Menu
Walnut Cake (Hodo Kwaja)
Walnut Cakes or in Korean known as Hodo Kwaja resemble an actual walnut and either have walnut or almond pieces on the outer shell of the cake. Traditionally Walnut Cakes are made with a sweet red bean filling inside with walnuts; but here in our downtown Toronto bakery we have three different types of walnut cakes. The three different kinds are the Mashed Potato filling with Walnuts , Mashed Potato filling with Almonds and Red Bean filling with Walnuts. Our Mashed Potato filling is a unique flavour created by the bakery owner, Mr. Lee, in 1992 to cater to the Canadian palate; it is a western twist on a traditional Korean dessert. The filling is created from a mashed potato powder mixed with brown sugar and milk which taste more like chestnuts than mashed potato. Our Red Bean filling is our own secret recipe that takes us about a day and a half to produce. The red beans (adzuki beans) are from a farm in Hensall, Ontario which are brought down every harvest, approximately 2 metric tones a year. The red beans are boiled, mashed (to create a paste form) and sweetened by adding white sugar. The boiling and mashing process is repeated many times to get just the right texture; after the process it is cooled over night and another mashing process is repeated to finalize the process. The batter for all our walnut cakes is made from scratch in-house by the owners on a daily basis using, shelled eggs, whole milk, Red Path sugar and Five Rose flour.
Korean Pancakes (Hotteok)
Korean pancakes or Hotteok in Korean are pancakes stuffed with Brown Sugar, Peanuts, Sunflower Seeds & Cinnamon or a sweet Red Bean filling. The dough is yeast and cornflour based which is prepared every morning to proof. Once we run out of dough we are finished for the day.
Hodo Kwaja, is the first and only bakery which make Korean Pancakes fresh daily, three times a day in Toronto. We start at 11:30AM in the morning, 3:00PM in the afternoon and at 5:30PM in the evening (starting times may vary based on stock and weather). There may be limit during weekends and holidays for sales since they are made individually by hand by our trained staff.
When the pancakes were first introduced to our bakery many of our elderly customers spoke of nostalgic memories when seeing them being made in front of their high school on a cart in the chilly winter weather.
Chun Byung
Chun Byung are a Japanese Senbei inspired snack that are thin, crispy waffle-like cookies with Sliced Almonds, Peanut or Dried Seaweed garnished on them. They are made from scratch batter and baked in-house on our fully automated natural gas machine. Due to the humidity in Toronto during summer months, Chun Byung are unavailable during the summer months.
Madeleine
Madeleine are a French inspired sponge cake made with butter (Gaylea butter) and almond powder. Made from scratch batter and baked in-house on our fully automated natural gas machine. These are a bit more dense than the average sponge cake and are great for dipping in beverages and/or with creams and nut butters. They are greatly paired with coffee and teas or for children juice or milk. Madeleines are available all year around.
Sherbets/Shaved Ice Dessert (Red Bean, Almond & Soybean Rice Cake and Red Bean Rice Cake)
Sherbets are shaved ice desserts we serve all year round. We currently have three different types of sherbets: Red Bean Sherbet, Almond & Soybean Rice Cake Sherbet and Red Bean Rice Cake Sherbet.
The Red Bean Sherbet is shaved ice, with a layer of evaporated milk & 3% milk mixed (can be substituted with fruit juice), a generous serving of sweet red bean syrup (made in-house), fruit cocktail, and soy bean powder is gently dusted on top.
The Almond & Soybean Rice Cake Sherbet is our two layered shaved ice dessert: the first layer is shaved ice, a layer of evaporated milk, 3% milk, condensed milk, soybean powder (our own mix-ratio) and the second layer is shaved ice, a layer of evaporated milk, 3% milk, condensed milk, soybean powder, sliced almonds, sweet rice cakes and a drizzle of condensed milk on top.
The Red Bean Rice Cake Sherbet is shaved ice, with a layer of evaporated milk and 3% milk, a generous serving of sweet Red Bean Syrup, bits of sweet Rice Cakes and Soy Bean Powder is generously dusted on top.
Hi There!
I have recently been introduced to the walnut cakes by a Korean coworker of mine. I personally am Italian, so this was a new taste/flavor for me.
I must say, your walnut cakes are absolutely AMAZING!! I could easily eat a couple dozen to my face!
I just wanted to take a minute to applaud the wonderful work you guys do and let you know that your treats are to die for!!
With love,
Jennifer
Thank you very much Jennifer for your kind thoughts and words! We really do appreciate you taking your time to write this post!
Sincerely,
Staff of Hodo Kwaja
Hi,
I had some of these walnut cakes in China, they were delicious. I would like to try at home to make. Could you let me know the imgredients please.
Thanks
Paul
Hi Paul,
The ingredients for our walnut cake batter is wheat flour,sugar, milk, margarine, corn syrup, baking powder, potato starch and salt. The red bean filling is red beans, water, white sugar and salt , the mashed potato filling is mashed potato powder, brown sugar, milk and salt.
Hope this helps! Good luck with trying to make em!
[…] Kwaja (http://hodokwaja.ca/menu/) is a cute little Korean bakery that makes madeleines and waffle cookies, and also makes walnut […]
[…] can get some at Hodo Kwaja on Bloor Street West in […]
Good…..thing…..I ……don’t ……live….near…..this……place, because I would be there everyday!
I was looking for a Japchae Hoddeok everywhere! Would be amazing if you guys sold it 🙂 Love your food!
I got all three of the walnut cakes and they are all to die for. Keep in mind I hate beans but I loved the red bean hodo kwaja so that really says something.
PS you should try the chun byung with the almonds (so yummy)
I’m the same way Kristyna, can’t stand beans, but red bean past or filling is a whole different story. Totally ordered 30 on a Friday thinking I was going to work the next day to share with co-workers… ohwell thats 30 for me!
I used to live in Toronto.My dad brought me here the first time.I love the walnut cakes,love them warm too.Glad to know this store still exists.
Dear Hodo Kwaja Bakery,
I’ve been enjoying your walnut cakes my whole life since my mother discovered your store. They have been my favourite treat since childhood 🙂 Please continue the good work! I will continue to support your bakery and recommend it to friends and family.
Kind regards, Sofika.
Thank you very much for your kind words, Sofia! We always love hearing from our patrons!
Hi Hodokwanja.
I have been visited your bakery and honestly I would like to come again,walnut cakes are so good i fall in love with them .Next time i want to try new dessert there, so they are Chun Byung and Pancake i wonder which one is better, give me your opinion about both cakes above I really want to know. Thanks
Will you ever open any branches across Canada?
Do you ship to Korean supermarkets or any place in Vancouver?
Thanks!
Hello Arthur,
Unfortunately at this time we only have our one location in Toronto, Ontario.
We apologize but we do not ship out to Vancouver. But, we are always open to work with companies that are willing to receive our frozen products.
Thank you for contacting us!
Hi, when will the Chun Byung be available?
Hello Ame,
Thank you for reaching out to us! We are aiming for the first week of October. Due to the temperature and high humidity we have been unable to bake them. We are aiming for under 18C weather to start.
I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate you guys! I’ve been eating your walnut cakes for over 10 years now and recently tried your brown sugar pancake… it was so good I brought it to work and my coworkers are absolutely dying for more.
Your sweets always hit the right spot. As a Portuguese Canadian I’m am so thankful grew up in a city where I can try things I would probably never get the opportunity to. Thank you for your hard work guys! Truly one of my favourite spots.
I just shared your website with my good friends as we were talking about BTS.
Thank you so very much for your shop and making all these goodies traditionally!
My family has been coming to you for longer than I can remember, my girls love watching your Hodo Kwaja machines operate.
Everytime a reminder of my memorable visit to Korea in 2000 and the Hotteok food trucks/carts :0)
Hi! Just wanted to say how much I love your business. The walnut cakes are amazing and I’m always sure to buy a box whenever I’m in the neighbourhood!