Yangnim-dong dessert café in Gwangju with sold-out menus: Hoyang Horim

Hoyang Horim is the Gwangju Yangnim-dong café dessert spot I visited on an outing with my mother. It had that lovely hanok café atmosphere and the desserts were delicious too, great to enjoy with coffee. We went on a weekday lunchtime and yet somehow there were so many people — it really lived up to its reputation as a Yangnim-dong hotspot.

Hoyang Horim address and opening hours

Hoyang Horim is located at 405 Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, and is open 11:00–21:00. I went with my mother and my child, and enjoyed the mugwort injeolmi waffle, gotgamsando, and coffee — it was a great visit, so I recommend it!

The hanok exterior and courtyard in Yangnim-dong

I parked nearby and the entrance to Hoyang Horim was right there, so it wasn't hard to find. There are a lot of trendy cafés around this area. Among them, I went to the trendy and pretty space that is Hoyang Horim.

Such a serene hanok feel, through and through. There's jegichagi (a traditional shuttlecock kicking game) in the courtyard and outdoor tables too, so if the weather's nice, grabbing a seat outside would be lovely.

The weather that day was really lovely, and it suited the atmosphere of Hoyang Horim perfectly. Being a hanok café, the vibe matches so well, and the drinks and desserts they sell really fit the mood of the space.

Barista Kim Ho-jung! Being a hanok, the outdoor atmosphere is so stylish too.

Indoor seating and where to park

Gwangju Yangnim-dong café dessert spot Hoyang Horim — it was hot outside that day, but the interior was seriously cool, and I loved that. For partner parking, check out Christian Hospital Parking Lots 1 and 2, and the Yangnim Historic Village public parking lot.

Why many desserts sell out on weekday afternoons

Hoyang Horim sells desserts that really suit the shop's atmosphere. There's hodu-jeonggwa (candied walnuts), gaeseongjuak, and injeolmi waffles, among others. We arrived past the late lunch hour, so a lot of items were already sold out, and I picked from what was left.

I wanted to try every single dessert on the menu, but worried I'd get too full, so I picked just two! >! < I'm sure all of you want to try everything too?! Go ahead and try them one by one haha.

Mugwort injeolmi waffle, gotgamsando and coffee

I went with the mugwort injeolmi waffle. Since it's basically an injeolmi (sweet rice cake) waffle 🥞🥞, it has that chewy texture.

The gotgamsando (dried persimmon and cream cheese pastry), mugwort injeolmi waffle, decaf americano, and vanilla coffee all paired really nicely together — genuinely delicious.

My mother ordered decaf at Gwangju Yangnim-dong café dessert spot Hoyang Horim. Even with a coffee, she said, she felt her energy perk right up, haha.

This dessert was seriously so good!!!! Chewy, and the cream cheese went so well with the fig. My mother clearly loved it too, judging by how well she ate it~~~~

The injeolmi waffle really stood out for its chewiness. Being mugwort injeolmi, it had an extra nutty flavor, and eaten with the ice cream it was delicious. It had been a while since I'd come to a café with both my mother and my child, and it felt like we'd found the right place. That gotgamsando is truly a treasure.

Personally, this was the dessert I kept reaching for over and over! So chewy, a dessert people of all ages would love ><. Gwangju Yangnim-dong café Hoyang Horim.

Is Hoyang Horim good to visit with kids?

Hoyang Horim has floor tables and outdoor seating, plus drawing supplies and jegichagi, so it's nice to go with kids too. I'd recommend it as a spot for families, friends, or even a blind date. Go check it out.