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    Hodo Kwaja

    4.4 (256 reviews)
    InexpensiveBakeries, Korean
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Hodo Kwaja Photos

    Business Info

    HODO KWAJA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Hodo Kwaja

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    Daisy W.

    This is my first time visiting after numerous of failed attempts of visiting Ktown on a Sunday... Since it was my first time here, I wanted to try everything! I bought the brown sugar pancake that was made fresh right in front of me, the walnut cake in all 3 flavours (red bean, potato and almond) and the madeleines that was already packaged right by the cash register. The brown sugar pancake was very delicious and the texture was a little chewy. Of all the walnut cakes I bought, I still like the red bean one best. Almond and potato tasted extremely similar to me. As for the madeleines, they are buttery and soft. I personally really liked it. Next time I'm in Ktown, I will definitely pay them another visit!

    Frances F.

    On a short trip to Toronto, I went to KoreaTown for lunch with a few friends at Korea House (see review, separatly). Afterwards, we went for dessert to Hodo Kwaja for ho dok - "pancakes" with brown sugar & peanut filling (a favorote of mine) and walnut cookies - filled with (separately) red beans and walnuts. The pancakes are served warm, so the sugar is warm & syrupy (yummm). My first try of these cookies, they went well with coffee the next morning. This is a small carry-out shop. Simple menu - just these items, so service moves quick.

    Brown Sugar Korean Pancake.
    David N.

    We'd just wolfed down a delicious Korean meal and were in the mood for a sweet treat, so Hodo Kwaja seemed like the perfect choice. I'd never tried a Korean Pancake, so we decided to share the Brown Sugar variety. It was insanely hot so we took it back to the car and dug in. It's so good. The pancake is super fresh and fluffy, and the interior is this amazing, flavorful brown-sugar sauce. It's nothing short of addictive. Why did it take me so long to discover Korean Pancakes??

    Cindy N.

    It is a classic staple in the Koreatown area. I like to take a quick visit here whenever I'm in the area as they are the few places in Toronto (as far as I know) that sells a good variety of fresh Korean desserts. More specifically, I have been getting their hotteok (sweet pancake). Hotteok (Brown Sugar Pancake): On the menu, they had both brown sugar and red bean filling but only seemed to be brown sugar was available. I got the brown sugar filling, and it was quite hot. Near the end of the pancake, the filling spills out a bit, so be careful when you take a bite. It's not too sweet to the point it's overwhelming, just the right amount. I love coming here whenever I'm in the Koreatown area! Affordable and great dessert selection - hoping to try out their sherbet when the warmer weather season comes.

    Hotteok cooking on hot plate
    Jennifer H.

    In my past visits, I would only get the walnut-shaped cakes - I usually get the ones with mashed potatoes, one flavour has walnuts mixed in and the other has almonds mixed in. Food: The walnut cakes taste the best when they are warm, however, they can still be eaten at room temperature. I saw an IG reel of someone lining up for hotteok and didn't know this shop had it til a friend told me. This is prolly the only place that makes and sells it in Toronto? It's not as thick/puffy as the ones you see on social media but the ratio between the pancake dough and the brown sugar filling is just right. I wish there was a bit more nuts but the minimal amount of it adds to the surprise when you munch on some. I love how the exterior of the pancake is lightly crisp. Be careful when eating as the brown sugar will ooze out. This is actually a nice snack to have during winter when the brown sugar won't be as liquid. I had the rectangular-shaped biscuit and it was not too sweet! Service/atmosphere: The staff here are kind and open to answering questions about their products. There is an area to sit in to eat and a washroom available for customers. This shop is definitely one of a kind!

    a stack of pancakes on a conveyor belt
    Emmanuel L.

    I love Hodo Kwaja! We walked by Hodo Kwaja at 656 Bloor St West while they were making hot, fresh brown sugar Korean pancakes and they smelled so good! Had to get one fresh off the grill! A delicious treat and so much better than the frozen kind you can get at Asian supermarkets. I also love the friendly service I get every time I drop by. They always ask if I have any peanut allergies (I don't) which I always appreciate. And the ambiance walking in is wonderful because of the delicious smell of brown sugar pancakes sizzling on the grill! Highly recommend! And also check their website for days and hours they make the pancakes fresh.

    Korean pancake
    Denis B.

    Exceptional service, very friendly staff. Food is super tasty, can't believe the price. Affordable and delicious what can you ask more for? 10/10

    Shaved ice red bean

    Wonderful little shop with Korean sweets, the man at the counter was very kind and offered us extra red bean. The shaved ice is shaved nicely no large chunks of hard ice. There is no flavored syrup to the ice, but it didn't need it.

    Pancake
    Huong L.

    Given the high reviews and advertisement of this place, I was kinda disappointed. We came and got the famous walnut cakes and the pancake. The walnut cakes came in 3 flavors: red bean, walnut with mashed potatoes and almond with mashed potatoes. For the pancake we got the brown sugar filling. We got a mix of the walnut cake (2 of each flavor). I would have like it better if they were warm and fresh but these have been out for a bit. They are soft and flavor was ok, didn't really have a wow factor. The pancake texture was really good though. I definitely like the pancake a lot better. I also like the filling as it oozes out each time you take a bite. Overall, it was good to try but not something I would come back for.

    Walnut cakes (pack of six minus the one I ate).
    Joshua C.

    Really great and inexpensive goods can be found here. We just happened to come here by happenstance when we were looking for somewhere to hang out. Very eye-grabbing that you could get yourself snacks starting at $2. I came in and got a pack of 6 walnut cakes with assorted flavours, coming to $3.75. These cakes have a generous quantity of filling that I very much enjoy: The service was as fast as you can ask for. Look at the menu outside, get your order, and you receive what you get immediately. Once you've finished eating and you're ready to go, the staff take your garbage. The interior has a decent number of seats. They have as decor a string of photos depicting their foods. Very nice. I give this a recommendation.

    Walnut cakes
    Mei Lan M.

    I had been wanting to try their walnut cakes for a while and I wasn't disappointed. I tired both the red bean and mashed potato filling. Both were yummy. I also ordered the brown sugar pancake and madeleines. I really enjoyed the brown sugar pancake. It's too bad I don't live closer to the area. Otherwise I would definitely come back frequently.

    Brown sugar filled pancake
    Daniel C.

    Brown sugar korean pancake - for some reason, I had never heard of this until we dropped by here. Located on bloor, this is a small unassuming shop that specializes in Korean pancakes and walnut cakes. They also have other Korean pastries. The lady behind the counter gave us some interesting history and explained what they had on menu. Apparently brown sugar pancake is traditional whole red bean is for those who want something a little less sweet. They also have some original walnut cake recipes that they created, madelaines and some crunchy looking cookies. On this occasion, we just tried the brown sugar pancake. The dough has a slight crispness though quite faint, good chew. Embedded inside is a liquid layer of brown sugar. Be warned: As you eat this, the brown sugar likely will begin accumulating to the bottom of the pancake due to gravity. Towards the latter half, you may face a sticky and delicious explosion of brown sugar as I learned in an unfortunate (yet yummy and amusing) manner. No wonder why the server encouraged me to take napkins. Price: 2.75 for the pancake which isn't too bad. Definitely will return to try other items now that I'm more prepared for sugar explosions.

    Yummy pastries
    Danthanh L.

    Still a great local pick for pastry goods. I think walnut and almond are my favourite. Still definitely recommend!

    a hand holding a half eaten pastry

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    Page 1 of 7

    Hodo Kwaja Reviews in Other Languages

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    Came for dinner at around ~6 on a weeknight and was able to quickly snag a free table! Food was…read morepretty good and I think they do a great fusion menu of Japanese / Mexican, offering mains like sushi and tacos. For starters, we had the Takoyaki, followed by mains of the Red Dragon Roll and Shrimp Tacos. The fish tasted fresh and we liked the seasoning on the shrimp! Lots of other options depending on the type of roll you may want and various proteins for your tacos. The food came out quickly and I love how unique the interior is, with various popular anime posters on the walls throughout the restaurant. I'd come back here for a quick bite - heads up though, they don't do reservations! It got busy here by ~7 and I've seen lines out the door before walking past on the weekend.

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