Korean red bean buns, cream buns, walnut cookies (팥빵, 크림빵, 호도과자)

If Brussels has the Belgian waffle, and Paris has the crêpe, then Seoul has the red bean bun. Most bakeries in the city will always have at least one variety of this pastry that both elderly and young people hold near and dear to their hearts. The classic variety will have a soft shell of bread-like pastry filled with a sweet red bean paste. There are several variations on the classic, however, such as the one filled with fresh cream, as shown here.

"Ho do gwa ja" (literally, "walnut cookie") is another popular treat that is sold everywhere, even within subway stations. They are also filled with a red bean paste and have real walnuts in the center of the filling. These were originally sold to passengers on a train in the City of Cheonan but quickly gained in popularity and are now sold throughout the entire country.

*The main thing to keep in mind when buying and trying any of these pastries is to find a bakery that boils the beans and makes the paste from scratch on its premises. The buns that are then made with this filling will have a much better taste than those filled with an alternative processed version of the paste that is sold in cans. If you have a chance, ask the locals where to find the best red bean buns or walnut cookies, and they will point you in the right direction.