Dogok-dong takeout pie shop, 4 low-sugar walnut pies: Hodu Kkakki

A manager at my company apparently reserves a certain walnut pie every year-end, and I had just jotted it down in my notes. Finally, this week

I went on a weekend Dogok-dong café tour and stopped at Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) near Yangjae Station. It was my first time buying a whole pie instead of a cake, so I was excited all the way there!!

Where is Hodu Kkakki Brothers, and what are its hours?

Hodu Kkakki Brothers is about a 2-minute walk from Yangjae Station Exit 4, in an alley at 10 Nambusunhwan-ro 351-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The red door really stands out, so it wasn't hard to find. It's a takeout-only Dogok-dong café, so there are no seats inside; the kitchen and display case take up most of the space.

Hours are generally 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing around 8 on Saturday and 7 on Sunday, so it's handy in the evening

too. On weekdays there's a break time from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., so if you show up at an awkward hour you may make the trip for nothing. Definitely check that.

The four pies we picked at Hodu Kkakki Brothers

I chose four pies: the signature walnut pie, original pecan pie, matcha cream walnut pie and milk cream walnut pie. I added an Americano, and then one more cup of tea. This four-pie lineup is the best!

The display case had so many kinds, including walnut, pecan, sweet pumpkin, hazelnut and macadamia cheese, that I stood there for ages. And a Dubai crispy pie, too, T_T! It seemed to be new this time and I heard it sells like crazy, so I agonized, haha, but decided to try the signature first and went with the four above.

Why Hodu Kkakki Brothers pies make good gifts

The big selling point of Hodu Kkakki Brothers is that it sweetens with honey, oligosaccharide syrup and maple syrup instead of refined sugar, and uses flour in only some items or reduces it, so it felt less guilt-inducing than ordinary desserts. I often buy them as dessert gifts for my parents, and recently I even bought one for a pregnant colleague at work!

Slices, whole pies and how long they keep

You can buy the pies by the slice or as a whole pie. They told me regular pies keep for 7 days refrigerated or 30 days frozen, and that cream pies are best eaten within 3 days.

How do the signature, matcha, milk cream and pecan pies taste?

Signature walnut pie

The crust of the signature walnut pie is really thin, so the walnut filling felt packed from the very first bite. The sweetness comes from honey and maple syrup, so it doesn't cling to your mouth, and the nutty flavor lingers. I didn't get sick of it even after a whole slice.

Matcha cream walnut pie

In the matcha cream walnut pie, the signature bitterness of matcha mixes with the cream and softens the sweetness a little, so even people who can't handle sweets would find it easy to eat.

Milk cream walnut pie

The cream on top of the milk cream walnut pie is 100% milk cream, so it's very soft, and there's a little homemade strawberry jam inside. You get the nutty walnut pie, sweet cream and a faint strawberry aroma all at once. It feels like a cake, so it wouldn't look out of place on a birthday table.

Original pecan pie

The original pecan pie has a richer flavor than the walnut one

and the nutty aroma hits you the moment you take a bite. Eating it with a strong Americano, I understood why Hodu Kkakki Brothers is famous for gifts. Personally, they also sell Earl Grey and rooibos tea, and when I'm not drinking coffee, I love having those with the pie!!

Final verdict on Hodu Kkakki Brothers

Overall, the pies at Hodu Kkakki Brothers aren't too sweet and the crust is thin, so you can finish even the last bite cleanly. The taste is moderately healthy, so I'll probably come back for a whole pie for a housewarming or a visit to my parents' place. If you like Dogok-dong cafés, this is a place you'll want to try at least once, haha.