Ulsan tteok shop, castella vs black sesame injeolmi: Baekho Tteokbang

What kind of dessert are you all into these days?

Lately I've been into chewy, delicious tteok (Korean rice cake) more than bread! There's a spot in Sinjeong-dong, Ulsan that comes to mind whenever I crave something sweet yet soft. It's already buzzing on Ulsan mom cafés and social media — Baekho Tteokbang. Curious, I picked up the castella pumpkin injeolmi and the black sesame pumpkin injeolmi to take home.

Where is Baekho Tteokbang, and what is the shop like?

Baekho Tteokbang is a tteok shop located at 223 Beonyeong-ro, 1st floor, units 105-106, Nam-gu, Ulsan. The moment I walked in, I was won over — instead of the usual rustic tteok-shop feel, the interior was super clean and stylish!

Maybe because the shop is named Baekho ('white tiger'), there was a cute white tiger doll and little props scattered around haha.

How much is cloth wrapping for holiday gifts and wedding favors?

Baekho Tteokbang's cloth wrap packaging is ₩2,000, and cold-pack packaging is an extra ₩1,500. On one side, they had samples of luxurious cloth wrapping ready! These days people give tteok as wedding favors, first-birthday gifts, meeting-the-in-laws gifts, or upcoming holiday presents, right?

It seemed perfect for gifting to important people! The shopping bag was simple and clean too, so it was really easy to carry.

What does Baekho tteok (castella pumpkin injeolmi) taste like?

First up, with high expectations, was the Baekho tteok (castella pumpkin injeolmi)! They said it's made fresh every morning with 100% Ulsan Bokjori glutinous rice and domestic pumpkin.

The moment I opened the lid, the golden pumpkin-colored tteok topped with a fluffy, soft mound of castella powder already won me over visually! It was cut into neat, bite-sized squares, so it was super easy to spear with a fork! There was even a fork thoughtfully included inside the container, which seemed handy for eating outdoors or in the car.

Taking a bite, I was genuinely surprised. The moment it hit my mouth, the cloud-soft castella powder spread gently, while the pumpkin injeolmi inside was so chewy it stretched like cheese! It wasn't an artificial, cloying sweetness but the pumpkin's own mild, natural sweetness, so I never got tired of eating it. It felt much easier on the stomach and more filling than bread, making it perfect not just as a snack but even as a breakfast substitute!

What does Heukho tteok (black sesame pumpkin injeolmi) taste like?

Next was the Heukho tteok (black sesame pumpkin injeolmi), which I'd really wanted to try after reading reviews! This one is generously coated in nutty black sesame powder on the outside!

Inside is the same bright yellow pumpkin injeolmi, so the chewiness is exactly the same. One bite and the distinctive nutty aroma of black sesame fills your mouth! The more you chew, the nuttier and chewier it gets — I instantly understood why older folks love it so much! My mom said Baekho tteok is good too, but this Heukho tteok's nuttiness is more her taste haha.

Baekho tteok vs Heukho tteok: which one should you order?

If you want a sweet, soft dessert feel, go for Baekho tteok; if you want a plain, ultra-nutty flavor, Heukho tteok is perfect. Maybe because it's made carefully with good ingredients, my stomach felt comfortable and not bloated afterward, which I really liked!

How to store leftover tteok from Baekho Tteokbang

For leftovers, they said to store at room temperature for about a day, or freeze in small portions and thaw naturally before eating — that way the original chewy texture stays intact.

The other tteok, like mugwort hotteok and cloud tteok, looked really delicious too. If you're looking for a special snack in Ulsan, or thoughtful wedding/event favors, or a gift for your parents, definitely visit Baekho Tteokbang in Sinjeong-dong, Ulsan! I'm planning to go back soon to buy the mugwort hotteok and cloud tteok too haha.