Mixed pork gukbap 24/7 in Yongbong-dong, Gwangju: Gujeon Gukbap

A rainy weekend.. I wanted to just order delivery but my boyfriend kept insisting we eat out haha. I'd had 'Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch' bookmarked every time we passed the Jeoncheolwoo intersection, so we finally went 🍚🔥 Here's my review — I fell hard for the gukbap and the kimchi.

Where is Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch, and when is it open?

• 🍚 Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch
• 📍 Location: 1382-3 Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju
• 🕒 Hours: open 24 hours, every day of the year
• 🅿️ Parking: up to 5 cars, free, behind the building

Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong carries on the gukbap tradition of 'Sticky Rice Grandma,' famous for 45 years of hand-made flavor at Namgwangju Market. A gukbap place with 45 years of word-of-mouth backing it — as a certified gukbap lover, I was excited before I even took a bite 🤤

At the Jeoncheolwoo intersection: a meal before or after a baseball game

Opened this March, it's a fresh, brand-new gukbap spot and it feels clean from the outside too ✨ It's right at the Jeoncheolwoo intersection, so if you're heading to a KIA Tigers game ⚾️ it's a great place to eat before or after the game when you're hungry (about 7 minutes by car). Fill up before the game or come fix your stomach after — either way it's great!

The interior feels just as fresh as the exterior — clean and comfortable for a meal. They've got 2-tops and 4-tops, solo seats, group seats, and family seats, so it's great whether you're eating alone or with a crowd 👨👩👧👦

Best of all, they're open 24 hours, every single day of the year!! Perfect if you're around Jeoncheolwoo drinking late and need a hangover cure, or if you miss regular meal hours — you can drop by anytime for a hot meal.

Free baby meals and the Gujeon Gukbap menu lineup

The most touching part of Gujeon Gukbap! If you come with a baby under 48 months, they give you a free 'baby meal' with bone broth, seaweed, sausage, and seasonal fruit 👶🏻 Gujeon Gukbap really thinks of everyone, even the tiniest guests 👍

📋Menu: from Gwangju-style zucchini gukbap to Jeju-style bracken gukbap to Namdo-style sundae (blood sausage) gukbap — a wide range of regionally distinct gukbap, so everyone can find something to their taste.

Besides gukbap, they also have Jeju conch porridge and conch knife-cut noodles. These are limited to just 20 servings a day, so if you love conch, order before they run out! Taste Jeju right here in Gwangju 🏝️

And I can't resist a deal like this...!! Leave a Naver review and get a free seasonal bibimbap or cheonhyehyang (citrus) juice worth ₩9,000. Join the event and grab yourself a juice for dessert too 🎁

Two bowls of gukbap ordered for Saturday brunch

Saturday brunch menu? 1. Mixed pork gukbap 2. Spicy lean-meat gukbap

As always... I went spicy, my boyfriend ordered the mixed pork gukbap.

The basic spread: sticky rice, seaweed and spicy kimchi

Basic side spread 🥢: sticky rice, seaweed, spicy kimchi, salted shrimp — Gujeon Gukbap's own special spread. Made fresh daily using the recipe of the famous Sticky Rice Grandma from Namgwangju Market, and it's served free 🤤 Eating chewy sticky rice alongside the gukbap makes for a seriously filling meal.

Personally, I think the real highlight here is the spicy kimchi and spicy green onion kimchi 🔥 Deliciously spicy but with a hint of sweetness underneath — seriously addictive! If you like spicy food you'll be obsessed, but if you're spice-sensitive, be a little careful haha (even I, who eats buldak/fire noodles, found it pretty spicy 🌶️).

You can grab extra side dishes yourself at the self-serve bar — go for it! The kimchi was so good I went back for more, more than once.

How does the mixed pork gukbap taste?

My boyfriend's pick, mixed pork gukbap — loaded with everything from head meat to innards, a classic hearty Namdo-style gukbap.

The broth is white and milky, like seolleongtang (ox bone soup). One spoonful first 🥄 — I expected it to be bland, but the base seasoning was spot on! You can season it further to taste, and there's salt and pepper on every table if you want. We ate it plain, unseasoned, and it was great as is.

Every spoonful comes up loaded with meat — the portion is huge! You can tell they didn't skimp on the toppings, so generous, that's Jeolla-do hospitality for you 🙌 The broth is clear and clean rather than heavy, which pairs perfectly with the tangy spicy kimchi — the mild, milky broth wraps around and mellows out the kimchi's spicy kick.

Spicy lean-meat gukbap: fine even if you dislike fat?

My pick, spicy lean-meat gukbap 🌶️ Loaded with their special fiery chili paste, chili oil, and minced garlic. I usually avoid pork gukbap because I hate fat, but since they had a lean-meat option here, I ordered without a second thought. No chewiness at all — you get to pick out only tender lean meat, so meat-lovers who prefer lean cuts will absolutely love this 👍 Even people like me who hate fat can enjoy this without any complaints!

First sip of the broth and I thought it wasn't spicy — then I found the chili paste hiding at the bottom haha. Stir it in and a sharp spicy aroma hits right away 🔥

It truly lives up to its name — properly spicy! But not just spicy for the sake of it, it's the kind of spice that makes you sweat and clears your head, a refreshing hangover-cure kind of heat 🌶️. I feel like I'll be coming back often after drinking. There are glass noodles hiding at the bottom too, soaked through with broth — perfect for slurping up.

Spicy lean-meat gukbap x spicy kimchi combo = stress-melting deliciousness...❤️ You end up eating it going 'hoo-hah' the whole time, but it's so addictive you can't put the spoon down.

Both the mixed pork gukbap and the spicy lean-meat gukbap had zero gamey smell, which I loved — even people sensitive to that can enjoy this clean, tasty gukbap spot in Yongbong-dong 🍚 I'll be stamping my attendance card here whenever I crave spicy food. Jeoncheolwoo restaurant crawl: complete.

Final verdict on Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch

📝 Final verdict: 'Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch' is a Jeoncheolwoo favorite you can drop into anytime, open 24 hours every day 🥄 Generous portions plus clean flavors mean anyone can enjoy it! If you're looking for a great gukbap spot in Yongbong-dong, give this place a try.