Monkit Bakery Ilsan Review: Best Salt Bread Cafe

If you have been keeping up with the Korean cafe scene, you know that "salt bread" (shio pan) has taken the country by storm. On a recent breezy afternoon, I decided to take a stroll down Ilsan's famous Bamridan-gil to check out a highly recommended local favorite: Monkit Bakery.

Monkit Ilsan Bamridan-gil Cafe Main Branch

1st Floor, 26-19 Ilsan-ro 441beon-gil, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

Operating Hours

Daily 10:00 AM ~ 10:00 PM

Last Order: 9:30 PM

How to Get to Monkit

Monkit is situated right near the cozy Bamgasi Village. Bamridan-gil is a sprawling, trendy neighborhood divided into a couple of main zones. A quick word of warning for anyone planning a visit: do not try to drive here. Finding a parking spot in this neighborhood is notoriously difficult—easily rivaling the tightest streets of Gangnam.

With local residents and visitors competing for spots, the narrow side streets are always packed. Since there are no reliable public or private parking structures nearby, I highly recommend parking near Lafesta or Ilsan Station and taking public transit or a short taxi ride over.

The Cozy Interior

Stepping inside Monkit, I loved the calm and peaceful vibe. Visiting on a weekday afternoon means you can beat the crowds. It is a popular spot, and many locals just pop in to grab some takeout boxes of fresh bread.

I asked the staff if it was alright to work on my laptop for about two hours, and they warmly welcomed me. The space is very accommodating for solo visitors, with plenty of cozy two-person tables that make you feel right at home.

They offer a sweet daily special: choose six of "Today's Salt Breads" and get a discount of ~$1!

The bakery boxes are perfectly sized for six rolls, making them excellent gifts. During my stay, a steady stream of customers came in just to pick up coffee and fresh bakery boxes to go.

To get them warm and fresh, take note of their baking schedule. On weekdays, the bread comes out at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. On weekends, they bake three times: 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.

The Menu

Before ordering drinks, you have to browse the mouthwatering bread selection! This is the classic, plain salt bread. To be honest, I used to find plain salt bread a bit underwhelming at other bakeries, but Monkit completely changed my mind.

They offer garlic salt bread, mentaiko (pollack roe) salt bread, and chocolate salt bread. If you think classic salt bread is too simple, these creative flavors are a total game-changer.

After debating between the savory mentaiko and the sweet chocolate (I really should have just bought both), I chose the chocolate salt bread. I had no idea salt bread could come in so many varieties. This is hands-down the largest selection of specialty salt bread I have ever seen.

The drink menu is split into coffee, signature specials, and non-coffee drinks. Craving something sweet and creamy, I ordered an iced vanilla latte.

The cafe's branding is incredibly charming, centering around a playful monkey motif. It is the kind of memorable aesthetic that really sticks with you long after you leave.

I was blown away by how chewy the texture was! It had the perfect contrast: crispy and golden on the outside, and incredibly soft and buttery on the inside. When you need a sweet escape, pairing the rich chocolate salt bread with a smooth vanilla latte is pure perfection. This is easily one of the best pastries I have had in a very long time.

I am officially obsessed with their chocolate salt bread. Next time I visit the Bamgasi area for dinner, I am definitely stopping by to grab a whole box of different flavors to take home.

As an added bonus, the cafe is pet-friendly! It was lovely seeing locals bring their dogs along to relax on the patio.

They even sell these adorable leather keyrings shaped like little fortune cookies—such a creative touch.

Even the packaging boxes feature a cute hidden-picture cartoon! There are so many charming details to look at while you wait for your order.

If you are looking to explore local, authentic spots outside of central Seoul, Monkit in Ilsan's Bamridan-gil is an absolute must-visit. Its perfectly crispy-yet-chewy texture completely redefined salt bread for me. Be sure to stop by on your next neighborhood adventure!