Tasting Premium Yakgwa at Golden Piece Korean, Hannam-dong Seoul

#NoSponsorship

We came out to Hannam-dong for a weekend stroll. I was worried it would be packed since it was a weekend, but being Sunday, it was surprisingly quiet.

We started browsing the boutique shops when my husband pointed at a store and said this place is super famous for their yakgwa (Korean traditional honey cookies). Turns out it is better known as the G-Dragon yakgwa - apparently the K-pop star is connected to the brand. Instant interest.

Golden Piece Hannam branch is at 25 Hannam-daero 27-gil, Yongsan-gu. Hours are daily 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Even standing right in front of it, I was not sure if this was the right place. The storefront is understated with no flashy signage. We peeked in a bit nervously.

The interior matches that subtle vibe - not flashy at all. The counter is shaped like a golden yakgwa, and the whole color scheme is this warm gold tone. As soon as we walked in, the staff showed us samples and explained their signature vanilla flavor and the original flavor.

After tasting both, I can say these are nothing like regular yakgwa. The flavors are rich and complex in a way that feels almost luxurious - still recognizably yakgwa, but elevated to something...