Cafe Onion Anguk — Restaurant in Seoul

I was excited to finally visit Cafe Onion Anguk, a place known for its unique pastries and traditional Hanok-style ambiance. After trying a selection of their signature items, here’s my honest take:

Pistachio Cream Croissant – My Top Pick! Among all the pastries we tried, this was my absolute favorite. The croissant itself was perfectly flaky and buttery, but what really stood out was the filling. Unlike regular pistachio cream pastries, this one had a unique texture—there were bits of what seemed like beans or nuts, adding an extra layer of richness and depth. The balance between the nutty flavor, the smooth cream, and the crispy exterior was just incredible. Definitely a must-try if you’re a pistachio lover!

Strawberry Cream Croissant – Fresh & Light This was another standout pastry. The strawberry cream was not overly sweet, which I really appreciated. It had a nice, natural strawberry flavor rather than an artificial sugary taste. The fresh strawberries added a refreshing contrast, and the croissant itself was soft and airy, making the overall bite very well-balanced. A great option if you prefer something fruity and not too heavy.

Pandoro – The Fluffy “Snow Mountain” This was my second favorite. At first glance, it looks like a simple bread covered in powdered sugar, but the texture is what makes it special. The bread was incredibly soft and airy, almost like a cloud, and the powdered sugar had a unique cooling effect—not overly sweet but perfectly balanced. Every bite felt like it melted in my mouth.

Cafe Latte – Smooth and Well-Balanced We also ordered their Cafe Latte, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. The café roasts its own coffee beans, which really shows in the depth of the flavor. The latte was smooth, well-balanced, and had a nice, natural sweetness from the milk. It was a solid cup of coffee, perfect for pairing with the pastries.

Hot Chocolate – A Surprising Twist This was another highlight of our visit. The Hot Chocolate here is unlike any I’ve had elsewhere—it’s rich, creamy, and incredibly fragrant. The most surprising part? It has a distinct Earl Grey aroma, which adds a whole new dimension to the flavor. The combination of deep cocoa and the floral, slightly citrusy notes of Earl Grey made it stand out from your typical hot chocolate. A delightful surprise!

Ambiance & Dining Experience The cafe itself has a cozy yet modern vibe, blending traditional Korean architecture with a minimalist touch. There are different seating areas, and some require you to remove your shoes before entering, adding to the authentic experience. However, the cafe is quite popular, so expect long queues, especially during peak hours. If you’re visiting, be prepared to wait!

One thing to note: After finishing your meal, most customers return their trays to the collection area, so it’s a self-service system that keeps the place clean and organized.

Cafe Onion Anguk lives up to its reputation as one of Seoul’s must-visit cafes. The pastries are not just visually appealing but also well-crafted, with thoughtful flavor combinations. The drinks complement the food well, and the overall atmosphere makes it a great spot to relax. The only downside? The long wait times. But if you don’t mind queuing up, it’s definitely...

This spot is hype. If you are heading there now, be advised there are TWO lines! First line is for a seating spot in the AC/heated zone. Please go to the left and enter directly for takeout or outside seating. If you can divide your party definitely send someone inside to start your order while you wait for an inside seat.

That said, worth the wait (barely). We arrived at peak time on a Monday around 9am and ended our experience about 12:30pm.

We took so many pastries we were able to take some home for the next breakfast. Here is our rating of each: Green Tea Scone: 3⭐ ; flavor icing only in the middle area and was not flavorful enough in the bake itself. Jelly (Purple fig & black currant) 4 ⭐; the BC jelly made the scone enjoyable. I wouldn't have finished it without this perfectly sweet little condiment. The purple fig did not hit the same as the BC jelly, perhaps a little too sweet. Vegetable Pizza 3⭐ ; good vegetable choice and did not soggy to bread. The bread itself was semi sweet so it came together well but lacked something, I am not sure what. Cheese bomb: 4⭐ ; such an unusual combination of flavors. Truly a novel bite. The cheddar like cheese is unexpected and adds to the sweet bread, we believe the sweetness came from the condensed milk coating the bread. Inside the nuts made it come together so well. I wish I could give this a five star but my partner didn't care for it as she was a bit thrown off by this combination of flavors and I must take into account her opinion on her palette. Strawberry Cream Shortbread 5⭐; a classic trio made perfection in their proportions and execution. Sausage Chilli Bread 5⭐; what a gagger. The meat and bread were delightfully proportioned and warmed with the chilli sauce. Garlic Butter Bread 5⭐; this was our favorite savory, we are suckers for garlic. It's large and in charge, somehow a little sweet and perfectly soft through and through. Pistachio Croissant 4⭐; this hit, it was subtle in its icing but this was just enough to compliment the buttery croissant underneath. Sugar Cone 3⭐; absolutely instagram worthy mountain peak of sugar on this bread cone. But the flavor was reminiscent of a sugar doughnut.

The black iced Americano was on point and the seasonal yuzu honey...

This was such a sweet cafe. I went when it was raining so I didn’t have to experience much of a queue and there were plenty of seats to choose from.

The aesthetic of the cafe was great and I really loved the cozy wooden feel of it.

And the pastries I chose were phenomenal. I chose a savory pollack avocado roll, which was actually savory! A lot of foods in Korea are very sweet when they could greatly benefit from not being so sweet, and this was one of them. It was just great, I loved the pollack because it was thinly spread across a roll and paired with mayo and avocado for moisture across the baguette. The baguette it was on was great too because it wasn’t too hard or too sharp to eat!

And I also chose a strawberry croissant, which was really good too. It seemed more like a little girl’s dream food which is why I chose the whimsical looking bright pink strawberry decorated croissant. It was very princessy, and just tasted great. Minus the glaze, which could easily be pulled off, it wasn’t too sweet and I really enjoyed it.

They have a really good cacao tea latte. I will think of this tea for years to come, as it was delicious and not too sweet. So good! And perfect temperature so I could drink it almost immediately. There were nice herbal notes too and the chocolate wasn’t overpowering. Get this!

The only thing that would be an issue is that the space seems like it would be hard for the disabled to enter. It’s a lot of narrow spaces, tight turns, and randomly located steps. The accessibility is low, but the employees were really kind so I think that they would be able to assist you in getting something to eat and seating you somewhere.

Overall, a great spot! Trendy but actually...