The Best Egg Tarts in Seoul Are Right Next to Seoul Forest

If you're doing Seoul Forest and want one genuinely good thing to eat afterward, this is it. Pickbake (픽베이크) does one thing — Portuguese-style egg tarts — and does it well enough that locals line up for them daily.

What to Expect

This isn't a bakery that happens to sell egg tarts. Egg tarts are the entire point. The style is Portuguese (think pastel de nata), which means a deeply flaky, laminated pastry shell with a custardy, lightly caramelized filling. If you've had the Hong Kong style before — smooth, more gelatinous — this is different. Richer. More textural contrast. The shell shatters a little when you bite in. Pickbake uses a 10-tier rotary oven that circulates heat evenly from all directions, which is why the pastry comes out consistently crisp rather than soft on one side.

The classic egg tart (classic egg tart) starts at 3,000 won. That's genuinely good value for what you're getting.

What to Order

Classic egg tart — Start here. The custard is creamy without being heavy, and the sweetness is restrained enough that you'll want a second one before you've finished the first. This is the baseline everything else is measured against.

Seasonal variations — They rotate flavors like lemon custard and cream cheese tart depending on the time of year. Worth checking what's available when you go. The cream cheese version leans slightly tangy against the buttery pastry, which works well if you're not big on sweet desserts.

Practical note on quantity: Don't be shy about buying three or four. They're small, they're 3,000 won each, and you will regret buying just one.

Atmosphere & Vibe

The ground floor is where most people end up eating standing up — which, honestly, is fine for a tart. But there's seating upstairs, and it's worth knowing about before you end up hovering by the door. It's not a sprawling café space. It's a focused spot with a clear purpose, and the vibe matches that.

The crowd is almost entirely Korean locals, which is usually a reliable signal. The line can look intimidating but reportedly moves fast. Morning on a weekday is your best bet if you want no wait at all.

The One Tip That Actually Matters

Tell them you're eating it immediately — say "바로 먹을게요" (ba-ro meo-geul-ge-yo) or just gesture that you don't need a bag. If they package it in the paper bag to go, steam builds up inside and the pastry loses its crispness within minutes. The whole point of this tart is the texture. Eat it outside, walk toward Seoul Forest, done.

Practical Info

• Address: 서울특별시 성동구 서울숲2길 20-1 / 20-1 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
• Google Maps: Open in Google Maps
• Nearest subway: Ttukseom Station — 9-minute walk
• Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Price range: ~3,000–5,000 won per tart
• Spice level: None
• Vegetarian: Likely yes (pastry and custard), but not officially confirmed
• Halal-friendly: Partial — no obvious pork or alcohol, but not certified
• Reservations: Not available
• Good for groups: Better for 1–3 people

One Last Thing

Pair this with a loop through Seoul Forest right after — it's basically across the street. The combination of a short walk and a warm tart is exactly the kind of low-effort, high-return afternoon that Seoul does better than most cities.

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