Hwangnidan-gil walnut pastry shop with big walnut chunks: Buja Hodu

I picked up walnut pastries from Buja Hodu, a dessert spot near Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)// Wandering around Hwangnidan-gil, there's so much good food and so many nice gifts to grab! On this Gyeongju trip I found a place too good to just walk past — Buja Hodu :)

I already love walnut pastries, and honestly this place surprised me. It's one of the best walnut pastries I've ever had, so let me properly introduce it today (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Where Buja Hodu is and when it opens

Buja Hodu sells walnut pastries near Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. The address is 38 Poseok-ro 1095beon-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, South Korea, and it's open daily from 09:30 to 20:00.

If you're heading over to pick up some walnut pastries, it's worth checking the hours before you go :) I'd recommend confirming break times or any closures with the shop when you visit!

It's a great fit whether you're looking for a quick snack while exploring Hwangnidan-gil or a souvenir to bring home from your Gyeongju trip.

An easy takeout stop near Hwangnidan-gil

We came wanting walnut pastries, but rather than eating in the shop, we got the 24-piece mix to take home. It's great to bring home or share with family, so I liked the setup a lot.

What struck me was just how many people were getting takeout boxes. Clearly a lot of people pick this up as a Gyeongju souvenir (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)

The 24-piece mix for 27,000 won: which flavors we chose

What I brought home was the 24-piece mix for ₩27,000. It comes as 6 red bean, 6 pea cream cheese, 6 matcha, and 6 of a flavor of your choice.

When I visited I chose red bean, pea cream cheese, and matcha. Being able to try several flavors at once made me glad I went with the mix.

Made with 100% Korean-grown rice dough

Buja Hodu says it uses 100% domestic Korean rice dough. The dough's texture really affects the whole flavor of a walnut pastry, so this caught my attention. Eating it, the dough wasn't too heavy and blended well with the fillings, giving good overall balance.

How the Buja Hodu box looks

And here's the part I loved! The packaging♡ It's neat, careful, and pretty, so it's not just a snack purchase — it could easily pass as a proper Gyeongju souvenir gift set (๑>◡<๑)/

Why it works as a gift

On a Gyeongju trip you inevitably wonder what to bring back for family or friends. Something too heavy feels like a burden, and things that need special storage are awkward too, but walnut pastries make a great snack and the packaging is clean enough to gift. I thought it'd be especially good for a parents' gift or a kids' snack.

What the walnut pastries look like

Opening the box, the walnut pastries sat neatly lined up, each one looking delicious♡ The outside was golden brown, and inside was red bean, cream cheese, or matcha, so it was fun picking which one to eat by flavor.

A Gyeongju souvenir worth carrying home

If you're looking for a Gyeongju souvenir to give family or friends before heading home, walnut pastries are pretty solid. Buja Hodu's packaging especially is so clean that it felt more like a prepared gift than just a snack tossed in a bag.

A safe gift for parents

When picking a gift for parents, something practical they'll actually enjoy eating is often better than something flashy. With the nutty walnut and red bean combo, this would make a nice parents' gift. If you're on a Gyeongju trip and still deciding what to get your parents, this is worth considering (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)

Also an easy snack for kids

Since we're often out with our daughter, whether something works as a kid-friendly snack is naturally on my mind. Walnut pastries are bite-sized and easy to eat, and with several flavors to choose from, they worked well as a family snack. If you're traveling in Gyeongju with kids, this is worth packing along♡

How well the packaging held up

Packing it myself, I found it was carefully wrapped and looked clean, so it was easy to carry around. For anyone like me planning to bring it home and share with family, it's a solid choice.

Buja Hodu ordering tips

My tip: if you're curious about the different flavors, order the mix! Trying pea cream cheese and matcha alongside plain red bean made it way more fun than just red bean alone.

And if you're planning to gift it, the packaging is neat enough, so just decide on the quantity you need ahead of time and order accordingly.

The walnuts: the part that matters most

And here's the really important point!! The walnuts inside these pastries are genuinely big. With a lot of walnut pastries, the walnut pieces are so small you barely notice them while eating, but at Buja Hodu, the walnut had real presence with every bite.

Big walnut chunks you can actually bite into

Bite in and the soft dough gives way to a satisfying crunch of nutty walnut. This texture was genuinely great. Nutty, not too sweet, and the walnut flavor builds the more you chew — this is exactly why walnuts matter so much in walnut pastries (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Tasting the red bean flavor first

First I tried the classic red bean. Sweet with the added nuttiness of walnut, it was familiar yet delicious. This is the kind of flavor that would pair perfectly with a cup of coffee!

The pea cream cheese flavor

Next up, pea cream cheese. This combo is a bit unusual, but it worked way better than expected. The nuttiness of pea and the softness of cream cheese together had a different charm from the red bean. If you like trying new flavors, definitely give this one a shot♡

How the matcha flavor tastes

And matcha! The subtle bitterness of matcha paired really well with the sweetness of the walnut pastry. Even if you're not into overly sweet desserts, matcha is an easy one to enjoy. All three flavors had their own personality, so it was fun picking among them (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)//

The best walnut pastry I've had

My honest overall verdict: best walnut pastry of my life! The walnuts were big enough to give a real crunch, the dough wasn't heavy and blended well with the fillings, and best of all, I got to enjoy several flavors at once.

Looking for dessert in Gyeongju?

If you're on Hwangnidan-gil looking for a light snack, or a simple dessert after a meal, Buja Hodu is a solid option. Since it's walnut pastry, it appeals to kids and adults alike, making it a good stop during a family trip.

Buja Hodu: the verdict

• Near Hwangnidan-gil, Gyeongju
• 100% domestic Korean rice dough
• Big walnuts inside
• Various flavors: red bean, pea cream cheese, matcha, and more
• Available packed on the spot or in gift boxes
• Clean, pretty packaging
• Great as a Gyeongju souvenir
• Works well as a gift set
• Good paired with coffee
• Recommended as a family snack

Buja Hodu was a great find on this Gyeongju trip♡ Honestly, I figured all walnut pastries were pretty much the same, but trying this one changed my mind. The big walnuts really bring out the nuttiness and texture the moment you bite in — the red bean is a solid classic, the pea cream cheese is soft and nutty, and the matcha has a gentle bitterness, so all three flavors were satisfying (๑>◡<๑)/

Best of all, the packaging is pretty and careful, so this place suits not just people hunting for good food on Hwangnidan-gil, but also anyone looking for a souvenir, gift set, or memento to take home from Gyeongju. I genuinely felt this was my favorite walnut pastry ever♡ If you're looking for a good dessert in Gyeongju or a snack to share with family, give Buja Hodu a try (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)//