Seolbing is a franchise business that originated in Busan, South Korea. Established in 2013, it is a cafe that promotes itself as a “Korean dessert cafe”. The main menu items are Patbingsu (red bean shaved ice) and Injeolmi (rice cake coated with bean flour), offering food items not typically found in traditional cafes. In less than a year, Seolbing achieved success by opening over 400 franchise locations.
Seolbing distinguishes itself from other cafes. While it’s easy to find cafes that primarily serve coffee, Seolbing’s unique feature is its focus on selling menu items like Patbingsu and Injeolmi, rather than coffee.
Founded as a corporation in 2013 in Busan, Seolbing operates under the name “Korean Dessert Cafe”.
“Seoul Myeongdong: Seolbing Dessert Cafe”
Seolbing can be found all over Korea, including in Myeongdong, one of Seoul’s representative tourist destinations. You can find Seolbing Myeongdong branch near Exit 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station on subway line 2. Head out of Exit 6 and look for the alley behind the Apple Store.
The flagship menu item you can enjoy at Seolbing is “Patbingsu”. So, especially as the weather gets warmer, it’s a place that comes to mind. After visiting Myeongdong for a meal and contemplating what to have for dessert, I saw Seolbing right in front of me. Fortunately, my companion had a Seolbing coupon, so we decided to try a serving of Patbingsu.
“Discover Seolbing on the 2nd and 3rd Floors”
You can find Seolbing on the 2nd floor, where you can place your order. The price for a serving of Patbingsu is approximately 12,000 KRW, and there are slight variations in price depending on the menu. The menu I ordered this time was the “Blueberry Bingsoo”.
Instead of red beans, this menu has a generous amount of blueberries, and it’s distinctive for having bits of cheese scattered throughout. Since the weather outside was quite hot, eating the cool shaved ice seemed to instantly relieve the heat.
When we were almost finished, the person who appeared to be the owner came over and gave some instructions to the part-time worker to pick up the trash that had fallen on the floor, giving us a glimpse into their daily operations.
Unlike other typical cafes, this is a special place where you can experience unique Korean desserts like Patbingsu and Injeolmi. Visiting with foreigners can make the experience even more special.
“Seoul Myeongdong: Seolbing Myeongdong Branch”
- Address: 27 Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04534, 2nd Floor
- Opening Hours: Daily 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Phone Number: 02-774-7994