Croissant Bungeoppang in Myeongdong: ₩5,000 Each, Cash Only (3 Flavors)
The croissant bungeoppang sold on the streets of Myeongdong costs ₩5,000 for one fish, and the stall takes cash only. There are three flavors — red bean, Dubai chocolate, and Nutella — and all three cost the same. They are baked in advance and lined up on the display rack, so once you pay, you pick one up and eat it with your hands.
What makes Myeongdong croissant bungeoppang different from regular bungeoppang?
The dough. Ordinary bungeoppang in Korea is made with plain wheat flour batter. This stall bakes its fish with premium croissant dough instead.
That gives the outside the flaky layers of a croissant, with sugar clinging to the surface. Bungeoppang is a snack Koreans eat mostly in winter, but on the streets of Myeongdong this croissant bungeoppang stall is open regardless of the season.
Finding the stall is easy. Look for the red neon sign shaped like a fish. The name on the sign is 고양이를 사랑한 붕어빵, which means "the bungeoppang that loved a cat." So what does it cost?
How much is bungeoppang in Myeongdong?
There is a price sign hanging at the front of the stall. Exactly as it appears in the photo, it reads 1pcs ₩5,000. Here, 1pcs means one fish. It is not the price for a bag or for a portion.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | ₩5,000 |
| Unit shown | 1 piece (one fish) |
| Price difference by flavor | None (all 3 flavors the same) |
| Payment | Cash only |
The price sign is posted right at the front of the stall, so you can photograph it or read it before you pay.
Since the price is the same across the board, only one question is left. Which flavor do you pick?
Which of the three bungeoppang flavors should you choose?
Croissant bungeoppang comes in three flavors: red bean, Dubai chocolate, and Nutella. The dough is the same croissant dough in all three, and only the filling inside changes.
| Flavor | Filling | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Red bean | Sweet red bean paste | ₩5,000 |
| Dubai chocolate | Dubai chocolate | ₩5,000 |
| Nutella | Nutella | ₩5,000 |
Of the three, red bean is the original. When a Korean says bungeoppang, the red bean version is what they mean.
I bought a red bean one myself for the first time in a while. I have not tried the Dubai chocolate or the Nutella yet — I picked red bean because the other two sounded too sweet to me. After eating it, I still think the original red bean is the best of the lineup.
The menu board lists the flavor names in Korean alongside English, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian. Even if you share no common language with the vendor, you can point at the board.
Once you have picked a flavor, ordering is next — and this is where travelers most often get caught out.
What is the order of ordering and paying?
The sequence is short.
① Pick the flavor you want from the display rack at the front. ② Say how many you want, or point with your finger. ③ Pay in cash. ④ Take the bungeoppang straight off the rack.
One thing to remember. This stall takes cash only. Cards are not accepted. It is worth having some cash on you before you come to Myeongdong. Not every stall here is cash only — only some of them are.
Bungeoppang takes about five to ten minutes to bake. That is why the vendor bakes them ahead of time and keeps them on the display rack. In other words, you will not be standing around waiting after you pay.
The baking itself, though, is worth watching.
Can you watch the bungeoppang being baked?
The stall has three baking molds. Each flavor gets its own dedicated mold. When I stopped by, one mold was closed and baking, while the other two had just been cleaned and were being set up for the next round.
Each mold bakes five fish at a time. The vendor pours croissant dough into one side of the hinged plate, adds the filling, closes the lid, and bakes it.
Once you have your bungeoppang in hand, the last question is how to eat it.
How do you eat bungeoppang?
Bungeoppang is food you hold in your hand and eat. There is no need to look for chopsticks or a fork.
Croissant bungeoppang is not greasy, so your hand does not slip when you grip it. Hold it as it is and bite into it.
There is no sauce to add on top. Some other street foods in Myeongdong come with sauce spooned over them, but bungeoppang has never used any. What you are handed is the finished product.
When you finish, you are left holding paper or a bag. Where does that go?
Where do you throw away the trash after eating?
This stall takes your trash for you. That is posted at the stall.
There are not many public bins on the streets of Seoul, so you can end up walking a long way with an empty wrapper in your hand. Here, you just hand it back to the stall.
And if you would rather carry the bungeoppang away than eat it on the spot, that works too.
Can you buy bungeoppang as a gift to take home?
Plenty of foreign customers buy several at once as gifts. Bungeoppang is a bread, so it keeps for a day or two without spoiling.
There is a take out sign at the front of the stall. If you plan to bring them back to your hotel or eat them while traveling the next day, you can buy several fish in one go. Payment, again, is cash.
Is this the bungeoppang that was on TV?
This bungeoppang appeared on the Korean television program 한국은 처음이지? ("Welcome, First Time in Korea?"). The scene where the foreign cast walked through Myeongdong and bought bungeoppang got a lot of attention.
The front panel of the stall is covered with stills from that broadcast and photos of customers from many countries. Bungeoppang is what Koreans call a national snack, and in Myeongdong that national snack met croissant dough and came out looking like something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Myeongdong croissant bungeoppang with a card?
No. This stall takes cash only. Card payment is not accepted. One fish costs ₩5,000, so it is worth carrying some cash with you before you arrive in Myeongdong.
How much is one bungeoppang?
₩5,000. The price sign at the front of the stall reads 1pcs ₩5,000, and that is the price for one fish. All three flavors — red bean, Dubai chocolate, and Nutella — cost the same.
Which flavor should you go for?
Red bean is the original. In Korea, bungeoppang originally means the red bean version. Dubai chocolate and Nutella are sweeter fillings than red bean. All three cost the same.
Can you eat bungeoppang with your hands?
Yes. Bungeoppang is food you hold in your hand and eat. Croissant bungeoppang is not greasy, so gripping it is fine. There is no sauce to add on top either.
What do you do with the trash afterward?
The stall takes it for you. That is posted at the stall. There are not many public bins on the streets of Seoul, so hand your empty wrapper back to the stall.
What should you eat next in Myeongdong?
Bungeoppang is far from the only stall on the streets of Myeongdong. Prices, ordering methods, and payment options differ from stall to stall. Myeongdong's other street foods are broken down the same way here, so check them before you pick your next snack.
