Yangjae pie shop, nut pies with hand-drip coffee: Hodu Kkakki Brothers

Why I picked up walnut pie from Hodu Kkakki Brothers in Yangjae

The handmade walnut pie from Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) in Yangjae was my pick as a weekend-morning snack to go with my partner's hand-drip coffee. My partner has recently picked up a hobby of brewing hand-drip coffee at home.

I figured it would just be buying a few beans and brewing them, but watching them get the water temperature right, take out the dripper and preheat the cup every weekend morning, I realized they're pretty serious about it.

With the smell of coffee filling the house, I naturally started thinking about something to eat with it. So I decided to get the handmade walnut pie from Hodu Kkakki Brothers, a Yangjae favorite I'd wanted to try for a while.

I happened to have errands near Yangjae Station, so I stopped by on the way, and my partner was totally thrilled, so I brought it home as a snack for our weekend-morning coffee time.

Hodu Kkakki Brothers location and opening hours

Hodu Kkakki Brothers is at 10 Nambusunhwan-ro 351-gil, Unit 101, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Dogok-dong 954-10). Hours were listed as 11:00–21:00 on weekdays, 11:00–20:00 on Saturdays and 11:00–19:00 on Sundays.

How to get to Hodu Kkakki Brothers from Yangjae Station

Come out of Yangjae Station Exit 4 and turn into the first alley on the left. Past the restaurant Gopchang Wang Kim Brothers, you'll see a ground-floor shop on the right with "walnut pie" written on it.

Even on my first visit the route through the alleys wasn't hard, so I found it quickly. There are surprisingly many restaurants in every alley around Yangjae Station, so I looked around a bit at first, but it's close to the exit and I didn't wander long.

Inside Hodu Kkakki Brothers: the shop and its gift wrapping

Hodu Kkakki Brothers is the kind of shop where you pick out handmade pies and take them away.

Inside, the ordering area is right there and the displayed pies catch your eye. It looked small and warm from outside, and inside it's a space where the desserts are the star.

Choosing pies is half the fun here. Standing in front of the showcase, deciding which combination to take home was a really enjoyable bit of time.

I also thought it would work well as a gift because the packaging was neat. It looked tidy without being over the top, so I thought it would suit a family gift, an office snack or a dessert for older relatives. Walnut pie feels rich and nutty, so I think it would feel nice to receive as a gift too.

Can you order Hodu Kkakki Brothers pies by courier?

It said you can order online for courier delivery through Naver Smart Store. The shop also had drinks ready. For people who live far away or find it awkward to get to Yangjae, the Smart Store seemed like a good option.

I heard Hodu Kkakki Brothers was also featured on SBS's Live Today (episode 3180) for its sugar-free walnut pie. I figured there's a reason it has regulars.

Premium Assorted Pie Whole: price and what's inside

What I ordered was the Premium Assorted Pie Whole from Hodu Kkakki Brothers, which cost ₩34,900. It comes in four varieties.

• Signature walnut pie
• Original pecan pie
• Hazelnut cacao pie
• Macadamia cheese pie

With four varieties in one box, it looked perfect for first-time visitors to sample. Just seeing the nuts piled on top, I could already imagine the nutty aroma.

How did the four Hodu Kkakki Brothers pies taste with hand-drip coffee?

I tried the assorted pies right after getting home, with hand-drip coffee, and they went so well together! My partner brewed the coffee and I put the pies on a plate, and suddenly our home felt like a café, haha.

Signature walnut pie

The signature walnut pie, as a classic should, had a strong nutty flavor. Plenty of walnuts sat on top and it got more fragrant the more I chewed, and it wasn't too sweet, so it felt light enough to eat in the morning.

Original pecan pie

The original pecan pie had a slightly deeper nuttiness than the walnut pie. You get the crisp crust and the moist filling together, so after one bite I immediately wanted a sip of coffee.

Hazelnut cacao pie

The hazelnut cacao pie felt the most like a dessert of the four. The cacao makes it a little heavy, but I liked that it wasn't just sugary.

Macadamia cheese pie

The macadamia cheese pie was on the soft side. The nutty taste of the cheese rises subtly and goes well with the macadamia. Personally, I liked it with coffee, but I thought it would be good with hot tea too.

Overall, the sweetness wasn't harsh like a dessert loaded with refined sugar, and the nutty flavor really came through. I first stopped by thinking it would make a good gift, but after actually eating it at home, it turned out to be great as a weekend-morning snack too.

How to store Hodu Kkakki Brothers pies: are they better cold?

The shop says the pies taste better refrigerated and eaten cold. I tried some right away and put the rest in the fridge to eat the next day, and I preferred them cold.

The crust didn't get soggy or fall apart, the filling felt more stable when cold, and the nut flavor was clearer. It said freezing is also possible, so if you plan to keep them a long time, splitting them into the freezer seems fine.

Who Hodu Kkakki Brothers in Yangjae is best for

Hodu Kkakki Brothers in Yangjae suits anyone looking for a handmade walnut pie to eat with coffee. If you have a reason to be near Yangjae Station, it's a dessert that's easy to pick up on the way.

Next time I'd like to get one as a gift for my parents. With the neat packaging and a taste that isn't overly sweet, I think it would suit older relatives as a snack.