Dogok-dong walnut pie shop, 4-nut assorted pie to go: Hodu Kkakki

Why I stopped by Hodu Kkakki Brothers in Yangjae's Dogok-dong

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) is a walnut pie dessert shop in Dogok-dong, near Yangjae Station. I love coffee and desserts, so I'm always hunting for good bakeries and dessert spots. I had an errand in Yangjae recently and finally dropped in at this Yangjae/Dogok-dong favorite I'd been curious about for ages. It's famous for its walnut pie, and I'd wanted to try it at least once, so this time I made it happen.

What do the exterior and atmosphere of Hodu Kkakki Brothers look like?

Hodu Kkakki Brothers is a pretty well-known dessert spot around Yangjae Station. The storefront felt clean and upscale from the outside. The sign is easy to spot from a distance, so it wasn't hard to find, and the whole place feels tidy, as you'd expect from a shop that specializes in gift desserts. I heard lots of people buy here for thank-you gifts, presents for their parents and housewarmings, so my expectations went up even more.

Stepping inside, a gentle, toasty nutty aroma was in the air. The shop was kept spotless, and the pies were neatly lined up in the showcase looking delicious. Even though I came on a weekday afternoon, customers kept coming in, and I thought, okay, now I see why this is such a famous Yangjae/Dogok-dong spot.

What's on the menu at Hodu Kkakki Brothers?

There's a wide range, starting with the signature walnut pie, plus the original pecan pie, hazelnut cacao pie and macadamia cheese pie. I read through the menu board carefully.

You can buy by the slice, and there are whole pies for gifts too, so there's plenty of choice. I was told first-timers often go for the Premium Assorted Pie, which lets you enjoy several flavors at once. I couldn't pick just one either, so I ended up with a whole Premium Assorted Pie.

They also have a Dubai crispy pie, and I thought next time I'd buy slices of the pies I haven't tried yet, one of each.

Is the Premium Assorted Pie to go good for gifting?

They packed the Premium Assorted Pie neatly in a dedicated box. The packaging looked upscale, so I thought it would work well as a gift. On the way home, that toasty nutty smell kept drifting up and I couldn't wait to dig in.

The box has detailed storage instructions, and it says the pies are made as a healthy dessert with no preservatives and no sugar added, which I loved. I really do recommend it as a gift.

Premium Assorted Pie contents and price

• Signature walnut pie
• Original pecan pie
• Hazelnut cacao pie
• Macadamia cheese pie

The Premium Assorted Pie has four flavors in total and costs ₩34,900. Being able to enjoy several flavors at once made me personally very happy with it.

How did the four pies taste?

Signature walnut pie

First up was the signature walnut pie, the shop's flagship. It was piled with walnuts. One bite and it wasn't overly sweet, with a strong, rich nutty flavor. The pie crust was nicely crisp yet tender, so the texture was great, and the walnut flavor kept coming out the more I chewed. I got immediately why this is the signature.

Original pecan pie

The original pecan pie nicely balanced pecan's signature nuttiness with sweetness. If you love nuts, I think this might be the one that satisfies you most.

Macadamia cheese pie

Personally, the most unusual one was the macadamia cheese pie. The mild cheese flavor and the nuttiness of the macadamia go well together. I thought it would be the safest, plainest option at first, but it grew on me with every bite.

Hazelnut cacao pie

I'd recommend the hazelnut cacao pie to chocolate lovers. You get a deep cacao flavor with the nuttiness of hazelnut on top, so it tasted much more complex than I expected. It's not too sweet, so it goes well with coffee.

Is Hodu Kkakki Brothers in Yangjae's Dogok-dong worth going back to?

Overall, I could see why this Yangjae/Dogok-dong favorite, Hodu Kkakki Brothers, has been loved for so long. You can definitely tell good ingredients are used, and it isn't overly sweet, so anyone of any age can enjoy it without feeling weighed down. The Premium Assorted Pie, which lets you try several flavors at once, seems like a really good choice for first-time visitors. Next time I want to try the other pies, one of each kind.