Gyeongju café walnut pastries for parents: Buja Hodu

Handmade walnut pastries on Hwangridan-gil’s main street

Buja Hodu sits right on Hwangridan-gil’s main thoroughfare, so all you have to do is look for the big walnut-pastry sign and it is easy to spot.

We visited around weekday lunchtime, and could watch the staff carefully baking the walnut pastries and individually wrapping them one by one. Everyone, including the owner, wore nitrile gloves, and it was clear how hygienically everything was handled.

One side was already piled high with preordered group orders and thank-you-gift boxes, which really showed just how popular this place is with locals, too.

If you are after holiday gifts or a large order, calling ahead to reserve is definitely the best tip for cutting down the wait. And if the gift is for older family members, I recommend adding the elegant gift-box packaging—it takes care of the recipient’s mood, too.

Buja Hodu flavors and packaging options

The menu in the shop has four main flavors. You can choose from the classic low-sugar red bean paste, which is not overly sweet and easy to enjoy; our couple favorite, savory and smooth pea cream cheese; fragrant matcha; and almond praline.

There are freshly packed individual pieces that are perfect for nibbling as you explore Hwangridan-gil, as well as a 24-piece mixed gift box that lets you try all four flavors like we did. The overall price range also felt very reasonable for thank-you gifts or presents for older family members.

If you take a short break on the bench in front of the shop, be sure to take a look at the walnut-pastry affogato topped with ice cream, too!

The nutty flavor of Korean rice dough and whole walnuts

I was surprised by a quality that felt on a completely different level from ordinary walnut pastries. Each pastry contains one generously sized whole walnut, so every bite fills your mouth with nutty flavor.

The walnuts were so substantial that I instantly understood why it is called Buja Hodu. The texture was fantastic. My parents, who ate with us, said they had never seen walnut pastries like these before and enjoyed them so much. To be honest, I have brought them Hwangnam-ppang (Gyeongju-style red bean bread) and chalbori-ppang (chewy barley bread) so many times that they tell me not to bring any more! So it felt very rewarding to see them enjoy these. Plus, they are made only with Korean rice dough and honest ingredients, so they were genuinely easy on the stomach even after we finished them. As a rice-based dessert, they are also excellent nutritious snacks for children or seniors.

Low-sugar red bean paste or pea cream cheese: which was better?

What satisfied us most was the lack of an aggressive sweetness. The classic red bean walnut pastry uses low-sugar red bean paste, so it is lightly sweet and clean-tasting—great even for people who tend to avoid sweet foods.

With matcha’s pleasantly subtle bitterness added in, we could enjoy a range of flavors all at once without getting tired of them. My top pick, though, was the pea cream cheese. The red bean butter walnut pastries sold everywhere lately can feel a little rich because of the butter, but the pea cream cheese stayed nutty and smooth to the very last bite without being heavy. If you need light finger food on Hwangridan-gil, please do not go for ten-won bread with fake cheese... Try these at least once, even if it is just an individually wrapped one.

A healthy, thoughtful Gyeongju travel gift

They are much bigger and more generously filled than ordinary walnut pastries, while Korean rice dough and low-sugar filling add a health-conscious touch—an excellent Gyeongju dessert spot. With premium walnut pastries that convey both great ingredients and even greater flavor and care, I recommend gifting Buja Hodu to someone special for a delicious treat that is easy on the stomach.