Gyeongju mochi shop: pineapple mochi still cold at the BBQ, Tareudang

If you come to Gyeongju for a summer vacation, Hwangnidang-gil is a must-visit stop. Walking through alleys full of hanok (traditional Korean house) charm, peeking into pretty cafés and eating tasty desserts is so much fun. On this trip, I decided to spend a relaxed stretch of time there on purpose.

Honestly, Hwangnidang-gil is so crowded that I usually think it's much easier to park nearby and walk around rather than drive in. This time, with vacation as my only excuse, I strolled the alleys slowly and soaked up the Gyeongju atmosphere. Every alley is lined with quirky prop shops, restaurants and dessert cafés, so I could hardly decide where to go in. After wandering for a good while, I spotted a place with people queuing. It was Tareudang, famous as a dessert spot on Hwangnidang-gil.

Tareudang, a Hwangnidang-gil dessert spot: what kind of place is it?

Tareudang is a well-known dessert shop you're bound to pass at some point while walking Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju. When we arrived, customers were already ordering and waiting out front, and seeing people keep coming in, I thought, yep, this is a popular place.

We had just finished lunch, yet somehow dessert always fits, right? They say travelers have a separate "dessert stomach," and I think that's totally true. We couldn't just walk past, so we got in line and ordered right away.

• Address: 49 Sajeong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea (near Hwangnidang-gil)
• Location: Easy to reach on foot from the main Hwangnidang-gil street, and close to Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon, so it's a good stop during your trip.

Tareudang fruit mochi prices and what we picked

Tareudang's signature item is, of course, fruit mochi. Prices differ a little by type, but at about ₩5,500 to ₩7,500 it wasn't a big burden for a special treat on a trip.

Looking at the displayed fruit mochi, the colors were so pretty that it was hard to pick just one. There was a real variety. They also prepare different fruit mochi by season, so choosing was part of the fun. Since we'd be eating with our child, we picked one each of pineapple and Shine Muscat (green grape), which kids love.

Chewy, soft texture is the charm

From the first bite, I understood right away why so many people come. Sweet fresh cream and fresh fruit fill a thin, chewy mochi, and my mouth was truly happy.

The fruit was fresh and juicy, and the mochi was soft rather than tough, so it was easy for kids to eat. It's convenient to hold and eat straight from the wrapper, and cut in half, the cross-section looked so pretty that it was great for photos too.

Our child especially loved the pineapple mochi, finished one in no time and shouted, "One more!" In the end, they ate two, they enjoyed it that much.

Egg tarts, cheesecake and Hwangnam mochi are popular too

Tareudang isn't famous only for fruit mochi. The display case also had egg tarts and cheesecake, and the buttery aroma kept pulling me back.

I saw many people buying several egg tarts along with their fruit mochi. Hwangnam mochi was another popular item too, and a lot of people seemed to be buying it as a Gyeongju souvenir or snack. Next time, I'd like to try the egg tart and Hwangnam mochi as well as the fruit mochi.

A cooler bag for summer takeout

In summer, fresh fruit desserts make you worry about carrying them around. At Tareudang you can buy a cooler bag separately, which made it easy to carry on our trip. They also run an event where you get a cooler bag free if you join the review event, which I thought was a really nice service for travelers.

In summer, having a cooler bag lets you bring the desserts to your lodging fresh, which is much more reassuring.

A dessert you have to try on Hwangnidang-gil

Hwangnidang-gil has so many pretty cafés and dessert shops, but Tareudang clearly had a reason people flock to it. The combination of fresh fruit and chewy mochi is something everyone, young and old, would like, and kids can eat it without any fuss, so it was a very satisfying snack for a family trip. It was a dessert that made our summer vacation even sweeter.

If you're planning a Gyeongju trip, stroll Hwangnidang-gil slowly and enjoy desserts one by one. Good food becomes a precious travel memory too. I confidently recommend Tareudang, a fruit mochi spot worth visiting at least once. Even after a big lunch, you might end up shouting, "Dessert is a whole other stomach!" like me. A Hwangnidang-gil stroll with Gyeongju's charm and sweet desserts was the best choice of this summer vacation.

We put the leftovers in the freezer and ate them the next day.