Gwangjang Market choco pie pickup reservation, opening rush: Ssuk's

Hi, this is the girl who loves choc pies! Honestly I really love sweets, but choco pies specifically were never really my thing. Then on a trip to Gwangju I happened to try Ssuk's Choco Pie, and when I heard I could get the same thing in Seoul, I ran over there on a weekday morning right away. (And it's a sponsored visit too, wow!) Here's my honest review — the taste was 100% identical to the original.

Where is the Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul store in Gwangjang Market

Walk into Gwangjang Market from Exit 7 of Jongno 5-ga Station and you'll immediately spot the bright green storefront.

People already lined up even before opening

The Ssuk mascot in the red outfit by the door was so cute I had to snap a photo before going in.

Opens at 11am — come a little early for pickup reservations

I planned to take it easy since it opens at 11, but since I had a pickup reservation I arrived around 10:40. There were already people waiting for the opening rush. A line for a single dessert item — that's how you know it's a real hit. (Is this even real...) Because I went in early for pickup, a bunch of other people thought it was opening time and followed me in. I felt so bad I kept apologizing to the owner, ugh.

The signature logo right at the entrance already gave off strong brand energy.

This bear warning poster was genuinely hilarious. The whole store leans into a green branding concept — it's this small, and yet it's this popular, which made me even more curious about the taste, haha, seriously.

The bear-shaped green mirror fit the store concept perfectly too.

Gift bags, wine, and mini figurines were all on display, so even as a dessert brand there was a lot to look at.

A shelf display packed tight with boxes!

Menu, prices, and the sticker service

I checked the menu board and price list carefully, and there's even a free sticker service, so it would make a great gift. Prices were reasonable too! I ordered the set so I could try everything I hadn't yet.

The work area in the back was partly hidden by a curtain — I came so early that the owner rushed to pack it inside.

The moment I took the green shopping bag in its clear plastic wrap, all I wanted was to run home and open it. I grabbed some milk and had a little party at home.

Ta-da! Opening the set box, six choco pies sat neatly arranged by color.

A little info card with all this extra detail actually made me trust the brand more.

Just looking at the box packed full already made me feel satisfied. The back of the brochure listed Ssuk's five promises, and I checked that they use healthy ingredients — no artificial colors, no preservatives!

With scones, cookies, and milk tea also on the menu, I wanted to try more next time. I can't believe there's this much I still haven't tried — I've been living wrong, haha.

Taste test (spoiler: everything's delicious)

No. 1: Sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi

The first one I tried was the sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi (mugwort rice cake) flavor, with a subtle mugwort aroma spreading alongside the nutty injeolmi note — perfect. This is seriously so good, ugh, my favorite by far.

No. 2: Nonsan strawberry

The second one I tried was Nonsan strawberry! Cutting it in half, the cream inside was seriously generous. There was jam tucked in moist and soft too, and it wasn't too sweet — just right.

A moist chocolate cake layer, cream, and jam — all three elements came together perfectly.

Why I put Nonsan strawberry in second place: the sweet-tart strawberry jam paired so well with the chocolate that it nearly took the top spot.

Would this make a good gift?

Made with good ingredients, it felt light on the body, and the packaging was classy enough to make a great gift. It was fully satisfying to eat alone, and I felt like whoever received it as a gift would love it too. If you love sweets like I do, you definitely won't regret this!