Gyeongridan-gil pie shop, build-your-own 6-pie box: Gyeongju Tokyo Pie

You can't really visit Gyeongju without stopping by Hwangnidan-gil, right?

This time, while wandering around Gyeongju Gyeongridan-gil, I ran into a slightly special snack. It was Gyeongju Tokyo Pie. It felt a bit different from the pies I usually see, so I got curious, especially since I heard it's a snack you can only find in Gyeongju — that pulled me right in.

Gyeongju Tokyo Pie on Gyeongridan-gil: three flavors to pick from

Located on Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju, Gyeongju Tokyo Pie looked like an easy snack to grab, but also solid as a gift.

They sell pies individually, but there are also sets, which seemed great for buying a bunch while traveling and handing them out to people around you.

There were three flavors: chocolate, red bean, and apple. Sets came in 6-piece or 9-piece configurations, and it looked fun to mix and match flavors.

What stood out most was that Gyeongju Tokyo Pie follows a same-day baked, same-day sold rule, baking twice a day. On top of that, it's apparently only sold at this one spot in all of Korea, which made me want to try it at least once while in Gyeongju.

It felt like a shame to just walk past, so we packed some to take home.

What went in the 6-piece box: 4 apple, 1 chocolate, 1 red bean

At Gyeongju Tokyo Pie we went with the 6-piece set, choosing 4 apple, 1 chocolate, and 1 red bean.

Looking at the packaged box, it seemed great for enjoying one at a time, and also good to bring home to family or friends after a Gyeongju trip.

For anyone looking for a slightly different Hwangnidan-gil snack instead of the usual Gyeongju souvenirs, this seemed like a good fit.

How the apple pie tastes: crisp pastry, apple that keeps its texture

Gyeongju Tokyo Pie has a pastry shell on the outside, with chocolate, red bean, or apple filling inside depending on the flavor.

It was bigger than I expected, so even one felt fairly filling as a snack. The outer pastry was crisp with a nutty flavor, and it was fun how distinctly different the taste was depending on the filling.

The first one I tried was apple. Instead of using regular apple jam, they apparently use aged apple to keep the fruit's natural flavor. Maybe that's why I could taste the apple's natural tartness and a subtle sweetness. Most of all, the apple wasn't clumped together like jam — the texture of actual apple was still there, which surprised me a little. Eaten with the pastry, the crisp, nutty bread and the tangy apple went really well together, and it wasn't as sweet as I expected, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Are the chocolate and red bean pies worth adding?

Chocolate is chocolate — pastry and chocolate is a combination that's hard to get wrong.

With sweet chocolate inside crisp pastry, it seemed like it would pair well with coffee or tea too. The red bean flavor was better than expected as well — the sweetness of the red bean matched the nutty, crisp texture of the pastry better than I thought it would. Having tried all three flavors, each had its own charm, and I felt glad I'd picked the 6-piece set. Personally, the apple flavor stuck with me the most — the idea of an apple pie itself felt a little special, and I think that's what made it stand out.

A snack you can only buy in Gyeongju

Walking around Gyeongju Gyeongridan-gil, you run into all kinds of restaurants, cafés, and snacks.

Gyeongju Tokyo Pie felt a bit different from the desserts you usually run into, which made it a nice, simple thing to enjoy while traveling.

I especially liked that they bake and sell same-day, so you get freshly baked pies. Trying one flavor alone is fine, but if you want to sample a few, going for a set is a good option too. Above all, knowing it's a snack you can only get in Gyeongju added a bit of extra specialness to the trip.

If you're wandering Gyeongju Gyeongridan-gil and looking for a different kind of Hwangnidan-gil snack, stop by Gyeongju Tokyo Pie. Pick from chocolate, red bean, and apple based on your taste, and it's fun to try one at a time as you travel. If you're in Gyeongju and want something a bit more special than the usual snack, this place is worth a visit.