Jongno 5-ga choco pie shop with free sticker wrap: Ssuk's Choco Pie

Gwangju's famous bakery pilgrimage spot has landed in Gwangjang Market! Ssuk's Choco Pie is perfect for gift wrapping.

Ssyo-ha!

Today's post is about my visit to Ssuk's Choco Pie, a handmade choco pie specialty shop in Gwangjang Market. I happened to need a gift for a friend, and while passing through Gwangjang Market, the packaging looked so gift-worthy that I walked in like I was hypnotized.

To cut to the chase, the 6-piece gift set was great — with flavors ranging from mugwort to strawberry to chocolate, it was a solid gift choice. If your friend likes mugwort, this dessert should go over especially well. It was also nice being able to try it in Seoul's Gwangjang Market without having to travel all the way to Gwangju's Songjeong Station Market.

• 📍 Location: 25 Jongno 32-gil, 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• ⏰ Hours: Weekdays 11:00-18:30 / Weekends 10:00-19:00
• 🚗 Parking: None
• 👤 Service: Pets allowed

What kind of shop is Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul?

Ssuk's Choco Pie originally started as a dessert shop with its main branch at Songjeong Station Market in Gwangju.

They've been making choco pies using mugwort since 2016, apparently. The product even holds a patent, so it felt a little different from a typical choco pie.

I was browsing Gwangjang Market looking for a friend gift, and — wait, this packaging looked way too perfect for a gift! So I walked in without a second thought, haha.

How to walk to Ssuk's Choco Pie from Jongno 5-ga Station

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is a short walk from Exit 7 of Jongno 5-ga Station.

Head a little further into Gwangjang Market from the entrance, and the green-themed storefront catches your eye.

It's easy to add to a market wander since it's close to Jongno 5-ga Station and not hard to find. There's no dedicated parking lot, but you can use the public parking area along the main street in front of the shop, the Jongmyo public parking lot, or the underground parking at Bangsan Jonghap Sangga.

If you order ahead through Naver Reservation, you can pick up on the spot without waiting. If you're buying several sets as gifts, reserving ahead is a good idea.

Inside the Gwangjang Market shop: space and seating

True to a shop built around mugwort as its main ingredient, Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is green from the exterior to the interior.

Cute character figures were on display, and even the gift boxes and shopping bags matched the color scheme, giving the whole place a clear brand identity.

There's no dedicated eating space, and it mainly runs as a takeout spot. There is a waiting area, though, and since it's an open-kitchen setup, you can watch the making process yourself.

Signage noted they only make a limited quantity each day and don't use artificial coloring, preservatives, emulsifiers, shortening or margarine, which felt like a thoughtful touch on the ingredients side.

Menu and the six choco pie flavors at Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul

Their signature choco pies come in six flavors.

Geomun-do sea-breeze mugwort, sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi (glutinous rice cake), sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean, Jeju Udo peanut, Nonsan strawberry, and Gwangju real chocolate — quite the lineup.

It's not just choco pies — they also sell scones, cookies and cheesecake.

The cookies include sea-breeze mugwort salt, sweet pumpkin, chocolate macadamia, among others,

and the scones come in several varieties too, including Geomun-do sea-breeze mugwort, domestic soybean tofu, and real chocolate.

Gift set prices: 3-piece 13,400 won and 6-piece 24,800 won

Ssuk's Choco Pie gift sets cost ₩13,400 for 3 pieces and ₩24,800 for 6. Buying a set works out cheaper than buying each item separately.

Being able to freely mix choco pies, scones and cookies was another nice touch. Since it was a gift, the 6-piece set looked better than the 3-piece to me, so I went with that. Fitting in a variety of flavors made it just right for gifting to a friend.

Free sticker wrapping and how the gift box is packed

The gift box from Ssuk's Choco Pie was pretty clean-looking too. They offer a free sticker service, which seemed handy for birthday or thank-you gifts.

Everything is individually sealed, making it convenient to hand pieces out to several people at once.

You can also buy insulated bags and ice packs separately, and courier delivery is available too, so it's good for sending to someone far away.

Being able to order through Naver or KakaoTalk Gift was convenient as well.

I handed it directly to my friend, and the moment she opened the box she loved how pretty it looked. It made me feel good too, giving the gift, haha.

What my friend said about each choco pie flavor

The biggest difference between Ssuk's Choco Pie and a typical choco pie is that it uses fresh whipped cream instead of marshmallow.

I got a flavor review from my friend, and her favorites were the Geomun-do sea-breeze mugwort and the Nonsan strawberry.

With the Geomun-do sea-breeze mugwort, she said the mugwort aroma spreads cleanly through the cream. It's not too strong, so even first-timers with mugwort could eat it without hesitation, apparently.

The sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi has injeolmi cream and rice cake inside, so the nutty flavor comes through stronger, and the contrast in texture between the bread and the rice cake was fun, she said.

The sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean paired domestic red beans with cream in a smooth combination, apparently.

The Nonsan strawberry has house-made strawberry purée inside, so the tangy fruit texture really came through! She said the chocolate bread and strawberry together made it sweet yet refreshing, and she kept reaching for more.

The Gwangju real chocolate is coated in cacao powder with chocolate chips in the cream too, so the chocolate flavor really comes through, apparently.

The Jeju Udo peanut has peanuts studded across the surface, giving it a nice nutty flavor, she said. Though if you're expecting something as heavy as peanut butter, it might feel a bit different. Overall, her favorites were the Geomun-do sea-breeze mugwort and the Nonsan strawberry.

How long the choco pies keep and how to thaw them

Mugwort and choco pie felt like an odd pairing at first,

but it worked better than expected — worth trying if you like unusual desserts.

Refrigerated storage lasts up to 8 days, and frozen storage up to 30 days. When eating from frozen, let it thaw naturally at room temperature for about 15 minutes. It was reassuring that the recipient doesn't have to eat it right away since the storage window is fairly generous. If you're looking for an unusual dessert gift at Gwangjang Market, this is a shop worth recommending!

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul: what to like, what to check first

👍 Pros

• Clean, gift-worthy packaging
• Wide range of flavors, from mugwort to strawberry
• Individually wrapped, easy to share
• 6-piece set is great for trying multiple flavors
• Convenient to add to a Gwangjang Market visit

✔ Check: No dedicated seating area

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

This is a solid pick when you want to grab a sweet dessert to go after a meal at Gwangjang Market. If you want to give a friend or acquaintance a slightly different kind of gift, I'd especially recommend the 6-piece set. Mugwort lovers will likely be even more satisfied, and those unfamiliar with mugwort can still pick other flavors like strawberry or chocolate. I gifted this to a friend this time and was happy with how well it went over. Next time, I'd like to buy the mugwort injeolmi or real chocolate again for myself. Worth a visit if you're after a Gwangjang Market gift or a dessert near Dongdaemun.