In Nampo’s Gukjesijang (International Market), there’s a little shop that locals keep coming back to for one thing: hodugwaja (호두과자) — walnut-shaped pastries packed with smooth red bean paste and real walnut pieces. Hodu Pangpang (호두팡팡) is Busan’s most well-known specialist for these, and once you try one, you’ll understand why.
The shop sign is covered in Japanese — a classic Nampo sight. Inside, the husband bakes the walnut cakes fresh while his wife wraps each one by hand. The whole place has a warm, unhurried atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and watch.
What Is Hodugwaja?
Hodugwaja (호두과자) are a popular Korean snack — small pastries baked in the shape of a walnut, filled with smooth red bean paste (anko) and pieces of real walnut. They’re soft, lightly sweet, and satisfying in a way that’s hard to stop at one. You’ll find them at street stalls all over Korea, but quality varies enormously — more on that below.
What Makes Hodu Pangpang Different
Cut one open and you’ll see the difference immediately: the filling goes almost all the way through, packed with smooth red bean paste and clearly visible walnut pieces. The flavour is elegant — not overly sweet, with the roasted nuttiness of the walnut as a gentle contrast.
Compare that to a stall I tried in Sasang:
Much less filling — and no actual walnut pieces inside. This is surprisingly common; plenty of places sell the walnut shape with none of the substance. Hodu Pangpang uses no artificial additives and doesn’t cut corners on the filling.
Prices & Packaging
Available in both snack bags and gift boxes. Each piece is individually wrapped.
Bag · 12 pieces: ₩4,000
Bag · 15 pieces: ₩5,000
Gift box · small (28 pieces): ₩10,000
Gift box · large (56 pieces): ₩20,000
Prices as of June 2026
The gift box makes a solid souvenir — individually wrapped pieces, presentable packaging, and very affordable even at the large size.
Shelf Life & Reheating Tip
Store Information
