Gyeongju café walnut pastries with whole walnuts: Buja Hodu

Today I’m introducing my favorite dessert spot, where my husband and I ate so deliciously on a recent long-overdue date in Gyeongju!

Eating delicious things is the greatest joy of traveling, isn’t it? Haha. We got a light snack because we were peckish while wandering around Hwangridan-gil, and oh my goodness… from the first bite, it was so nutty and tasty that I couldn’t stop exclaiming!! On the way home, we ended up stocking up on gift boxes for both sets of parents and friends. Let me tell you all about Buja Hodu (부자호두), a wonderful Hwangridan-gil spot in Gyeongju 🎁✨

Buja Hodu, perfect for a stop while strolling Hwangridan-gil

📍 Right on Hwangridan-gil’s main street, it’s the perfect place to pop into while sightseeing! We found Buja Hodu, a Hwangridan-gil dessert spot with a clean, upscale exterior, while strolling along the main street.

Hours: daily 09:30–20:00

When you’re traveling and looking around, you know those moments when you aren’t exactly hungry but suddenly want a little snack? It is right along the main road, so it was really easy to slip in and buy something without any fuss while sightseeing. The cute, tidy atmosphere made me happy from the entrance onward 🌿

Walnut pastries made with Korean rice dough and whole walnuts

🌾 Genuine walnut pastries made with 100% Korean rice and big whole walnuts! These were on a completely different level from the walnut pastries sold at ordinary highway rest stops. Since they are handmade rice walnut pastries made with 100% Korean rice dough, they sat so comfortably afterward without making my stomach feel heavy. They would be ideal for anyone who feels bloated after eating wheat, too!

Coffee and ice cream, too

☕ The perfect dessert time with coffee and refreshing ice cream! Buja Hodu does not sell only walnut pastries; it also offers Americano and latte made with top-quality coffee beans, along with cool ice cream and other drinks. One sweet, nutty walnut pastry followed by a sip of Americano makes such a perfect dessert pairing! 🍦☕

Oh, and if you join the receipt review event, you get two walnut pastries or one Americano on the house, so make sure to claim it when you visit! I love these little events.

Comparing red bean, matcha, and pea cream cheese

We were so curious about the flavors that we tried all three—red bean, pea cream cheese, and matcha—and every single one was mild and full of charm!

Oh! I also really wanted to try the almond praline flavor, which is limited to 50 a day, but sadly it was already sold out when we went 😭.. Being limited edition just makes me want to try it even more, you know?! Next time I come to Gyeongju, I’m going to get there right at opening and give it a go!

Low-sugar red bean paste

Then I took a bite right through the middle and… oh my goodness, there was a large whole walnut inside, not just tiny walnut pieces?! Every chew burst with nutty flavor, and I naturally thought, “Wow, this is a real, real walnut pastry!” The low-sugar filling was not simply overly sweet; it tasted mild and clean. It has the natural, restrained sweetness that older family members would really love.

Matcha paste

Its deep, subtle matcha aroma spreads so elegantly—it is a flavor that will hit the spot for anyone who loves clean-tasting desserts.

Pea cream cheese, my number-one favorite!

This was truly the flavor I enjoyed most!! The nutty, smooth richness of New Zealand cream cheese comes together with sweet pea paste… you really have to try this one ㅠㅠ It was completely my kind of flavor, and I have no idea how many I picked up and ate 🤍

Gyeongju souvenir sets packed for travel gifts

It was too delicious to keep to myself, so I ended up packing several Gyeongju souvenir gift sets for travel gifts. The box packaging itself is modern and upscale, making both the giver and recipient happy just looking at it!

I saw the banner and news in front of the shop and found that, just in time for the holiday, orders had opened for Chuseok gift sets with elegant bojagi (traditional wrapping cloth) wrapping for an extra ₩3,000! In-store purchases are available, of course, as are delivery and Smart Store orders, so I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an uncommon, thoughtful holiday gift this Chuseok.

If you are exploring Gyeongju’s Hwangridan-gil and looking for a delicious snack, or considering a thoughtful travel souvenir, make sure to stop by Buja Hodu! When I go back to Gyeongju, I plan to visit again for the pea cream cheese and almond praline flavors 💕