Gwangjang Market bakery snack for Gyeongbokgung night opening: Ssuk's

One more thing to eat at Gwangjang Market: Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is a bakery at Gwangjang Market that makes desserts with mugwort and Korean local specialties. I hadn't been to Gwangjang Market in a while. Usually I make sure to eat tteokbokki, kkwabaegi (twisted doughnuts), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and hotteok (sweet pancake) at least

But this time I added one more! Ssuk's Choco Pie starts from mugwort desserts and branches out into creative desserts using all kinds of Korean local specialties — tasty and fun at the same time. They have choco pies leading the lineup, plus cookies, cheesecake and scones.

The name 'Ssuk's' might sound shy (숙스럽다 in Korean), but that's not it — it's a naturalist dessert spot made with natural specialties like mugwort, the very plant that appears in Korea's founding myth! True to being a naturalist dessert place, it's free of artificial coloring, preservatives, emulsifiers, shortening and margarine — recommended if you're after a healthier snack.

Here's my review of the 6-piece set from Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul, a Gwangjang Market snack worth trying.

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul: hours, address and the basics

• Address: 25 Jongno 32-gil, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: weekdays 11:00–18:30 / weekends 10:00–19:00
• Takeout and reservations available
• Pet-friendly
• Waiting area available

Which flavors go into the 6-piece set?

The 6-piece Ssuk's Choco Pie set lets you choose any six flavors you like. There were so many varieties — just among the choco pies: Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort, mugwort red bean, mugwort injeolmi, Jeju Udo peanut, Nonsan strawberry, Gwangju real chocolate, and more!!

Since you can pick any six flavors for the set, it's a great option if you're planning to buy a lot. Also, apparently you can mix in Ssuk's scones and Ssuk's cookies along with the choco pies, not just choco pies alone.

I carefully picked one of every flavor haha. The wrapping was clean. 'Ssuk's' sometimes reads like 'Ssok's' and has a slightly soap-like vibe

It might help to check this info booklet before choosing your flavors? If I go again, I'm curious to try the Korean soybean tofu scone and the sweet pumpkin cookie haha. My taste buds are getting old, but let's not call it that lol

Is the Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort choco pie bitter?

The Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort pie had almost no bitterness. You'd normally think mugwort means that bitter, grassy taste...? But this pie barely had any of that haha. It was more like a matcha vibe? A very subtle bitterness paired nicely with the sweet fresh cream, giving it a pretty refined flavor.

Udo peanut vs mugwort injeolmi vs Nonsan strawberry

The Udo peanut and mugwort injeolmi (rice cake with soybean powder) had a similarly nutty base, but the peanut-ness in one and the bittersweet nuttiness in the other made each one special in its own way. I did my military training in Nonsan, so Nonsan strawberry? I can't resist that either lol. Fun fact for anyone who hasn't served — Nonsan's army training center actually grows strawberries.

Among choco pies that were mostly calm, subdued flavors overall, the Nonsan strawberry stood out even more for being so refreshing, and it's the flavor I remember most vividly. If you're getting the 6-piece set, I'd definitely recommend including one or two of these.

How the choco pies held up on the walk to Gyeongbokgung's night opening

They pack the box with plenty of room to spare, so I took my choco pies and comfortably enjoyed Gyeongbokgung Palace's night opening event before bringing them home! For reference, they keep refrigerated for 8 days. Gyeongbokgung is popular again these days, so while you're at it, stop by Gwangjang Market — which has plenty of food options — and try Ssuk's Choco Pie.

Where Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is and what the shop looks like

The fastest way to reach Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is through Exit 7 of Jongno 5-ga Station, and the exact location is right at the Cheonggyecheon-side entrance of the Majeon Bridge Underground Shopping Center!

The interior is a full-on turquoise-green. Everything is laid out nicely, which made choosing much easier. You can buy just one at a time to eat while walking around, or grab a 3-piece or 6-piece set at ₩1,700 to ₩4,000 off and take it home to enjoy!

The packaging is subtly simple but doesn't feel cheap — it has a quietly upscale touch, which makes it good for gifting too. Especially recommended as a healthy snack for kids or elderly family members!

Is Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul worth a stop?

That's my review of Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul — a Gwangjang Market spot great for walking-around snacks, and also a good pick for gifts or stocking up at home. In my 26 years of life, the most premium choco pie for me used to be Moncher lol, but from now on it's clearly Ssuk's Choco Pie!!