Kitchen205 Strawberry Cake!! I successfully managed the “open run” on a weekend for the Strawberry Field Cake at Kitchen205 in Jamsil Lotte World Mall! The taste was so incredible that I just had to introduce it to all of you overseas readers. If you ever come to Seoul, South Korea, please use my review as a reference and make sure to try this K-Strawberry Cake. It is truly delicious.
Here is the English translation of your review:
🍓 A Successful Weekend Open Run for the ‘Kitchen 205 Strawberry Cake’ in Jamsil Lotte World Mall!
I successfully managed the “open run” on a weekend for the Strawberry Field Cake at Kitchen205 in Jamsil Lotte World Mall! The taste was so incredible that I just had to introduce it to all of you overseas readers. If you ever come to Seoul, South Korea, please use my review as a reference and make sure to try this K-Strawberry Cake. It is truly delicious.
The first fruit that comes to mind when you think of winter is, without a doubt, the strawberry. With my beloved mother’s birthday coming up next week, I knew I needed to prepare a special cake.
After seeing a picture on social media of a cake absolutely overflowing with seasonal strawberries, I immediately thought, “This is it!” and made up my mind. I heard this place is so famous that reservations are tough to get, so I will now share the detailed story of my successful weekend, in-person purchase.
My First Review of Kitchen 205 Strawberry Cake
Reason for Visiting
This year, I felt it would be a little disappointing to buy a cake from a regular franchise bakery for my mother’s birthday. When you search for popular strawberry cake spots on Instagram these days, you find a lot of spectacular visuals, and Kitchen205 Jamsil branch stood out among them. Not only was the store nearby, but it also boasted an unrivaled visual appeal.
This place is highly praised for its exceptional freshness, as they use Hampyeong Strawberries shipped directly from the farm. My mother loves fruit, and a dessert packed with seasonal winter fruit is a universally appreciated choice, so I decided on it. My only concern was that I would have to do an “open run” on a weekend and that reservations for December seemed to be fully booked on Naver. However, to celebrate my mother’s birthday this year, I decided I had to go for it, even if it meant a little physical effort. Imagining my family’s joy made the open run feel completely worthwhile.
Location Information of Kitchen 205 Strawberry Cake
Kitchen205 Lotte Tower Branch (Lotte World Mall)
The Kitchen205 Jamsil branch is located on B1 (Basement Level 1) of Lotte World Mall, 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul. It might be a bit confusing for first-timers, but it’s easy to find if you look for the dessert select shop area called ‘Sweet Salon 3355’. To make it easier, it is directly across from the Lotte World Aquarium. Specifically, after entering to the left of Muji (MUJI), it is the second store diagonally on your left.
Business Hours & Waiting Information of Kitchen 205 Strawberry Cake
Business hours are generally listed as 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM, but in reality, they close when the ingredients sell out.
Price & Menu Information of Kitchen 205 Strawberry Cake
- Strawberry Field Mini (approx. 12cm diameter): $35,000 KRW
- A good size for 2-3 people, in the mid-to-low $30,000 KRW range.
- Strawberry Field Size 1 (approx. 15cm diameter): $48,000 KRW
- A generous size for a family of 3-4 people.
To enjoy the desserts at their best, all cakes and tarts should be consumed on the day of purchase.
- The shelf life for desserts containing fresh fruit is until the following day when kept refrigerated; freezing is not possible. For the best flavor, chill them for at least one hour before serving.
Important Notes
- Please remove the ice pack from the box within 3 hours of purchase.
- Due to the large amount of fresh fruit, the cake sponge and tart crust absorb a lot of moisture by the next day, preventing you from enjoying the optimal taste. Please consume it on the day of purchase.
- Kitchen205 uses fresh strawberries delivered directly from farms. As they source from various farms, the sweetness level of all strawberries may not be identical.
- They use seasonal strawberries from November to May, and summer strawberries grown in high-altitude areas from late May to October. The summer strawberries are characterized by firm flesh and a sweet-tart flavor compared to the seasonal ones.
I planned to purchase the cake on Saturday morning, as the birthday party was on Sunday.
I arrived at Jamsil Lotte Tower Mall around 10:00 AM on Saturday. It was not even the opening time of 10:30 AM, yet the queue already started at the store entrance and stretched far down to the front of the Aquarium shop. It was clear that the competition was fierce, especially during the peak seasonal strawberry period combined with a weekend.
I decided on the Strawberry Field Size 1 since three adults would be eating it. While waiting in line, I could see the staff inside constantly making cakes, which further highlighted the cake’s popularity.
The store opened at 10:30 AM, and the staff reorganized the line, and the purchase queue began to move. After waiting for about 20 minutes more, it was finally my turn. The turnover rate was faster than I expected.
Cake Tasting Review of Kitchen 205 Strawberry Cake
Highly Recommended as a Birthday Cake for a Family Party!
As soon as I opened the box, the sweet scent of strawberries filled the living room. Even a day later, the strawberries were in good condition, and if anything, they seemed to have ripened and looked even glossier. After blowing out the candles, I tried to cut the cake, but the sponge was truly as soft as a cloud, and there were so many strawberries that it was hard to get a clean slice!
One bite, and all my family members’ eyes widened. The perfect balance of sweetness and the moist texture of the cake seemed to satisfy everyone.
- Cream: It had the rich, savory, milky flavor typical of animal-based fresh cream. Surprisingly, it wasn’t heavy at all and had a clean finish. It wasn’t overly sweet, making it perfect for older adults.
- Sponge: It was soft like castella and maintained its moisture, making it a perfect match for the cream.
- Strawberry: The strawberries weren’t just decorative; they were packed in between the sponge layers, ensuring that you got fruit in every single bite.
I was especially surprised to see my nephew, who is usually a picky eater, clean his lunch plate and then eat two slices of the cake. Although the cake instructions recommend same-day consumption, since the party was on Sunday, I had no choice, but I felt that refrigerating it for a day actually deepened the flavor and made it easier to eat.
I’ve heard that they release limited-edition seasonal cakes, and I’m already looking forward to them. There are rumors that you have to line up from dawn for the Christmas season… Having tasted this cake, I am seriously considering challenging the open run again to try the Christmas cake with my in-laws’ family. It was absolutely a flavor worth the wait.
Please take the opportunity to experience the harmony of delicious seasonal strawberries and smooth fresh cream before this winter passes. Sweet desserts like this make moments with loved ones even sweeter.