Yangjae pie shop takeout for housewarming gifts: Hodu Kkakki Brothers

I visited Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제), a famous dessert spot near Yangjae Station. It's a handmade walnut pie shop that uses organic flour and Korean rice flour and healthy ingredients instead of refined sugar, so it's popular for kids' snacks, premium gifts, housewarming gifts and thank-you presents.

I fell for the place after a recent visit to the Bangbae branch, so this is my review of coming back to buy a gift.

Where is Hodu Kkakki Brothers' Yangjae branch, and what about hours and parking?

The Yangjae branch is at 10 Nambusunhwan-ro 351-gil, Unit 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a 4-minute walk from Exit 4 of Yangjae Station. It's open 11:00–21:00 on weekdays (break time 14:30–15:30), 11:00–20:00 on Saturday and 11:00–19:00 on Sunday. There's no parking, but takeout customers can stop for 5 minutes at the junction in front of the shop.

It's easy to reach on foot, so it's a nice quick stop when you're around Yangjae Station. Since it's a takeout-only shop, I think takeout customers can just pull over near the shop for a moment and pop in.

What pies does Hodu Kkakki Brothers have?

The main item is walnut pie, and there are also hazelnut cacao pie, macadamia cheese pie, milk cream walnut pie, matcha cream walnut pie and more. For drinks, they sell Americano, café latte and vanilla latte.

The nuts are walnut, pecan, hazelnut and macadamia, and beyond nuts there are cheese, cacao and kabocha (sweet pumpkin) pies, so this Yangjae bakery lets you pick whatever suits your taste.

They sell single slices, but some items come in discounted sets, so you can stock up. Sets are packed prettily in a whole-cake shape, which I'd recommend for dessert gifts and thank-you presents. You can also build a mix box with the flavors you want, so you can enjoy lots of kinds at once, which is great.

Can you eat in at Hodu Kkakki Brothers?

The Yangjae branch is a takeout-only shop with no seating, so eating in isn't possible. Courier delivery is available instead, so if you live far away, you can have it sent to you easily!

I'd heard it's known as a Yangjae Station dessert spot that kids love, and the packing boxes piled up inside really show how popular it is.

It has a pest control certification (위해생물방제 인정), which makes this handmade walnut pie shop even easier to trust.

California walnuts are piled up all over the shop.

Packing took less than 1–2 minutes! It came out in a pretty box.

Is the ₩34,900 premium assorted whole pie set good for gifts?

This time I ordered the premium assorted whole pie set at ₩34,900. It's a walnut pie set I'd recommend for thank-you gifts and housewarmings, and they also include an info sheet about Hodu Kkakki Brothers and walnut pie.

• Premium assorted pie (whole): ₩34,900

Each slice is neatly packed and looks great for sharing, so it's a perfect thing to bring to a girls' party, a pig-out party or an "adult-disease party" (as in, all the bad-for-you snacks) and chat while you eat. Being nuts, it pairs perfectly with whiskey, so I think it'd be nice to pack it up and have a glass of whiskey by the Han River! And since it's a sugar-free walnut pie made with organic flour, I thought it suits anyone looking for a healthy dessert or snack, or a snack for kids.

How long can you keep Hodu Kkakki Brothers' pies?

Regular pies keep for 7 days in the fridge or 30 days in the freezer, while cream pies should be eaten within 3 days, as soon as possible. Since the desserts contain no chemical additives or preservatives, I guess they recommend eating them quickly.

They use only honey, oligosaccharide syrup and maple syrup instead of sugar, and they say the fillings inside the pies, like cream filling, milk cream, chocolate syrup and strawberry jam, are all made in-house without sugar... so somehow I never got sick of it and could eat it cleanly.

I also love that they make the pie dough by hand with organic flour, rice flour and almond flour, and that the butter and fresh cream are both high-quality.

This is Hodu Kkakki Brothers' signature set! I brought home the premium walnut pie (whole) on the left, but the set with cream pies looks tasty too. I hear seasonal items come out now and then, so next time I should bring home the cream and Dubai pies.

How do Hodu Kkakki Brothers' pies taste?

Signature walnut pie

The signature walnut pie has walnuts not just on top but packed into the filling too, so even one piece is filling. A faint cinnamon aroma rises from it, and it goes well with a hot Americano.

Original pecan pie

The original pecan pie is a premium pie loaded with pecans. Pecans are less greasy than walnuts but have a rich fatty flavor, so I think they taste even better than walnuts. The thin pie crust goes well with the soft pecans, and it's nice chilled with milk.

Hazelnut cacao pie

The hazelnut cacao pie hits you with strong chocolate and sweetness on the first bite, but then only the nutty flavor remains, so the sweetness doesn't linger and you can keep eating without getting tired of it. You know how you crave something sweet when you're tired and drained? I recommend it as a healthy snack for yourself at those moments.

Macadamia cheese pie

The macadamia cheese pie is like a rich cheesecake with a faint funky cheese aroma, and it goes so well with the luxurious macadamia nuts. It's a very soft, rich, high-end cheesecake taste, so if you love cheesecake, I recommend trying it as a mail-order dessert!

Who would I recommend Hodu Kkakki Brothers to?

I recommend Hodu Kkakki Brothers to anyone looking for a premium dessert gift, or a healthy snack for kids and adults. Every pie is handmade and full of organic ingredients, so I'd also recommend it as a snack gift for daycare centers and kindergartens.