Individually wrapped 24-piece walnut pastry mix with extra red bean

I stopped by Buja Hodu, an essential dessert stop on Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju that you really shouldn't skip on a Gyeongju trip. This is a go-to spot on the street, serving healthy walnut pastries made with 100% domestic rice dough and hearty whole walnuts that people of all ages can enjoy.

Where to park?

Buja Hodu doesn't have its own parking lot. You'll need to use one of the nearby paid parking areas.

Storefront and outdoor terrace

A large parasol is set up, and there are outdoor tables right in front of the shop. The sign up top reads clearly, "Whole walnuts, 100% rice, low-sugar filling," so you immediately sense this is a healthy, premium, handmade dessert.

This full shot of the terrace, with chairs arranged under a wide awning, lets you enjoy dessert at a leisurely pace while taking in the quiet Hwangnidan-gil scenery and blue sky.

Flavors and signature menu

There are four flavors total: low-sugar red bean, pea cream cheese, matcha, and almond praline.

Here's a shot of Buja Hodu's original signature creation, the walnut ice cream affogato. Crispy walnut pastry, cold ice cream, and coffee come together in a distinctive combination that shows off the originality this Gyeongju Hwangnidan-gil dessert shop is known for.

There's also iced americano roasted by a Gyeongju coffee master, and a refreshing 100% watermelon juice.

Interior and holiday gift sets

These are the gift sets, nice for giving around Chuseok. They said they'll even wrap them in a traditional holiday bojagi cloth, so it's a good option for gifting to parents and other elders.

If you leave a receipt review, you get 1 americano and 2 walnut pastries.

Menu prices and the 24-piece mix

The menu clearly lays out the options for grab-and-go packaging versus gift box packaging. Prices are reasonable, from the 10-piece original at ₩9,500 up to the mix sets where you get to try several flavors. I ordered the 24-piece mix. It cost ₩27,000. The default is 6 red bean, 6 pea cream cheese, and 6 matcha, plus you get to choose one more flavor to add. I went with an extra red bean.

Gift packaging and taste

This makes a great Gyeongju travel souvenir or a holiday return gift for people you care about. It's made with a sturdy, high-quality paper box, so you can carry it around without worrying about the contents getting damaged.

Open the lid and there are 24 carefully packaged walnut pastries laid out inside. Thanks to the hygienic glassine paper wrapping each piece individually, your hands don't get greasy or covered in crumbs, so you can pull out and eat them one by one, neatly. The subtle color of the glassine paper differs by flavor, so it's fun picking which one to try next.

Look at this cross-section shot of the handmade walnut pastry held up close — the filling is packed full. Baked with a thin shell made from 100% domestic rice dough instead of flour, it's stuffed generously with rich, nutty filling with no gaps. It's the kind of flavor that everyone, regardless of age, can't help but be won over by, as Buja Hodu's signature Gyeongju Hwangnidan-gil treat. Pair it with a hot americano or a cold ade drink for an even better dessert combination.

Final thoughts

If you're looking for a Gyeongju Hwangnidan-gil dessert shop with refined taste and real care put into it, visit Buja Hodu and treat yourself to a delicious Hwangnidan-gil snack and a good memory. With its gentle-on-the-stomach rice dough, variety of fillings, and premium packaging, I recommend it with confidence.