Dog-friendly café in Nam-gu, Gwangju for mugwort injeolmi waffle

Today I visited a spot that makes a great date course in Yangnim-dong — Hoyang Horim (호양호림, Yangnim branch).

Location, parking and hours

Here's the location —

*Gwangju Christian Hospital Lots 1 & 2

• Available hours – weekends, holidays, and weekdays after 17:00
• Rate – 1 hour free, then ₩400 per 15 minutes

*Gwangju Yangnim Church parking lot

• Available hours – weekdays only, excluding weekends
• Rate – 1 hour free, then ₩500 per 10 minutes

*Yangnim Historic Culture Village public parking lot

• Available hours – 24 hours
• Rate – 1 hour free, then ₩300 per 10 minutes

In order of proximity it's the hospital lots, then the church lot, then the historic village lot! * You can also park along the road leading up to the Woodward Missionary House.

Hours are daily 11:00 to 21:00, so keep that in mind before you visit.

I was looking for a good-atmosphere café in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju, and ended up at Hoyang Horim. Yangnim-dong has so many pretty cafés that it's hard to pick one. This time, instead of the usual cake or cookies, I wanted to try something a little different.

A spacious store that's also dog-friendly

Walking into Hoyang Horim, I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious it was.

Even a pretty café isn't much fun to sit in for long if the tables are packed too close together — but here the space was roomy enough that I never felt cramped, and it was easy to just relax.

And here's something dog owners will be glad to hear — this café allows dogs, so you can bring your pup along, which was a real plus.

If you've been looking for a dog-friendly café in Yangnim-dong, this one's worth keeping in mind.

What we ordered

This time we picked the mugwort injeolmi waffle, gaeseongjuak with candied walnuts, an iced Americano, and a vanilla bee-cream latte.

So how does the mugwort injeolmi waffle taste?

The item I was most curious about was the mugwort injeolmi (rice cake) waffle. Croffles and regular waffles are everywhere at cafés these days, but a waffle made with mugwort and injeolmi felt genuinely different. Even the look of it was a departure from an ordinary waffle, which made it fun to photograph too.

Tasting it, the distinct aroma of mugwort paired nicely with the nutty flavor of injeolmi. It kept the character of a Korean dessert while still working as a familiar waffle, so it wasn't as heavy as I expected.

If you prefer desserts that are nutty and mildly sweet rather than just plain sugary, this one will suit you especially well. It also went great with coffee. So if you're looking for something a little more special than the usual cake or bread among Yangnim-dong café desserts, I'd recommend giving the mugwort injeolmi waffle a try.

Gaeseongjuak with candied walnuts

The gaeseongjuak (개성주악, a fried glutinous rice cake) with candied walnuts we ordered alongside it also stuck in my memory.

Gaeseongjuak has become a fairly well-known Korean dessert lately, but it's rare to find a café that actually sells it. It's already appealing for its chewy texture and sweetness, and adding candied walnuts brought in extra nuttiness and texture, which I liked.

Ordering the mugwort injeolmi waffle together with the gaeseongjuak made Hoyang Horim's overall vibe come through even more. Being able to enjoy traditional ingredients and desserts in a modern café style is one of this place's charms.

Iced Americano and vanilla bee-cream latte

For drinks, we ordered an iced Americano and a vanilla bee-cream latte.

The iced Americano was, as expected, great alongside the sweet desserts. A bite of the injeolmi waffle or gaeseongjuak followed by a sip of cold Americano cleaned the palate so well that I kept reaching for more.

If you like a sweeter drink, the vanilla bee-cream latte is a good option too. It's a soft, smooth latte that was nice to sip slowly alongside dessert. Overall, from coffee to dessert, it was a satisfying order.

Who this place suits

Personally, I think Hoyang Horim will especially suit people looking for café bakeries or desserts in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju who also enjoy unique menus built around Korean ingredients. The spaciousness of the store turned out to be a real advantage once I actually visited.

It's nice for a coffee with a friend, but it also works well for a group visit or for taking your time chatting. It's also a good spot to duck into for a rest with dessert and coffee while exploring Yangnim-dong.

Especially with so many people out and about with their dogs these days, being dog-friendly with a spacious interior makes this a solid option for anyone planning a Yangnim-dong outing with their dog.

Drip coffee from the review event

There's one more thing worth knowing before you visit.

They're currently running a review event where you can get a drip coffee for participating.

So you get to enjoy a good meal at the café, leave a review, and get a drip coffee out of it too — worth keeping in mind if you go.

Wrapping up

Overall, Hoyang Horim stood out to me not as just another café with the usual menu, but as a place where you can enjoy desserts with a distinctly Korean feel, like the mugwort injeolmi waffle or gaeseongjuak.

The spacious layout and dog-friendly policy made it easy to use, and the desserts and drinks I tried were genuinely good, so it was a satisfying visit.

If you're after a dessert that matches the hanok and Yangnim-dong-specific mood, it might be worth experiencing Hoyang Horim's menu while taking in the atmosphere of Gwangju Yangnim-dong's hanok cafés.

Personally, the mugwort injeolmi waffle left the strongest impression, and pairing it with the gaeseongjuak made for a great combination. Next time, I'd like to try a few other desserts too.

If you're looking for a café for a date in Yangnim-dong, a relaxed spot to chat with a friend, or a spacious café you can bring your dog to, Hoyang Horim is worth stopping by.