Gwangju Sangmu Western restaurant: corkage-free group dinner, Bueokgan

What was Bueokgan Sangmu Branch like at dinner?

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch (부엌간 상무점) is a brunch and Western restaurant in Gwangju's Sangmu district, and this time I went for dinner. It has a different mood from daytime, which I liked. The outdoor area is set up in an open-air style, so it looks lovely for eating outside.

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch hours and parking

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is open from 11:00 to 22:00, with a break from 16:00 to 16:30 and last order at 21:00. For parking, use the private lot behind the restaurant. Groups, takeout and wheelchair access are all possible.

• Address: 25 Seogwangju-ro, 1st floor, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–22:00
• Break time: 16:00–16:30
• Last order: 21:00
• Parking: private lot behind the restaurant
• Groups, takeout and wheelchair access available

Interior and group seating at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch

The moment you walk in, it feels like a vintage European classic hotel. It's antique but not too heavy, so the mood is really nice...! There are round sofa seats for larger parties, so it works for family gatherings, friend get-togethers, company dinners and other group meals 🙌🏻

Free corkage, wine storage and high chairs

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch has free corkage, so it should suit wine lovers too 🍷 There's a separate coat rack, so I could keep my coat tidy, and there's also a space for storing wine. High chairs are available as well, which looks convenient if you're visiting with a little one 👶🏻

What we ordered at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch and the prices

We ordered 7 à la carte dishes that day. Prices are copied as they appear on the menu.

• Pumpkin soup ₩8,000
• Napa cabbage Caesar salad ₩15,000
• Abalone cream risotto ₩20,000
• Kung pao chicken pilaf ₩24,000
• Porcini mushroom gnocchi ₩22,000
• Shrimp rosé pasta ₩19,000
• Arugula prosciutto pizza ₩22,000

Are there set menus at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch?

Besides à la carte, there are set menus like Couple Set A (₩48,000), Couple Set B (₩51,000) and the Family Set (₩77,000). With a big group ordering all sorts of things, the table got fuller with every dish that came out, haha. The nice part is that you can order à la carte like I did, or pick from sets in different combinations. Good stuff 👍🏻

Is the pumpkin soup really that good? 🎃

The pumpkin soup (₩8,000) was so good it was basically the star of the meal. Everyone who'd been before told us to order it, so we got curious. How good can a soup be? I wondered, but one bite and I got it right away! It was rich and creamy. The sweetness of the pumpkin plus a smooth, thick texture made the flavor much deeper. Personally, one of the dishes I enjoyed most!!!

Napa cabbage Caesar salad 🥬

The napa cabbage Caesar salad (₩15,000) uses napa cabbage instead of romaine. You usually think romaine when you hear Caesar salad, so a version with napa cabbage felt fresh and different. The crunchy cabbage went well with the Caesar dressing, and the cheese and bacon on top made it salty and nutty... It really gets your appetite going, so if you're ordering several dishes, I'd recommend adding one.

Porcini mushroom gnocchi 🍄‍🟫

The porcini mushroom gnocchi (₩22,000) paired the fragrant aroma of mushrooms with chewy gnocchi. I like that fluffy-yet-chewy potato texture of gnocchi, so I enjoyed it again today, and with the mushroom flavor on top, it was amazing (JMT, as we say in Korean: insanely delicious).

Eat the abalone cream risotto while it's hot 🍛

The abalone cream risotto (₩20,000) has a base of cream made with abalone innards, so it's smooth and nutty. If you love cream risotto, you won't be able to resist. It's rich and, honestly, really good. The dishes came out all at once, as if they'd made a pact, so please eat this one while it's hot!!

When cream dishes get heavy: kung pao chicken pilaf 🍗

The kung pao chicken pilaf (₩24,000) was the one I thought we really ordered right. With so many soft, savory dishes like cream, rosé and cheese, you can get a little tired of them partway through, and this spicy chicken pilaf balanced it perfectly. The rice was fluffy, the chicken was juicy, and eating them together bite by bite was a great combination!

Arugula prosciutto pizza 🍕

The arugula prosciutto pizza (₩22,000) comes in 6 slices, so it was easy to share one slice each. With arugula and prosciutto on top, it looks pretty appetizing from the start. The fragrant arugula and salty prosciutto balanced nicely and it was delicious.

Shrimp rosé pasta 🦐

The shrimp rosé pasta (₩19,000) had plump shrimp and was a crowd-pleaser that nobody disliked. The last dish I'll introduce is the pasta, which you'd miss at a Western restaurant, haha. Tomato plus cream is always the right answer, a hard one to get wrong!

Who should go to Bueokgan Sangmu Branch?

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is a Western restaurant in Sangmu, Gwangju where you can enjoy lots of different dishes in one place, so it's great for groups. It's good for lunch too, and it was fine for a relaxed meal with friends or a date. With a big group, everyone can pick the dish they want and taste a bit of everything. Next time I'll come back and try the dishes I haven't had yet, one by one.