Saha, Busan rice cake shop with milk and medium injeolmi trio: Hohobak

Today I'm sharing my review of Hohobak, a rice cake shop in Hadan, Busan.

• Address: 6 Nakdongnam-ro 1389beon-gil, 1st floor, Hohobak, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: Monday–Saturday 08:00–16:00 (closed every Sunday)
• Amenities: waiting area, takeout, walk-in/catering, reservations, Wi-Fi, delivery, group use, pet-friendly

These days rice cakes aren't just the traditional style anymore — there are a lot of creative combinations coming out, like kasutera sponge cake mixed with injeolmi.

Every morning, Hohobak's team personally visits the produce market to hand-select the freshest, most trustworthy ingredients, and only healthy, fresh ingredients are used to make rice cakes by hand in-store. We make no compromises when it comes to capturing the natural flavor and wholesomeness of our ingredients, and every carefully chosen ingredient is lovingly hand-shaped into rice cake on the premises. Hohobak's rice cakes are made with the hope that they'll be more than just a snack — a special meal where good ingredients meet honest craftsmanship. We always put health and trust first, and we bring our customers handmade rice cakes made with genuine quality and care.

Even the name Hohobak (호호박) is cute, and I'd heard the kasutera injeolmi here was especially famous, so I was curious. This time I picked up several kinds to take home, and they were the kind of not-too-strong flavor that anyone — kids to adults — could enjoy without hesitation, which made me think they'd work well as a family snack or even a gift.

What is Hohobak in Hadan, Busan like inside, and how do you order?

Hohobak is a rice cake shop in Hadan, Saha-gu, Busan, and it's more of a place to pick up rice cakes to go than to sit and eat in-store, which made it convenient to stop by while running errands nearby! The staff greeted me kindly, so even as a first-time visitor it felt comfortable, and best of all, there were so many kinds of rice cake that I found myself pausing for a moment, wondering what to choose haha.

Four medium-size picks at Hohobak, a Busan 'good price' rice cake shop

Hohobak is registered as a Busan 'good price' certified shop, so the prices for its signature menu items are quite reasonable. When I visited, I bought several kinds at once, and it felt like something you could easily share with family or just enjoy as a snack without much burden on your wallet. In particular, buying several kinds in medium size was nice because you get to experience a variety of flavors rather than just sticking to one.

This time I wanted to compare a few different flavors, so I picked a bit of a variety. I ended up buying four items total: (M) rice kasutera pumpkin injeolmi, (M) Busan's first! mugwort kasutera mugwort injeolmi, (M) black sesame kasutera injeolmi, and the premium handmade Hohobak milk (250ml). Trying the mugwort and black sesame alongside Hohobak's signature pumpkin injeolmi was a nice way to compare how the flavors and aromas differ.

Rice kasutera pumpkin injeolmi at Hohobak: how does it taste?

First up was the signature menu item, the rice kasutera pumpkin injeolmi — the fluffy, soft texture of the kasutera sponge combined with the chewy texture of injeolmi worked better together than I expected. The pumpkin flavor wasn't overly strong either, just a subtle sweetness, so it wasn't too much. Personally, with rice cakes like this, if they're too sweet, it's hard to eat more than a couple, but Hohobak's overall sweetness wasn't excessive, which I liked.

Mugwort kasutera mugwort injeolmi at Hohobak

Second was the mugwort kasutera mugwort injeolmi — the distinctive fragrant flavor of mugwort came through subtly, blended with the soft flavor of the kasutera. If you like mugwort rice cakes, it might be nice to compare this one with the pumpkin injeolmi! Personally, if the pumpkin injeolmi felt a bit sweeter and softer, the mugwort injeolmi felt a bit more plain and fragrant.

Black sesame kasutera injeolmi at Hohobak

And the one I was curious about, the black sesame kasutera injeolmi, had that distinctive nutty flavor of black sesame, giving it a different feel from the pumpkin and mugwort injeolmi I'd tried before. I think it would suit anyone who likes nutty flavors overall, and it went well with coffee or milk too.

Premium handmade Hohobak milk, 250ml

It felt like something was missing if I only ate rice cake, so I also tried the premium handmade Hohobak milk (250ml) I'd bought along with it. It paired better with the rice cake than I expected and was nice to enjoy simply as a snack. Since the rice cakes themselves are soft and chewy, having milk alongside made them go down even more easily.

Waiting and reservations: what to know before visiting Hohobak

Since Hohobak is a popular spot, there can apparently be a wait depending on when you visit! If there's a specific menu item you want, it might be a good idea to visit with a bit of extra time or check ahead. I also saw online reviews mentioning reserving ahead and picking up later, so if you're buying in bulk or preparing a gift, reserving in advance seems like a good option. (I also went after reserving ahead of time!)

Verdict after tasting three Hohobak injeolmi flavours

This time I tried three kinds of injeolmi — pumpkin, mugwort, and black sesame — and overall I enjoyed all of them. What I liked most was that they didn't feel like flavors only a certain age group would enjoy. The rice cakes themselves weren't overly strong or sweet, and the softness of the kasutera combined with the chewiness of the injeolmi made me think this is a flavor that anyone, from kids to adults, could comfortably enjoy. And since they're easy to take home, they'd also be good to share with family or give as a light gift.

Considering the price too, this was an overall solid value spot, and I was satisfied. If you're near Hadan in Busan and looking for something a bit different from the usual desserts, I think it's worth trying Hohobak's kasutera injeolmi :)