Naebang pie shop: Han River walk dessert for two, Hodukkakki Brothers

Why Hodukkakki Brothers near Naebang Station after a Han River walk?

I stopped by Hodukkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) in Bangbae because I had a chance to repay my partner for a lovely gift. My partner suggested having dinner together at their place, which they'd been living in on their own for a while. So we took a short walk along the Han River first and then headed home.

It was the weekend, so the Han River was pretty crowded. We mixed in with the crowd, spread out a picnic mat, lay by the riverside, and then decided to head home. Out of nowhere my partner asked, "Shall we pick up a dessert to take home?" and walnut pie popped right into my head.

When you remember something delicious, you naturally want to share it with your partner, right? We hopped on a bus straight to the Naebang Station area. Hodukkakki Brothers is a well-known walnut pie spot in Gangnam.

I don't think I've seen any other dessert shop that specializes only in walnut pie, apart from Hodukkakki Brothers. True to its reputation, there was a steady stream of customers.

What is the Hodukkakki Brothers Naebang branch like?

The Naebang branch of Hodukkakki Brothers is the second shop, run directly by headquarters, where you can try handmade pies made without refined sugar and a variety of drinks, or so I'm told.

Distance from Naebang Station and the interior

The shop is near Naebang Station, less than 10 minutes on foot. Inside, a few small tables let you sit down and have coffee with your pie. Every pie is made by hand, so you can feel the care that goes into them, and you get a high-quality pie made with good ingredients and plenty of time.

What did we take away from Hodukkakki Brothers?

At the Naebang branch we ordered walnut pie and pecan pie to go, to share as a couple. Drop the idea that walnut pie means just one kind. The lineup is surprisingly varied. So most first-time visitors lose track of time hovering in front of the menu, trying to decide. My partner, who was visiting for the first time, was no exception.

Walnut, pecan, hazelnut cacao and pumpkin pie: what's the difference?

• Signature walnut pie: the flagship handmade pie, with plenty of rich, nutty walnuts in a thin, crisp crust
• Original pecan pie: a handmade pie packed with healthy ingredients and fresh pecans, with a nuttiness different from walnut
• Hazelnut cacao pie: nutty hazelnut meets deep cacao for a rich, full flavor
• Pumpkin pie: the soft, not-sweet natural taste of kabocha squash (Korean sweet pumpkin) paired with cream cheese. It has no walnuts, so it's said to be more about a soft texture than chewiness

My partner said they like kabocha too, so we ordered the pumpkin pie as well.

I figured the pumpkin pie would have a charm different from the walnut pies. The pumpkin and cream cheese combo felt unfamiliar at first, but once I tried it, it went together quite well.

Does walnut pie taste better cold?

Hodukkakki Brothers walnut pie tastes better chilled in the fridge than warm. Since we'd be eating later, I kept it cool in the fridge, then took out the dessert after a nice dinner with my partner. Even cold, you get the special moistness of the walnut topping.

Seeing each walnut studded into the pie, I thought, they really put care into the ingredients. My partner was busy taking photos of the appetizing look.

Is it too sweet?

No need to worry that Hodukkakki Brothers pies will be overly sweet. They do a pretty good job of bringing out the charm of a walnut pie that's plain and delicious without being sweet.

Quick summary

• The Naebang branch of Hodukkakki Brothers is a headquarters-run shop specializing in handmade pies made without refined sugar, with a varied lineup including signature walnut pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and hazelnut cacao pie.
• It's under 10 minutes on foot from Naebang Station, so it fits well into a route for picking up dessert after a Han River walk, and the walnut pie stays moist even cold, so it's even better after refrigerating.
• Thanks to its plain, not-too-sweet flavor, it's a signature dessert spot in Bangbae where couples who love desserts and gift buyers keep lining up.