at a Glance
| Branch | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Main Store (Eunhaeng-dong) | Mon–Thu 08:00–22:00 / Fri–Sun 08:00–23:00 | Open year-round |
| Daejeon Station Branch | 06:30–23:00 | Open year-round |
| DCC Branch | 08:00–22:00 | Open year-round |
| Lotte Department Store Daejeon | 08:00–22:00 | Department store holidays |
- Consider a weekday morning for your bread tour first
- For both comfort and variety, go with Lotte Department Store Daejeon
- Bring a cooler bag or paper bag (a must for the Siru cake series especially)
- Carry both cash and card (helps split up payment during peak times)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Sungsimdang ship?
A. Some items can be shipped nationwide through the Sungsimdang Mall. Same-day fresh items like Twigim Soboro and chive bread, though, are only available in-store.
Q. Can I reserve a Siru cake?
A. Strawberry Siru and Mango Siru are sold in-store on a walk-in basis by default. They’re popular enough that the main store sees opening-run lines before dawn.
Q. Is parking available at the main store?
A. The main store’s own parking lot is small. If you’re driving, it’s easier from the start to head straight to the Lotte Department Store or DCC branch.
Q. How long does the bread stay fresh?
A. Same-day or the next day is best. Twigim Soboro keeps at room temperature for 1–2 days, and other meal breads taste better if frozen and then reheated in a toaster.
Half the game in a Sungsimdang bread tour is which branch you go to, and when. Don’t insist on the main store — aim for a weekday plus the Lotte branch combo, and you can pick up the same bread with a lot less hassle.
If you’re planning to efficiently combine other Daejeon bakeries beyond Sungsimdang, check out Daejeon Bread Taxi Course: A Driving Route Guide too — it makes planning your route much easier.