Gyeongju café for matcha walnut pastries: Buja Hodu

While strolling through Gyeongju's leisurely hanok-lined streets, that wonderfully nutty aroma drifted right up to me. There were endless things to eat, but people just kept coming and going in front of Buja Hodu, tucked beneath a tiled roof.

Up close, I realized these were no ordinary snacks. The notice said the dough was made with rice flour instead of wheat flour, filled with lightly sweetened, low-sugar paste and a whole, generously sized walnut. I had been looking for something easy to nibble on during the trip, and I got excited as I stepped inside, convinced I had found a Hwangridan-gil dessert spot that balanced flavor and wellness.

Buja Hodu location, hours, and parking

Location: 105, Building B, 38 Poseok-ro 1095beon-gil, Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea Hours: Daily 09:30–20:00

There is no dedicated parking at the shop, so it is convenient to use a nearby public parking lot or Daereungwon Parking Lot, about a five-minute walk away.

A neat shop inside a hanok building

As you walk along the street, a striking two-story traditional hanok building really catches the eye. The shop on its first floor has old-world charm from the outside, while softly warm lights brighten both the interior and exterior, naturally drawing your gaze as you walk by.

Outdoor terrace seating with yellow and red parasols sits in front of the shop, and it looked perfect for travelers wanting to sit down and enjoy a little breather.

From the kitchen inside, I could watch the staff busily bake and pack the snacks with 100% rice-flour dough, which also made the place feel trustworthy on the hygiene front. The elegant Buja Hodu gift boxes were neatly arranged on display, giving the whole place the special atmosphere of a carefully made Hwangridan-gil dessert shop. They would be perfect as gifts or souvenirs too!!

The 24-piece red bean, matcha, and pea cream cheese mix

This time, I chose the 24-piece mixed set, which lets you enjoy all three flavors, for ₩27,000. It includes 12 original red bean pastries, 6 matcha pastries, and 6 pea cream cheese pastries.

Opening the pretty box reveals Buja Hodu walnut pastries, each carefully wrapped on its own in thin paper.

I bit into the red bean one first. It was crisp outside and moist inside, and the low-sugar red bean paste, sweet without being cloying, went so nicely with the crunchy bite of the big whole walnut.

The matcha one, cut in half, had an appealingly subtle, refined tea-leaf aroma,

while the pea cream cheese flavor paired chewy pea paste with savory cream cheese for the perfect sweet-and-salty balance. These two fusion flavors also felt very easy on the stomach after eating, thanks to their chewy rice-flour dough rather than wheat flour. The healthy low-sugar recipe and generous whole walnuts made it easy to understand why so many travelers praise this Hwangridan-gil dessert spot.

A travel snack with coffee at the accommodation

Back at the accommodation, I had Buja Hodu with a warm, pleasantly bitter cup of coffee, and it felt like the fatigue from walking all day simply melted away. Unlike typical street snacks that are just intensely sweet, the wholesome low-sugar sweetness and nutty big whole walnuts kept making me reach for another one.

They are honestly baked with chewy, easy-on-the-stomach rice-flour ingredients, so on my next trip to Gyeongju, I definitely plan to stop by Buja Hodu again and leave with both hands full of boxes. The mixed set lets you enjoy the different flavors without getting tired of them, and its packaging is so neat and upscale that I would strongly recommend it as a gift for people around you or a special souvenir to remember a Gyeongju trip by.

I recommend Buja Hodu as a truly great Hwangridan-gil dessert spot that delights both the eyes and the palate while looking after your well-being too!

Buja Hodu has not only many kinds of walnut pastries but also other desserts, including walnut ice cream and affogato, so be sure to stop in and try them when you visit Hwangridan-gil ^__^