Gyeongju café cream cheese walnut pastries, hot or cold: Buja Hodu

Walnut pastries discovered on Hwangridan-gil

For some reason, I never get full when I travel to Gyeongju haha. We had a meal and even went to a café, but walking around Hwangridan-gil always makes me want something else. This time, while looking for dessert, I went into Buja Hodu—and something stayed with me before I had even eaten. The owner was seriously so kind. But once I got home, the walnut pastries stayed in my mind just as much as the owner did haha.

The shop was small and cozy. More than the atmosphere, though, the first thing I felt when I walked in was the warmth of the people.

While I waited for my order, the owner gave me a walnut pastry to try and even a cup of coffee to drink while I waited. Aww... I don't think I've ever been this touched before haha.

It wasn't just that I received something—it was the warmth in the way I was treated. I was already in a good mood before I even ate the pastries haha.

The 24-piece mix and sold-out matcha

This time I ordered the 24-piece mix. I wanted to try several flavors, but of all days, the matcha was sold outㅠㅠ

So I brought home cream cheese and red bean. I was sad to miss the matcha, but... come to think of it, maybe it worked out. Now I have a reason to go back haha.

What does the cream cheese walnut pastry taste like?

While I waited for the order, the owner gave me a cream cheese walnut pastry to try. I split it in half and... why is the walnut so huge?! It has cream cheese, pea cream, and a big walnut, but it was less sweet and more clean-tasting than I expected.

The cream cheese was soft and nutty, while the pea cream added a gentle sweetness. But personally, my favorite part was the dough. Maybe because it is made with rice, it was slightly chewy yet soft; it wasn't just the filling that tasted good—the dough itself was delicious. Not the kind of thing where you stop after one; your hand naturally reaches for the next one haha.

Maybe because the sweetness wasn't strong, it was even better with coffee. Especially after a bite of cream cheese and a sip of coffee... mmm, this pairing is nice? It was a good combination to have with coffee while looking for dessert on Hwangridan-gil.

Walnut pastries packed as Gyeongju souvenirs

The cream cheese one I ate at the shop was so good that I was quietly excited to get home. When I opened the box at home, the packaging was neater and more upscale than I expected.

They were arranged neatly one by one, and my first thought was, “This would make a nice gift for my parents, wouldn't it?”

If you are looking for a slightly different Gyeongju souvenir instead of Hwangnam-ppang or chalbori-ppang (chewy barley bread), this kind of walnut pastry gift set looked like a good option.

And that thought was immediately put to the test once I got home haha.

The red bean flavor even a red-bean non-fan ate

At home, I started with the red bean walnut pastry. One confession here... I like walnut pastries, but I don't like red bean fillings that much haha. A weird preference, I know lol.

So even in Cheonan, I preferred walnut pastries filled with white bean paste over red bean. But after trying Buja Hodu's red bean walnut pastry... huh? This is good?

The red bean wasn't overly sweet, and the large whole walnut gave it a definite nuttiness. Add the chewy rice dough, and the balance of red bean, walnut, and dough was just right. A person who doesn't really like red bean—that's me—ate one and then reached for another haha. And in the end... Buja Hodu beat the Cheonan walnut pastry shop I used to love. Totally based on my own taste, of course, but my favorite has definitely changed haha.

Cooled cream cheese pastries and my mom's reaction

I ate the cream cheese one warm at the shop, then tried it completely cooled at home. But... this was good too?

Compared with when it was warm, the flavors of the cream cheese and pea cream came through more clearly, so it felt even more like a dessert. In short, it is delicious warm and delicious cooled haha.

After my Gyeongju trip, I brought my mom Hwangnam-ppang, chalbori-ppang, and walnut pastries. But... of the three, she liked the walnut pastries best haha. She kept eating them, saying, “These are delicious~” haha.

Honestly, my mom's reaction may be a more accurate review than me saying they were good haha. They were not too sweet and had big walnuts, so I thought they could be a nice Gyeongju souvenir for parents. Suitable as a gift for parents? Tested and approved by Mom haha.

How to freeze leftover walnut pastries

I froze the leftover walnut pastries. But while writing this and looking at the photos over and over... I suddenly wanted one so badly haha. Familiar flavors really are dangerous. I ended up opening the freezer in the middle of writing and taking one out. About 30 seconds in the microwave, then a bite. Aww... why is it so good? haha. The dough became warm and soft again, and heating the filling through brought out the nuttiness too. I only took one out while writing, but... why do I want to open the freezer again? haha. If you buy several, I recommend freezing them and warming one at a time whenever you want one.

Why I want to return to Buja Hodu

At first, I visited because I was wondering, “What dessert should I eat on Hwangridan-gil?” But then I brought some home and ate them again, gave some to my mom, put the rest in the freezer, and eventually took another one out while writing this post haha. I guess that means they really suited my taste.

And there is still one I haven't tried: matcha...! On my next Gyeongju trip, I plan to try the matcha that was sold out first. If you are looking for a slightly different Gyeongju souvenir instead of Hwangnam-ppang or chalbori-ppang, this is worth remembering. Next time, one box for me, one for my mom, and some to stock in the freezer... should I buy one more box? haha. A person who doesn't even like red bean much is taking out another red bean walnut pastry right now, so that says it all haha.