Lately I keep missing the flavors of Japan. I suppose that is what living in Korea for so long does to you. Maybe that is why, whenever something arrives from Japan, I rush straight over to buy it and eat it. And these days Japanese desserts are pouring in at what is practically a rush, so I find myself visiting dessert shops nonstop.
Hattendo is a cream bun bakery that has been famous in Japan for decades. Back when I lived in Japan they sold them in the basement of Tokyo Station, so I often bought some on my way through. Of course it is not as if there are no tastier buns out there, but they are good, not expensive and easy to get to, so I kept going back.
On the first day Hattendo opened here, I sped over to the Shinsegae Department Store at the Express Bus Terminal right after work, but there were hardly any buns left.
The display case
I swept up what little was left. I got there around 7, and I was the last customer. For the record, they have opened in Lotte, Hyundai and Shinsegae department stores in Korea, and I think this is the first time I have seen a shop launch in several department stores at once. Mon Chouchou did come into Shinsegae first and then add a Hyundai branch, though.
They put them in a plastic bag like this.
If I had bought a bit more, I guess they would have given me a paper bag.
The custard and fresh cream buns
They are imported frozen from Japan, so you can assume they taste exactly the same as they do over there. But maybe because it was the first day, they were not thawed all that well. Probably because the buns sold out before they had a chance to thaw properly.
The fresh cream bun
It is 210 yen in Japan and was 2,800 won in Korea. Around the opening, the ads tried to compare it with Mon Chouchou’s choux cream… but they are aiming at different things, so I am not sure that was necessary. Judging purely by the cream, the Dojima Roll is a bit smoother and more refined, but as a cream bun this is an appealing, well-made one at a fair price. Soft, and it just melts in your mouth.
The custard bun
At this price, this is a great snack. What moved me most of all was that it tastes exactly the same as in Japan. To be able to eat a Japanese dessert without going to Japan.. this is only the second time I have had that experience, after Mon Chouchou. Which is why I am praising this place so excessively.
Chestnut cream
It seems to be a seasonal special, and it was surprisingly delicious. The chestnut flavor went really well with the cream. Personally I wanted to try the cream bun with red bean, but things sold out so quickly that day that I went with this one instead, and it was not bad at all.
Chocolate cream
The chocolate and the cream felt like a slightly awkward match. Of everything I have tried so far, this was the most so-so.
With LeTAO arriving and Gateau Festa Harada’s rusks arriving, so many Japanese desserts are coming in lately that just checking each of them once in turn is a big job. But I cannot slack off on the checking. Every time a new one arrives, I will be there.
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