Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Imperfect yet charming, 'ugly pony bread' goes viral in Korea
Ugly pony bread at Cream Berry More / Captured from Cream Berry More's Instagram
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Trends in Korea tend to appear out of nowhere, take over everyone's social media feed and fade away so quickly. But every now and then, one arrives with just enough oddball charm to stick. "Ugly pony bread" — a hot dog bun filled with whipped cream and drizzled with white chocolate — is the latest bakery craze that’s become inexplicably irresistible.
What sets the ugly pony bread apart from other viral desserts is its face. Chocolate chips become eyes and noses, deliberately placed just a little off-center, giving each pony a slightly dazed, awkward expression. Manes vary wildly, from neat swirls to chaotic tufts of frosting. The tackier, the better. The weirder, the cuter.
No one can quite explain why these lopsided little creatures have gone viral. Maybe it’s the humor. Maybe it’s the charm of imperfection. Or maybe, in a sea of picture-perfect desserts, Koreans have decided that a pony with googly eyes is exactly what we need right now.
Below are five spots in Korea to find this charmingly off-kilter snack.
Ugly pony bread at Le Bon Mariage / Captured from Le Bon Mariage's Instagram
Le Bon Mariage
Address: 1st floor, 417, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Instagram: @lebon.mariage
Looking for ugly pony bread with fancy hairdos? Head to Le Bon Mariage, which is available at a pop-up on the basement floor of Lotte World Mall in Jamsil through April 23. They come with various hairstyles, so it could be fun to get a bunch and share. The bread has cream cheese filling, chaotic swirls of chocolate cream for the hair and pecans for the ears! (Kim Bo-eun)
Ugly pony bread at Cream Berry More / Captured from Cream Berry More's Instagram
Cream Berry More
Address: 1st floor, 87, Mangwon-ro 2-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Instagram: @creamberrymore
Opening hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12-7 p.m. (closed Monday through Thursday)
Cream Berry More, which opened in February, introduced a playful new item this month with its ugly pony bread. The hot-dog style bun is filled with soft, fluffy milk cream, then topped with sweet cream cheese and white chocolate. Chocolate chips are added for the eyes and noses — intentionally slightly askew — for a touch of humor. It's almost too cute to eat… almost. (Kwak Yeon-soo)
Ugly pony bread at Cafe Fuzzy / Captured from Cafe Fuzzy's Instagram
Cafe Fuzzy
Address: 18-2 Sannam-ro 24beon-gil, Seowon-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province
Instagram: @cafe.fuzzy
Opening hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends
Cafe Fuzzy is known for offering some of the trendiest desserts in Korea. From butter mochi to Dubai chewy cookies, the cafe consistently keeps up with the latest food trends. Ugly pony bread is no exception, and theirs contains strawberries on the inside and a thick layer of fresh cream. Each bread comes with a unique design and a creative title that captures its personality — from a hipster horse tagged with “Kids these days all dress like this” to a curly-haired horse with heart-shaped freckles declaring, “I only love you.” The playful concepts at this dessert shop takes creativity to the next level. (Kim Sur-hyun)
"Ee-hee-hing" bread at ffs / Captured from ffs Coffee's Instagram
ffs
Address: 1F, 39 Pyeongni-ro 50-gil, Seo-gu, Daegu
Instagram: @ffs.coffee
Opening hours: 12-8 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays)
Ffs (pronounced Fuh-s) is a cafe in Daegu best known for their renowned baking skills and cake design. It presents a unique spin on the trend of the ugly pony bread, which they call "ee-hee-hing" bread, a Korean onomatopoeia for the sound a pony makes. Ffs' accessorized pony bread evokes "girlypop" aesthetics, from their well-brushed hairstyles to their pink bobby pins. This ee-hee-hing bread is available throughout April. (Kim Young-moo)
Ugly pony bread by Sunbeam cafe / Captured from Sunbeam cafe's Instagram
Sunbeam cafe
Address: 1F, 93, Bukjang-daero, Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province
Instagram: @sunb.e.a.m
Opening hours: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed Mondays)
In the quaint southern city of Jinju, neighborhood cafe Sunbeam adds levity to its culinary creations, horsing around using cream bread. The cafe uses frosting and different chocolate toppings to create adorably odd pony faces on top of Japanese-style fruit sandwiches. Its version of ugly pony bread is filled with a mascarpone chantilly cream, cutting through the sweetness with tart seasonal fruit like strawberry and kiwi. The cafe is a one-person operation and only has limited stocks of the quirky treat. Make sure to reserve your pony bread in advance. (Inna Christine Cabel)