Hello L : Character Macaron Specialist

Reviewed and photographed by Melline Galani.

Living in Gwangju for almost three years now, I must say I am familiar with many coffee shops in the city. I have also tried diverse desserts, especially
macarons, and drunk many gallons of cappuccinos, coffees, caramel macchiatos, and so on. I think I have become somewhat picky in choosing desserts and coffee. Therefore, recommending a place to eat or drink is not
that easy anymore.

I first discovered Hello L through their Instagram account. I was searching for a coffee shop in Seoul but discovered a better one in Gwangju. Seeing from their posts a variety of colorful macarons in cartoon shapes, I thought it was the perfect place to bring my children.

We went there on a warm, sunny day and discovered a cozy place in relaxing colors (predominantly yellow tones). Luckily, it was not crowded, so we were able to choose the best spot near the window with a comfy sofa. They had a wide offer of macarons, each one cuter than the next, so choosing was a really hard thing to do. Eventually, we decided on a mango smoothie and character macarons with coffee filling, Oreo filling, strawberry, and vanilla cream. Both the beverage and the macarons were really nice; the mango smoothie was not sweet but refreshing – perfect for a hot summer day – while the macarons were tasty with soft delicious cream.

The outer shells of the airy meringue sandwiches were smooth and crisp, and on the inside, the abundant fillings were a variety of fluffy creams. While the taste of the macarons was good, they were not the very best that I
have had. We loved the fact that they came in a variety of flavors and characters to choose from. My kids decided upon Doraemon, Rilakkuma, Snoopy, and Crayon Shincan’s baby sister.

Hello L also sell cakes, brownies, scones, and other desserts. For those interested in baking or just making their own funny macaron characters or cookies, this coffeeshop offers baking lessons (the schedule and themes are posted on their blog). These are also provided at the coffeeshop, in a separate room with a wide window so customers can watch the progress of the lesson. I think it would be a very interesting experience, especially for children, to make their own favorite desserts. More information about the prices, operating hours, and reservations can be found at their Instagram account.

Be forewarned that the prices are a bit expensive: macarons are listed at 2,800–3,300 won a piece, while beverages start from 3,000 won. Still, I think it is worth visiting at least once. The coffeeshop is very close to 5.18 Memorial Park in the Sangmu district, so a walk in the park is more than welcomed after a nice dessert.

THE AUTHOR

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic.