Yangjae pie shop, chocolate & cheese walnut pies: Hodu Kkakki Brothers

Walnut pie varies a lot from shop to shop in sweetness and texture. While hunting for a good spot in Yangjae, I visited Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제), and the healthy ingredient list is what caught my eye first. I took home one of each flavor to try. The flavors are clearly different, so comparing them was fun, and the packaging looked neat and tidy too, haha.

Where is Hodu Kkakki Brothers near Yangjae Station, and is there parking?

Hodu Kkakki Brothers is a walnut pie specialist near Yangjae Station. It's close enough to walk from the station, so access is good. It's also near Dogok-dong, so it's an easy stop if you live nearby, and it fits nicely into a Dogok-dong café-hopping route.

The shop is takeout only, so you can buy and go right away. It's not a place to linger; there's no big seating area, so think of it as a takeout shop. A convenient spot for picking up gifts!!

There's no dedicated parking, so you'll need to use a nearby public car park. Worth knowing before you go.

Hodu Kkakki Brothers is a handmade dessert brand that started in 2017, about 10 years old now, and the branch I visited is the second one. It has been featured on SBS Live Today (a Korean TV program) and several YouTube channels, and is known for having lots of regulars. Can't wait!

How are Hodu Kkakki Brothers' walnut pies different from regular walnut pie?

Unlike ordinary walnut pie, Hodu Kkakki Brothers is known for making its pies by hand without refined sugar. It uses oligosaccharide syrup, honey and maple syrup instead, along with organic flour and natural milk butter, which is said to set it apart from other dessert cafés. For someone who cares about health like me, this is a wonderful place..!!

Walnut pies you can easily buy elsewhere are often all about sweetness, but Hodu Kkakki Brothers feels more focused on the natural flavor of the ingredients. A dessert made with health in mind is what sets it apart from other walnut pies~~

Hodu Kkakki Brothers menu

Besides the basic, chocolate and cheese flavors, Hodu Kkakki Brothers also offers a hazelnut cacao pie, a milk cream cheese pie and a cream cheese pie. I found myself wanting to try the other items next time.

You can pick and pack the pies to your taste. For a gift, I think mixing three flavors instead of one would let the recipient have fun choosing. It's a safe combination for people with different tastes, too. Packing all four at once also lets you enjoy a variety of flavors in one go.

How do the original, chocolate and cheese walnut pies taste?

They look so delicious, right... The toppings are piled on generously, too. Hehehe

Original walnut pie: big walnut pieces and a crisp crust

The basic flavor keeps the nutty, savory taste that walnut pie should have. The walnut pieces are big, so there was plenty to chew on. The base was crisp while the inside stayed moist, so the texture balance was great. It wasn't overly sweet, so it was easy to eat. Seriously delicious!!!

Chocolate walnut pie: rich cacao flavor

The chocolate flavor had a strong cacao taste. Unlike typical chocolate desserts, it wasn't an artificial sweetness; it felt like the natural aroma of cacao came through. The bitter, deep flavor was impressive, and the nuttiness of the walnuts and the richness of the chocolate went well together without getting in each other's way. It was rich enough to satisfy even chocolate lovers. Chocolate lovers will go crazy for this....

Cheese walnut pie: for sweet-and-salty fans

The cheese flavor has a subtle cream cheese note added. The slightly salty cheese aroma blended well with the nuttiness of the walnuts, giving it a unique charm among the three. For people who like a sweet-and-salty balance, I think the cheese flavor will be the most memorable.

Since none of the three flavors use refined sugar, they felt less intense than ordinary walnut pie, with the natural taste of the ingredients coming through. Even though it's a healthy dessert, the finish on the flavor was so good that I was satisfied~~~

Walnut pie gift packaging and how long the pies keep

The walnut pies are individually wrapped and the packaging looks clean, so they're great to carry as gifts. They're easy to hand out, too.

• Refrigerated, they should be eaten within 7 days; frozen, within 3 weeks, they say
• Items with cream are recommended within 4 days, they say
• They can't be kept at room temperature; these are pies you eat cold
• If frozen, thaw at room temperature for about 5–10 minutes before eating

It would be better to ask at the shop when you buy whether room-temperature storage is possible~~~

Is Hodu Kkakki Brothers a good dessert gift near Yangjae Station?

If you're looking for a dessert or a gift snack in Yangjae, Hodu Kkakki Brothers is worth recommending for its healthy ingredients and variety of flavors. If you want to taste three or four flavors, I recommend taking a mixed set!! Next time I'd like to try packing a different size too, haha. I'll be going again~~