Gwangju hanok café for dried persimmon skeptics: Hoyang Horim

What is Hoyang Horim, the hanok café in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju?

Hoyang Horim (호양호림) is a hanok-style café in an alley of Yangnim-dong, Gwangju, and I loved everything about it: the atmosphere, the desserts and the drinks. There are so many pretty cafés in Yangnim-dong these days that I couldn't decide where to go, so this time I picked Hoyang Horim, which is known for its lovely hanok (traditional Korean house) feel.

I like going on café tours, but I haven't been to hanok-concept cafés very often, so I was extra excited. Everything from the mood to the desserts and drinks was so good that I want to come back with my parents next time.

Walking through the Yangnim-dong alleys, I could spot that hanok atmosphere from far away. Wood and roof tiles blend together right from the entrance, so it felt like I'd arrived somewhere on a trip. It's amazing that a space like this exists in the middle of the city. Lots of people were taking photos, and I could see right away why it's so popular.

What are the interior and seating like at Hoyang Horim?

The interior of Hoyang Horim has warm wood tones mixing traditional hanok beauty with a modern feel, and there are more seats than you'd expect. The moment I opened the door, the mood from outside carried straight on inside. Cute little props were arranged so nicely, and with the traditional and modern feels blending so well, it seemed like a photo would turn out pretty wherever you looked.

Best of all, there were really a lot of seats. When a café is too cramped, it's hard to sit for long, but Hoyang Horim has plenty of room, so it looked good for coming with friends or for relaxing alone with a coffee. The tables are spaced sensibly too, so you aren't squeezed up against other guests and can spend your time comfortably.

What to order at Hoyang Horim

You order by kiosk at Hoyang Horim, and this day I chose an injeolmi waffle (with roasted soybean-flour rice cake), a gotgam sando (dried persimmon sandwich), a black sesame latte and a vanilla latte. Everything on the menu looked delicious, so I agonized for ages. Being a hanok café, it has lots of items you can't easily find at regular franchises, which made me even more excited.

How do Hoyang Horim's black sesame latte and vanilla latte taste?

The black sesame latte at Hoyang Horim wasn't too sweet and had a deep nutty black sesame flavor, while the vanilla latte was sweet and smooth. The drinks came out first and they looked so pretty. The cream on top of the black sesame latte looked really tempting, and the vanilla latte was so neatly plated that I took photos before anything else.

With the first sip of the black sesame latte, a nutty richness filled my mouth. It wasn't too sweet and the signature black sesame flavor came through strongly, which went really well with the desserts. If you usually like black sesame, I think you'll be happy with it.

The vanilla latte was sweet and smooth too, an easy drink anyone can enjoy. The coffee aroma was just right, so it paired perfectly with the desserts.

Is Hoyang Horim's gotgam sando good if you don't like dried persimmon?

The gotgam sando at Hoyang Horim is a dessert with cream and fig tucked inside a dried persimmon, and even I, who almost never eat dried persimmon, changed my mind in one bite. This was the one I was most looking forward to. Honestly, I hardly ever eat dried persimmon. I tried it a few times as a kid and never really reached for it again, so I ordered with low expectations, and my opinion completely flipped.

The moment I took a bite, "Wow, this is really delicious" just came out of my mouth.

There's cream inside the persimmon, and a fig inside that, and this combination was sooooo good. The natural sweetness of the persimmon, the texture of the fig and the soft cream go together so well that I kept reaching for more. It wasn't heavy at all and felt like eating a high-end dessert.

Even I enjoyed it, so people who already like dried persimmon will surely be happy with it. If you visit with parents or older family members, it's the first item I'd recommend. I even thought it would make a good gift.

Hoyang Horim's injeolmi waffle is big enough for two

The injeolmi waffle at Hoyang Horim is a crispy-outside, soft-inside waffle piled with injeolmi powder, and the portion is generous enough for two to share. I was really satisfied with it too. The nutty flavor was great, and the more I chewed, the more I tasted the roasted soybean flour, with a sweetness on top, making it a perfect combination with the black sesame latte.

Which dessert to order at a Yangnim-dong hanok café

If you're looking for a café dessert in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju, I really hope you'll try the gotgam sando at Hoyang Horim. It was far tastier than I expected and the most memorable item.