Where is the Shinjang-dong SED located in Pyeongtaek, South Korea?
Known as the SED (Songtan Entertainment District) by the US military working on the Osan Air Force Base (OSAFB), the Sinjang Shopping Street and Songtan International Market areas are located right outside of the OSAFB. This area is part of Pyeongtaek-si which is located in the southern part of Gyeonggi-do and about 50 minutes south of Seoul. You can learn more about this Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do neighborhood by reading our Neighborhood Introduction blog. You can access this neighborhood via Songtan Metro Station and the Songtan Bus Terminal. It is about a 30-40 minute drive from Camp Humphreys Army Base which is also located in Pyeongtaek-si.
The Cafe and Coffee Shop Scene in Sinjang-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do
The SED contains both national coffee chains such as Ediya and Cafe Bene and a variety of lovely, independently owned cafes. Each cafe has its own unique aesthetic, personality, and flavor profile. Some cafes cater to the Korean taste which leans toward milky drinks, light coffee flavor, and a Korean dessert collection. Other cafes provide western desserts and stronger coffee tailored to the international crowd. We recommend exploring both Korean and Western styles cafes to learn more about how tastes differ.
The independent cafes in the Sinjang-dong SED and International Market areas tend to be small in size. Not many of the independent cafes can easily hold groups larger than 10.
The cafes focused on a Korean clientele put a lot of effort into being Instagram friendly. This means they will have super cute drinks and an interior perfect for photos. These are excellent cafes for date nights when you want to set a certain mood.
The cafes focused on an international clientele put their effort into providing unique items. Their drinks and desserts that chosen to fit the taste of an audience that travels. You will find unique items that may not be available in any other part of South Korea.
The 6 Best Indie Cafes or Coffee Shops in the Sinjang-dong SED
I chose the following arbitrary list of best cafes in Sinjang/Songtan based on 1) who has been around the longest, 2) mentioned most often in Pyeongtaek Food & Fun, 3) offers the most unique menu, and 4) where I take my friends they go back to later without me. This makes these cafes an awesome place to start your cafe adventures in South Korea if you work Osan Air Force Base or live near Sinjang Shopping Street. These are also cafes that often get a lot of votes in the South of Seoul Best of Pyeongtaek Awards each year.
Cafes in the SED Catering to the Korean Taste
These cafes will have an aesthetic, coffee profile, and dessert choice that cater to Korean trends.
Of Coffee
0507-1302-1073
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Hangul Address
경기 평택시 중앙시장로19번길 3
This high-concept coffee shop sits tucked away on a side street not far away from the Osan Main Gate. With very few signs to market it, you could easily walk by and never notice it's there. Inside though, it's simply lovely. A great place for a date after dining at one of the delicious local restaurants.
Cafe CF
031-665-2936
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Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 26
The desserts at this cafe are AMAZING! They have a lot of weird rules like everyone has to buy something, so you need to go hungry (not everyone has to buy a dessert but they need to buy something.) They also have limits on how many people can share things. Still, the desserts are amazing so its worth it to make a plan and go anyway. We also would NOT describe it as kid friendly. If you have kids under 12 we dont recommend this place.
oo:u
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 신장동 202-5
A cute egg-tart cafe with no parking. They have non-dairy Oatly Latte.
Cafes in the SED Catering to Western Taste
These cafes will have an aesthetic, coffee profile, and dessert choice that cater to Korean trends.
Counting Stars Bakery Cafe
031-662-7741
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Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 8-1
A pocket sized cafe with the best small-batch desserts around. The selection changes regularly and the cookies are the best in Korea.
Cafe Cozy Someday
0507-1337-2975
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Hangul Address
경기 평택시 중앙시장로12번길 1
A pocket sized bakery and cafe. The owners bake up an assortment of special treats everyday. Just as the name implies, this is a cozy place for coffee and a sweet treat. Vegan desserts are their latest specialty.
Camel Espresso
031-666-4112
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Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 14
If you are looking for unique or dairy free drinks, you came to the right spot. This cafe has lots of choices.
Cosmic Cat Sinjang
01077345248
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Hangul Address
경기 평택시 중앙시장로25번길 11
Hand made custom donuts. Pre-orders: Wednesday to Friday (No pre-orders on weekends) Pre-order by messaging their Instagram. You can also find their daily menu there.
Which cafes do you think are the best in the SED?
Leave your reviews in the South of Seoul app! In your review, share what you love the most about the cafe. What is your favorite item to order? How often to do you go do the cafe? What makes the cafe special to you? Your experiences help everyone moves to the Sinjang / Songtan / Osan Air Force base area find what’s perfect for them and improve the lives of everyone in the community from business owners to international residents.
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
