Gyeongju mochi shop with early-autumn fig, peach, kiwi: Tareudang

Gyeongju always has so much to eat and see no matter how many times you visit, and lately fruit mochi has been blowing up on social media — a dessert you basically have to try when you're in Gyeongju. Today I visited Tareudang, the fruit mochi shop on Hwangnidang-gil.

Hours: 11:00–19:00 / closes when ingredients run out / open as usual during Korean holidays.

How long is the wait at Tareudang, and why go at opening?

Even locals recommend this place, so there was a long line in front of Tareudang. If you go late, the tastiest fruit mochi flavors might be sold out, so I'd recommend timing your visit for opening. That said, the line really was long — but the turnover was fast, so I didn't end up waiting too long.

Which seasonal fruit mochi does Tareudang sell in early autumn?

Tareudang's fruit mochi on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju is filled with fresh seasonal fruit, so the flavors change by season — in winter, for example, you can get mochi with strawberry and orange. Since it was early autumn when I visited, I got to try the fruits perfectly in season right now.

You get ₩500 off per piece when you buy 4 or more mochi. But since I went a bit late, some flavors were sold out, which was a little disappointing. I'll definitely have to try the chocolate and pineapple next time.

Tareudang's cooler bag: 1,000 won, or free with a Naver review

Since Tareudang's fruit mochi has to be kept frozen, definitely get a cooler bag unless you're heading straight home. The cooler bag costs ₩1,000, and it's free if you leave a Naver review. They make the various seasonal fruit mochi fresh in small batches, so you really get to eat it at its freshest.

They were making peach mochi fresh and warm right in front of me. Since they make it in small batches, the turnover is great. And the yogurt that goes into the peach mochi is low-sugar too, so even people who don't like things too sweet can enjoy it.

Fruit tarts and the dried persimmon sando only Tareudang makes

Tareudang on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju sells more than just mochi — they also have tarts. Since the tarts are topped with seasonal fruit, they're great as a snack for kids, and there's a tart set that's also great to buy as a gift.

And then there's the persimmon sando, sold only at Tareudang. I've heard of sando (crisp sandwich cookies) plenty of times, but a persimmon sando is really unusual — chewy dried persimmon with various fillings inside. They also sell it as a gift set, which seemed perfect as a souvenir if you're traveling in Gyeongju.

Packing three mochi to go: fig, peach and gold kiwi

Fig, dried persimmon and peach yogurt fruit mochi — perfect to eat right now. The yogurt is low-sugar so you can eat it without worry, and even being low-sugar, it's sweet enough to be a great snack for both kids and adults. I packed the most popular fruit mochi flavors — on the day I visited, peach, fig and gold kiwi were said to be the best, so I bought all three.

I left a Naver review and got a cooler bag too. They do have a break time, so make sure to check before you go.

Tareudang, the famous fruit mochi dessert shop on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju, packages everything so nicely that it also makes a great gift.

Tareudang's fruit mochi tastes better slightly frozen

Peach, gold kiwi, fig — Tareudang's seasonal fruit mochi on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju is fresh, and maybe because the fruit itself is so fresh, it's sweet even eaten as is, but tastes even better after putting it in the fridge and letting it get slightly frozen.

Peach yogurt mochi: how it tastes

Tareudang's peach yogurt mochi is packed with big chunks of sweet peach — the combination of chewy mochi, peach and low-sugar yogurt was so good.

The moment you bite in, the juice really bursts out, and it's not too sweet — you taste more of the fruit's own sweetness, so it's a great snack for both adults and kids.

It's carefully double-wrapped so it's easy to eat, and being mochi, the chewy texture was great too. Fruit lovers especially will really love this flavor.

My top pick at Tareudang: the fig mochi

My personal pick is fig. It's really, seriously sweet — a total thumbs-up. You have to try the sweet taste of fig — plus the little bursting texture of the fig seeds. This is a flavor women especially will love.

The gold kiwi yogurt mochi my son loved

My son really loved the gold kiwi yogurt fruit mochi. The kiwi's juice really comes through, and the texture was great too.

Popping the whole gold kiwi mochi in your mouth at once makes it even more delicious! I think it would taste even better if you put it in the freezer briefly so the mochi part firms up.

If you're looking for a delicious dessert on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju, this is a place worth visiting. With fresh seasonal fruit mochi, tarts and persimmon sandwiches all on offer, there's plenty to try — a must-buy dessert whether it's for a gift or just for yourself. I recommend Tareudang.