Sangmu, Gwangju hairtail spot for solo day drinking: Galchi Hanpan

I heard about a place in Gwangju's Sangmu area that's great for a casual daytime drink and has a reputation for good cooking, so I went. It's Galchi Hanpan (갈치한판), a Jeolla-style local restaurant. It's known as a meal spot, but among drinkers it's also getting a name as a place for great drinking food, and as a daytime drinking haven in Sangmu with no break time. Let me tell you about its charm: round one and round two in a single spot!

• Address: 61 Sangmuyeonha-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: 11:00–23:00 (closed every Sunday)
• Parking: roadside parking

What's the atmosphere like at Galchi Hanpan in Sangmu?

Galchi Hanpan is right in the heart of Sangmu, so it's really easy to get to, and the interior is clean, modern and uncluttered. Once you step inside, the tables are spaced generously, which makes it just right for a comfortable meal.

A Sangmu restaurant for daytime drinking, with no break time

Galchi Hanpan is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with no break time. So besides lunch, it's a lovely place to knock back a drink in Sangmu whenever you feel like it.

What did we order at Galchi Hanpan?

We ordered the solo drinking set and the spicy sea snail salad (golbaengi-muchim). The restaurant's signature, the Galchi Hanpan platter, is its identity, but that's for next time~

They say the hairtail here is only fresh, 100% Mokpo black hairtail, brought in directly from Mokpo every day. The solo drinking set I ordered is braised hairtail for one plus a bottle of alcohol, and the signature Galchi Hanpan comes with grilled hairtail, golden brown, and braised hairtail together on one big platter. No need to agonize over grilled or braised, it's the perfect combo.

The side dishes in the basic table setting

The basic spread laid out before the main dish is really generous and tasty too. It felt like the owner made every single side dish by hand. I'm a bit picky about seasoning, but from the seasoned vegetables to the braised items it was all so well seasoned that I polished off a bottle of soju before the main dish even arrived, haha.

Galchi Hanpan's ₩17,000 solo drinking set: what's in it and how does it taste?

The Galchi Hanpan solo drinking set is braised hairtail for one plus a bottle of alcohol, for just ₩17,000. It's ideal for people drinking alone, and for people like us who want to taste a variety of dishes. They said they use fresh black hairtail brought directly from Mokpo, and sure enough the flesh was really soft and tender. The sweet, spicy, kicky special sauce had soaked right into the fish, and after one sip of the broth I was filling my soju glass right away.

How is Galchi Hanpan's spicy sea snail salad?

The spicy sea snail salad had big pieces of sea snail and crunchy vegetables in the seasoning, which gave a lovely mix of textures. The sweet and tangy sauce with a faintly spicy finish was so addictive that I couldn't stop reaching with my chopsticks. Toss in some chewy noodles (jjolmyeon) and mix it all up, and it's a perfect, filling dose of carbs too.

Why I recommend Galchi Hanpan for daytime drinking in Sangmu

At Galchi Hanpan in Sangmu, Gwangju, you can try tender hairtail made with Mokpo black hairtail, and the side dishes that seem to be made by the owner herself or himself really stuck with me. With no break time, you can enjoy a daytime drink or a drink with your meal whenever you like, which I think is a big plus for office workers and drinkers alike!