Parole & Langue • 파롤앤랑그

Parole & Langue (파롤앤랑그) is a dessert cafe in Yeonnam-dong (연남동) that’s famous for their delicious tarts. Opened in early 2021, the cafe has been really popular among the locals as well as tourists, evident by the crowd that’s always present in front of the cafe and the frequent sold out sign that they put out when all the tarts in the store are already sold prior to their closing hour. 

The cafe has been on my cafes-to-try list for quite a while since I first found out about it and I finally had the chance to visit them for the first time two years after their opening. It was a warm autumn Friday and I arrived at the cafe around 3 pm. There were a couple groups of people standing around the cafe waiting for their tables it seemed. Since there weren’t a lot of people waiting and I’m still waiting for my friend to come, thought waiting for a table probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. So I quickly put my name into the tablet available at the entrance to join the waiting list. Maybe because there are a lot of tourists visiting the cafe, the reservation system is actually pretty user and tourist friendly since it has the language options available (Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese). 

If you have a local phone number, you can put in your Korean phone number and they’ll notify you via Kakao Talk when your table is ready. That way, you can walk around the area while waiting if you choose to. But there is a disclaimer saying that if you don’t claim your reservation (as in informing the staff that you are present at the cafe) within 5 minutes after you received the notification, your reservation will be cancelled. So make sure you stay within 5 minutes range of the cafe to be safe. If you don’t have a local phone number, you have to wait around the cafe so they can call your name when your turn is up.

I waited about 20 minutes before getting a notification on my Kakao saying that my table is ready. So the wait time wasn’t bad at all. But worth noting, I went only with one friend so we’re considered a smaller group and I told the staff that we’re okay with sitting outside since the weather was kind of nice. I think if you have a bigger party and prefer to sit inside, the wait time might be a little longer.

After I was seated, I went inside the cafe to place my order. The inside of the cafe is pretty spacious and homey, but there weren’t a lot of seatings available. Maybe about 16-18 seats spread around the room, with mostly tables for two. There were six different tarts displayed on the counter and I ordered 2 tarts to share with my friend and took away 4 other tarts to eat with my other friends later that evening. This cafe also has the 1-person-1-drink rule so if you’re visiting, make sure everybody in your group order a drink (and ordering a tart doesn’t count as one drink).

After I tasted their tarts, I totally understand why the place is really popular. First of all, the pie crust of their tart is really, really delicious. It’s flaky, light and buttery all at the same time. When I had my first bite, I just fell in love with the perfect texture of their pie crust. Easily one of the best pie crust I’ve ever had. Second of all, the flavors of their tarts are not overly sweet, which is always preferable for me. And third, you gotta get all the layers of the tart in one bite to get the full flavor of each tart. I think eating it that way will give you a more complete and balanced flavor of the tart (at least it did for me). So those are the three overall comments I have for all their tarts.

Persimmon (홍시) ₩8,800 | 9/10

Iced Ripe Persimmon, Persimmon Cream, Walnuts, Custard, Crunchy Persimmon
셔벗처럼 사각한 홍시, 곶감과 호두의 쫀득하고 고소한 식감을 즐길 수 있는 디저트

Since they use iced ripe persimmon on top, you can’t do take away for this tart because the persimmon might melt. And so this is one of the tarts that I ordered for dine-in. I actually really like this one. The overall taste that I got is sweet, creamy and nutty. The iced persimmon also gave an interesting temperature contrast that’s really refreshing. I think this was actually the first time I had an iced persimmon on a dessert too so it was a nice new experience for me

Basil Tomato (바질토마토) ₩8,800 | 6.5/10

Tomato, Basil Cream, Tomato Jam, Custard
생 바질로 만든 신선한 크림과 토마토의 상큼함이 가득 찬 디저트

This was the other tarts that I ordered for dine-in. The flavor of the Basil Tomato fell on a more savory note for my taste. The combination of the creamy basil and the fresh juicy tomatoes worked really well creating a balanced flavor, but it did remind me of eating a pasta dish instead of a dessert. Or maybe I’m just not a big fan of a basil tomato flavored desserts in general. Overall, good flavors, but probably not my number one option if I’m looking for a sweet dessert.

Corn (옥수수) ₩8,800 | 7/10

Sweet Corn, Corn Cream, Custard, Crispy Oatmeal
노릇하게 구워진 옥수수와 크리스피한 오트밀이 어우러진 한끼 식사같은 디저트

The Corn reminded me of all those popular Korean corn-flavored snacks that I’ve tried in the past. The flavor profile is pretty similar and if you are a fan of those Korean corn-flavored snacks, you’d probably enjoy this one (more than I do since I’m just like mid on Korean corn-flavored things). 

Chestnut (보늬밤) ₩9,500 | 7.5/10

Sweet Braised Chestnut, Chestnut Cream, Custard, Almond Cream
달달한 밤조림과 풍미 가득한 밤크림이 어우러진 담백한 디저트

The Chestnut was probably the heaviest and the sweetest out of all the tarts that I tried. Not that it’s super heavy or sweet or anything since all these tarts are pretty much light and not extremely sweet in general. It’s just if you want something that has a bolder flavor (and if you like chestnut obviously), this is a good option to choose.

Yuja Shine Muscat (유자샤인머스캣 ) ₩9,200 | 10/10

Shine Muscat, Yuja Cream, Green Grape Jam, Custard, Yuja Citron Preserve, Almond Cream
향긋한 샤인머스캣과 새콤쌉쌀한 유자가 만난 싱그러운 디저트

The Yuja Shine Muscat is the BOMB. This one is absolutely my favorite out of all the tarts that I’ve tried. The Shine Muscat is sweet and fresh. And the combination of all the layers of this tarts just works wonderfully together. It’s sweet with a hint of fresh sourness from the green grape jam and the Yuja Citron preserve. And the almond cream adds a bit of nuttiness to the overall flavor. It’s so good, I ended up ordering this again and again on my subsequent visits. And I’m not even a big fruit tart kind of person in general so it should say something about this tart.

Choco Banana (초코바나나 ) ₩8,700 | 7/10

Banana, Custard, Banana Jam, Ganache
진한 가나슈와 바나나의 짙은 풍미와 맛으로 가득 찬 묵직한 식감의 디저트

The Choco Banana tasted like what you think a choco banana flavored dessert would taste like. It honestly kinda reminded me of a banana pie with a really good pie crust and chocolate layer inside. A solid option if you like banana. 

Milk Tea (초코바나나 ) ₩7,000 | 8/10

Ordered milk tea for my mandatory 1-person-1-drink rule and it was pretty good. Fragrant and not too sweet. 

Apart from the selection of six tarts they usually have readily available, they also have a couple of different seasonal flavors using the fresh fruits that are in season. They also serve coffee, tea and non-coffee beverages in the cafe. Overall, Parole & Langue (파롤앤랑그) has definitely became one of my favorite dessert spots in Yeonnam-dong and I would definitely recommend you to try this place, especially if you’re looking for some great tarts.

 

Parole & Langue • 파롤앤랑그

Address: 서울 마포구 성미산로29안길 8 파롤앤랑그
Telephone: 02-332-2527
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 13:00-21:00 | Closed on Mondays | (Check their Instagram for their monthly opening schedule)

Instagram: @parole_langue

---

Knots

Knots by Union Group is the newest bakery in Kemang, South Jakarta that specializes in viennoiserie, baked goods and pastries. The bakery cafe also serves a variety of desserts, cakes as well as food and drinks if you want something heartier. 

If you’re living in Jakarta and a fan of Basque Cheesecake, you’ve probably heard of Knots prior to the opening of their flagship store. Knots was first known for their delicious Basque Cheesecake that they sell through online ordering and at their pop-up booth on various bazaars. Now, joining hand with the Union Group, they finally opened their offline store that serves as a place where people can come and experience their more extensive menu fresh out of the kitchen.

“Our Chief Croissant Officer, @thathousehusband, and Chief Pastry Officer, @letaresiregar, are on a mission to roll out the good stuff fresh every day.” —Knots

The bakery cafe is pretty spacious with coffee bar, cake display area and dining area with multiple tables for four to five people that accommodate about 60 people or so. The space is designed by Bitte Design Studio, an architecture & interior design studio who’s responsible for some of the most popular dining spots in Jakarta.

The Ritz (55k) | 7.5/10

Hazelnut, Valrhona Dark Chocolate
We name this pastry “The Ritz” to honour Ritz Le Comptoir Paris, the original creator of the distinctive shape.

The Ritz has a more prominent dark chocolate flavor that’s actually quite delicious. The outside was crispy and flaky, but the inside was a little bit dry when I had mine. Not sure if it’s because it’s been sitting out for a bit since I was taking pictures, but I wished the inside is more buttery. But overall, I think this could be a crowd pleaser for anybody who likes chocolate flavored pastries.

The Knots (85k) | 9/10

Hazelnut, Custard
Our commitment to classic viennoiserie led us to reconsider this whimsical design for the menu. But it became such a hit that we found the little edge we needed among the classics - introducing THE KNOTS.

The Knots was my favorite out of all the pastries I tried. The unique ribbon-shaped pastry is flaky on the outside and soft of the inside. The generous hazelnut filling was also delicious and the combination of that and the Valrhona Dark Chocolate definitely reminded me of Ferrero Rocher. Although I have to say, if you don’t really like sweet pastries, this one might be a tad sweet for you (at least that’s how I feel. But I still enjoyed it).

Parisian Melt (65k) | 8/10

Brisket, Caramelized Onion, Honey Dijon Mustard
Ham in a pastry is common, but using beef brisket brings a new dimension. Inspired by the Parisian melt sandwich, take our word for it - this is truly something else.

A great savory option for breakfast or brunch. All the components of the dish work well together giving you a good mix of umami flavors with a hint of sweetness from the caramelized onion and honey dijon mustard. 

Jet (100k) | 7/10

Valrhona Guanaja 70% Creme, Knots’ Knew Nothing White Coffee Mousse, Cocoa Biscuit, Chocolate Slice
A delightful mystery that intrigues with its shape, concealing layers of flavors within.

Jet is probably the most visually unique menu that they have. A 10 out of 10 for design and execution for me. As for the flavor, since it’s made mainly out of chocolate and coffee mousse, it is very intense and sweet. A little too sweet for my taste and for some reason, the flavor also reminded me of tiramisu. If you’re not a big fan of sweets but want to try it, would definitely recommend you to share this with the table because the portion is also not small. 

Knots Basque Cheesecake (65k) | 8/10

Here’s our version—the Knots Basque Cheesecake—featuring a melted-center creamy filling to give you that ‘ahh’ moment with every bite. We often say that there’s KNOTHING NEW under the sun, much like the timeless Basque Cheesecake. Though it’s been enjoyed for years, we’ve decided to try our hand at making it because it’s something we truly love.

First time trying their Basque Cheesecake and it’s pretty good. I’m not a big fan of cheesecake in general and by no means an expert in cheesecake but I know a lot of my friends also like their cheesecake.

“While viennoiseries and pastries are our heart and soul, people will likely expect us to serve brunch as its pairing. However, we’ve chosen to take a different direction by offering a selection of Asian fusion dishes, Think bold flavors, unexpected combinations and meals that strike the perfect balance between comfort and modern flair.” —Knots

Disco Fries (75k) | 7/10

Miso Apple Sauce, Smoked Brisket, Pickles, Parmigiano Reggiano

Bold flavors and generous portion. This is something that I think will pair really well if you have drinks on the side. But I do wished that the fries were crispier and this dish was overall a little too salty for my personal preference.

Dry Ramen (115k) | 8.5/10

Tare Sauce, Duck Breast, Onsen Egg

One of my favorite dish from the hot meals option. This Japanese inspired dry ramen has a really good, bold flavors. It’s umami and creamy all at the same time. Love that they serve it with chopped kimchi which adds a little kick to brighten up the dish. The duck breast was also seasoned and cooked well. Although I have to say, if you are really sensitive to gamey meat, you might be able to taste a little bit of the gaminess on the duck meat. 

Chicken Chop Butter Rice (100k) | 7.5/10

Dan Dan Sauce, Peanut Crunch, Furikake.

If you like peanuts, you’d probably enjoy the sweet nuttiness of their Dan Dan sauce. The chicken chop has crispy skin with juicy meat. It comes with butter rice topped with furikake that compliments the sweetness of the Dan Dan sauce. I think you have to eat the chicken with the sauce and the rice to get a more balanced flavor out of the dish. 

The Secret Menu (75k) | 8.5/10

Noodles, Chicken Katsu, Kimchi, Furikake, Onsen Egg

Knots’ secret menu is called The Secret Menu. You can order this as long as you know the name of the secret menu. First thing that hit my nose when mixing the noodles was the smell of Indomie Goreng. And turned out, it also tasted like Indomie Goreng, but the flavors are bolder and more complex. Perfect option for a hangover food. This dish also pretty spicy for my spice tolerance (although for my friend who eats spicy food well, she said it’s only a bit spicy).

Noise level at this place is pretty high. The music was blaring pretty loud when I was there. Not sure if it’s because it was their soft opening day so they have special sound system rented for the space or it’s just the regular volume level for their music. Parking is also limited and I believe they only do valet parking if I’m not mistaken. 

If you’re looking for a place that serves good pastries and food in Kemang area, with the numerous options that they have available, Knots is definitely a place worth trying.

 

KNOTS

Address: Jl. Kemang Timur Jl. Kemang Raya No.46A, RT.9/RW.3, Bangka, Kec. Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12730, Indonesia
Telephone: +6281188811004
Hours: Everyday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Instagram: @knothingnew

---

Lick Sip • 릭십

Lick Sip (릭십) is a small cafe bar in Hannam-dong that just opened last spring in April 2024. Their menu consist of coffee, non-coffee, alcoholic drinks as well limited options of baked goods and desserts. Although cafe serving booze is not uncommon in Seoul, their Tipsy Treats selections are definitely one of the more unique menu I’ve seen that made me want to visit this place.

Their Tipsy Treats includes Boozy Ice Cream with flavors such as:
🍨 Milk + Bourbon (밀크 + 버번)
🍨 Milk + Amaretto + Rum (밀크 + 아마레토 + 럼)
🍨 Chocolate + Single Malt (초콜릿 + 싱글몰트)
🍨 Yogurt + Makgeolli (요거트 + 막걸리)

They also have Boozy Drinks like Baileys Latte (베일리 라떼), Baileys Chocolate Latte (베일리 초코 라떼), Wine Smoothie (와인 스무디), Whiskey Affogato (위스키 아포가토), and Coconut Smoothie with Rum (코코넛 스무디 + 럼).

There are about 15 seatings inside the cafe, six of them are shared on a communal table and the rest are split into paired seatings around the space. There are also about 12 outdoor seatings that are available if you choose to sit outside. 

I visited this cafe during my last trip to Seoul in spring, a month after their grand opening. It was a Sunday afternoon so the place was pretty packed. But me and my friend managed to get a seat on one of the small outdoor table. The weather was really nice so sitting outside was actually perfect to enjoy the afternoon breeze and to people watch a little bit. 

Iced Earl Grey Milk Tea (얼그레이 밀크티) ₩6,500 | 8/10

I ordered the Iced Earl Grey Milk Tea and it was solid. Not too sweet and the tea is pretty fragrant. 

Einspänner (아인슈페너) ₩6,500 | 8/10

My friend ordered the Einspänner and she said it was good. The coffee is bitter and the cream is sweet creating a good balance when you sipped the drink.

Noise level inside the cafe when I was visiting was pretty high. The music was playing pretty loud inside the cafe but since we sat outside, it was actually still pretty enjoyable for me. Since I didn’t end up trying their Tipsy Treats, definitely want to go back again to this place to try one of their Boozy Ice Cream or Boozy Drinks. 

 

Lick Sip • 릭십

Address: 서울 용산구 이태원로54길 16-5 1층
Telephone: 0507-1390-7841
Hours:
Closed on Mondays
Tue & Wed 18:00-24:00
Thursday 12:00-24:00
Friday & Sat 12:00-01:00
Sunday 13:00-19:00

Instagram: @licksip_official
Naver Map

---

Addictea • 에딕티

Addictea (에딕티) is a bubble tea franchise known for its variety of milk and fruit teas. They have their own unique flavoring, roasting and blending techniques for their tea leaves which help to retain the aroma of the tea leaves longer, giving a more fragrant tea as a result. They also one of the few bubble tea spot in Seoul that brew their tea to order, making the flavor of their tea more vibrant with a pleasant aroma. 

The brand (which then operated under a different name) is originally from Fujian, China but expanded their business overseas to Brisbane, Australia in 2016. Two years later, Addictea was officially established in Queensland, Australia. In 2019, they did Addictea’s overseas expansion with the opening of their first store in Seoul and later in Wuhan, China in 2022.

Addictea is one of my new find last fall that has become one of my favorite bubble tea spot in Seoul. Believe it or not, finding a good bubble tea spot in Seoul was actually pretty hard for me in the past. Not that I eat boba a lot (I usually don’t even order the boba), but usually bubble tea places have different type of milk teas that I like compared to the ones that are served in cafes in Seoul. 

I’ve drunk a lot of milk teas in many, many cafes in Seoul but the choice of the milk tea is usually very limited since majority of them are focused more on the coffee menu. Most cafes usually only have the choice of (black) milk tea or green tea latte. Some places will have earl grey milk tea, green milk tea or Assam milk tea. On rare occasions, I’d find places that sell black sesame latte. But that’s pretty much it. 

Not until these past couple of years I started seeing some asian bubble tea brands opening shops in Seoul and I can’t even tell you how happy I am that it’s slightly easier for me now to find boba places in the city. 

Addictea is actually one that I really like. They have a couple of milk tea options like Genmaicha, Roasted Green Tea, Ostmathus and Jasmine Green Milk Tea that I usually find back home (or back in South East Asia). My favorite menu is their Genmaicha with Milk (현미 밀크티). Their tea is really fragrant (the brew-to-order tea does make a difference imho) and overall it’s not too sweet (I usually order 75% sugar and the sweetness is just right for me). One time, I took a couple of my friends to this place and we ordered a couple of different ones. After tasting what we ordered, we all agree that the milk teas are good but the Genmaicha is the best one. So I definitely recommend you to try the Genmaicha with Milk if you come to this place. 

Addictea Hongdae (에딕티 홍대점) is one of the location that I’ve been to before. This location is pretty big with seatings available in the store. It’s located next to Halal Guys and below BHC Chicken in Hongdae. A little bit of disclaimer, these pictures of the shop were taken when I went to visit back in May 2024. Today I tried to search their name on Naver Map and it didn’t show up so I’m not sure if the place is still open or if they already moved somewhere else. But on their Instagram bio, Hongdae is still listed as one of the locations (maybe they just closed recently, I’m not sure). So, there’s that. 

The location that I went to the first time was actually Addictea Myeongdong (에딕티 명동점). The store is smaller than the Hongdae location but there are limited seatings inside for about nine people, mostly small tables for two. I usually do take-outs from this location since the place is pretty small. This place is definitely still open and appears on Naver map.

They also have another location Addictea Hoegi (에딕티 경희대점) near Hoegi Station (회기역) in Dongdaemun (동대문구) area if you’re around that neighborhood.

*Photos below are from Addictea Myeongdong (에딕티 명동점).

 

Addictea Hongdae • 에딕티 홍대점

Address: 서울 마포구 홍익로6길 10
Hours: 13:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:55)

 

Addictea Myeongdong • 에딕티 명동점

Address: 서울 중구 명동4길 15 1층
Telephone: 0507-1393-6699
Hours: Everyday 12:00-21:30

---

Tam Tam • 북촌 탐탐

Tam Tam (탐탐) is small dessert shop near Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을) neighborhood that specializes in handmade Korean desserts that are made daily using fresh ingredients. Their menu ranges from their best-selling rice cake, ice cream, cream pancake and lattes with traditional Korean flavors.

I visited this cafe during my last Seoul trip in May, four months after its opening. I was browsing for new places to try around Bukchon Hanok Village area and stumbled across this cafe’s listing and their interesting menu. If you don’t know already, I am a big fan of all things black sesame. And so when I saw that they have Black Sesame Rice Cake Ball Latte on the menu, that became the sole reason for me to go visit this cafe.

Other than two other patrons in the cafe occupying one of the table on the first floor, me and my friend were the only ones there when we visited the place around 5:30 pm on a Monday. The weather was nice that day and they had the glass windows opened. So we opted to seat at one of the table on the first floor that’s perfect for people watching (or for people watching us too I guess since we’re right by the side of the street). 

Despite occupying a two-story building, the cafe is actually pretty small. There are three tables on the first floor and four tables on the second floor that accommodate seven people and twelve people respectively. The space is definitely pretty tight in-between tables, but I guess on the upside, if you come here during colder days, it’ll be warm and cozy.

Black Sesame Rice Cake Ball Latte (흑임자 경단 라떼) ₩6,000 | 9/10

Black sesame latte served with rice cake ball with red bean paste filling.

Of course the first thing I ordered was the one thing I wanted to try since I first saw their menu online, the Black Sesame Rice Cake Ball Latte. This drink was really good. The ground black sesame flavor was light and not too overwhelming, making the drink a little bit on the milkier side. On top of the black sesame latte was sweet and salty cream which paired really well with the latte. 

The rice cake balls on the skewers were soft and chewy. They were covered in ground black sesame seed and there’s actually red bean paste filling inside the rice cake balls. The filling wasn’t too sweet either and the amount was just right to compliment the rice cake. Overall, I really enjoyed both the latte and the rice cake balls. 

We also ordered the top three best sellers of their rice cake ball to try—the Black Sesame, Yakwa, and Dried Persimmon. Overall their rice cake balls were really good. The texture was nice and chewy (also, a little bit of a disclaimer if you never had rice cake before, the texture is not as soft as and different from mochi’s texture). It’s not too soft, but not too tough either. They had just the right amount of chewiness making eating these enjoyable. And everything we had was not too sweet with a hint of saltiness to the flavors.

Black Sesame Rice Cake Ball (흑임자) ₩3,500 | 9/10

Black Sesame Mousse & Fried Sesame Seeds
흑임자무스, 볶은통깨

The black sesame rice cake ball has black sesame filling and it had a nice earthy, nutty flavors. Since I’m a sucker for black sesame, I enjoyed this one the most.

Yakwa Rice Cake Ball (약과) ₩3,500 | 8/10

Sweet Rice Honey Yakgwa & Ricotta
찹쌀꿀약과, 리코타

The yakwa (a traditional Korean sweet pastry that is made with ginger and honey) was pretty good as well. The filling kind of reminded me of sweet potato for some reason. 

Dried Persimmon Rice Cake Ball (곶감) ₩3,500 | 5/10

Dried Persimmon, Mascarpone, Natural Honey
곶, 마스카포네, 천연꿀

This one was just okay for me. The rice cake ball was good but I didn’t really enjoy the filling (might also be because I’m just not too into dried persimmon in general). But it was definitely interesting and reminded me of Korean flavors.  

Other than the ones that we ordered, they also have other interesting menus such as Truffle Rice Cake Ball, Basil Rice Cake Ball, Citron Red Bean Paste Rice Cake Ball, Mugwort Rice Cake Ball Latte (쑥 경단라떼), Sikhye Bingsu (식혜빙수), and Egg Cream Espresso (에그 크림프레소). If you’re visiting or exploring Bukchon Hanok Village and want to have some great Korean traditional rice cakes (or Black Sesame Latte) instead of regular bread and pastries, would definitely recommend this place to try. 

 

Tam Tam (카페 탐탐)

Address: 서울 종로구 계동길 82 흰색건물
Telephone: 0507-1304-9165
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-20:00 | Sat & Sun 11:00-21:30

Instagram: @tamtam_seoul

---