Heyri Village café for milk-ice patbingsu and injeolmi doughnuts

The weather was so good that I rushed out in the morning saying we absolutely had to go to Heyri Village in Paju. Luckily the roads weren't jammed, so we got there fast! With the sun blazing, I wanted something cold to drink and a sweet doughnut to cool down — that's why we came here.

Walking from Heyri Parking Lot No. 1 to Heuksadang with a kid

You can drive right up to the front, but since we came for a Heyri Village date, I parked at Parking Lot No. 1 (free) and walked over instead. My kid rode a kickboard. It's only about a 5-minute walk, so it's not far at all and easy to get to.

There are lots of good restaurants and things to see nearby, and it's a great place for a stroll.

• Address: 37-10 Heyrimaeul-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM (opens 10:00 AM Sat, Sun)
• There's a parking lot right in front~

The walking path leading right up to Heuksadang in Paju is well maintained, so we walked happily along — but it got so hot. I couldn't wait to drink something cold. (We left the kickboard parked out front.)

This is my second visit to Heuksadang. The first time I tried the doughnuts, they blew my mind — not overly sweet but with a savory, nutty depth to them.

1st floor or 2nd floor — where should you sit?

This Paju café spans two floors. There are quiet inner tables downstairs, and window seats for two upstairs that are great for a date. Whether you're with family or your partner, everyone will find a spot they like.

I sat at this inner 1st-floor table with the Heuksadang mascot painted above it. Since the restroom is on the 1st floor, I'd recommend it if you're with a kid and need to go back and forth easily.

The 2nd floor is split between window-view seats and quiet wall-side tables. Seeing people quietly working alone with their laptops in the back, I wanted to do that too... The window seats are definitely great for couples.

On weekends, Heyri gets a lot of group visitors, families included, so there are plenty of tables that work well for larger groups.

Menu and what we ordered

My kid wanted a sweet doughnut, but since the walk over was so hot, I automatically started craving cold patbingsu too. So we ordered both — patbingsu and an iced Americano. There are lots of shaved ice flavors, so it's easy to pick one that suits your taste.

You know doughnuts are a must when you come to Heuksadang in Paju, right? My kid picked the crème brûlée doughnut, and I chose the injeolmi one for myself. From chewy Dubai-style doughnuts to mugwort doughnuts, there's a variety that satisfies everyone, young and old.

Patbingsu made with milk ice

I'm so glad we ordered the patbingsu. It wasn't loaded with aggressive sweetness — instead I could really taste the nutty, genuine flavor of the red beans.

The ice isn't plain ice — it's shaved from frozen milk, so it's cold but rich with milky flavor, which is probably why my kid ate it up even more.

The red beans weren't just sweet like typical sweetened red bean paste — they had real bite to them, and with the nuts mixed in generously, the combination worked really well.

There's no ice cream on it, and it's way better without it. Honestly, even scooping up the milk ice on its own was delicious. The midday heat is still fierce, isn't it? Definitely enjoy what's left of shaved ice season while you can.

Crème brûlée doughnut and injeolmi doughnut

The crème brûlée my kid picked. If you're only going to try one thing, make it the signature.

The sugar shell on the outside gives it an amazing crunch. My kid said it was like eating dalgona (Korean sugar candy). The cream inside is soft too, and even the dough itself is so moist it practically melts in your mouth.

The injeolmi doughnut, for me. You'd think doughnuts are just for sweet-toothed kids? Not at Heuksadang in Paju. There's a nutty, red-bean-packed doughnut for grownups too.

If you love red beans, you have to try this one. I think I'll try the mugwort doughnut next time — if injeolmi tastes this good, mugwort must be wonderfully fragrant too.

Recharging on sugar with the sweet doughnuts alongside a cold iced Americano was such a great pairing. The coffee portion was huge (great value), so I switched to a takeout cup partway through and kept sipping it as we walked around.

Takeout is available, and gift wrapping is apparently popular too. How about a date in Heyri Village, Paju, this week? You know dessert before or after a meal is a must, right? I recommend Heuksadang.