# Weeknight date dinner in Sangmu, Gwangju: basil calzone at Camel Orzo - By Somin Jang (https://superchart.com/en/@chungjang-noon-jeotgarak/) - Written Sep 21, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Seo-gu, Gwangju - Sponsored: This is a review after visiting with a meal provided by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@chungjang-noon-jeotgarak/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@chungjang-noon-jeotgarak/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/index.md) ## In short Camel Orzo is an Italian restaurant on the 1st floor of Urban Peak Sangmu in the Sangmu district of Seo-gu, Gwangju. On a weeknight date dinner, the writer ordered mushroom soup, basil calzone with tomato caprese and Hanwoo steak mushroom paella, and the calzone dough — crisp outside, chewy inside — was the highlight. The paella came without the crisp rice crust, but easy parking and a high chair make Camel Orzo a solid choice for dates and pre-wedding get-togethers. ## Good to know - **Address**: Unit 102, 1F Urban Peak Sangmu, 261 Uncheon-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–23:00 - **Break time**: 15:30–17:00 - **Last order**: 21:00 - **Parking**: Available (plenty of nearby options if the Switzen lot is full) - **How to order**: Check the printed menu, then order at the kiosk - **What we ordered**: Mushroom soup, basil calzone (with tomato caprese), Hanwoo steak mushroom paella - **Paella condition**: Available only after 1pm - **Options**: Peas can be left out when ordering on the tablet - **For kids**: High chairs available - **Perk**: 20% off drinks on takeout *as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026* Camel Orzo, an Italian spot in Sangmu, Gwangju — recommended for dates, brunch, or pre-wedding gatherings 🍝 ![Camel Orzo, an Italian restaurant in Sangmu, Gwangju](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-01-1bfgz-1200.webp) This place has been steadily loved in Sangmu for its exotic vibe and carefully made Italian food 🥰 Since it's a restaurant with parking in Sangmu, it's also popular for dates, pre-wedding gatherings, and anniversaries — so I went to check out Camel Orzo! I visited on a weekday evening for a couple's date, and this is my honest review of the basil calzone and Hanwoo steak paella 🩷 ![Camel Orzo exterior and entrance view](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-02-y28pr-966.webp) ## Where Camel Orzo is, opening hours and parking 📍 261 Uncheon-ro, Urban Peak Sangmu 1F, Unit 102, Seo-gu, Gwangju 🕐 Daily 11:00–23:00 (break time 15:30–17:00 / last order 21:00) 🩷 Parking available 🩷 Even when the Switzen lot is full, there are plenty of alternatives, so you can visit without any parking stress 😊 ## Inside Camel Orzo: high chairs and roomy four-person tables The warm, upscale exterior, like a little alley restaurant transplanted from Europe, immediately caught my eye 🩷 The spacious table layout and classic wood-tone interior had real atmosphere. There's also a baby chair, so I'd recommend this as a family-friendly restaurant in Sangmu. ![Camel Orzo's dining hall with wood-tone interior](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-03-dibji-966.webp) ![Spaciously arranged tables inside Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-04-534nx-966.webp) The four-top tables in particular are made bigger than at other Western restaurants, so even with several dishes set out at once, it never felt cramped. ![A generously sized four-top table setting](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-05-e9yy6-966.webp) ![The classic atmosphere inside Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-06-dtjk2-966.webp) Staff came over to refill water glasses before we even asked, and set out tongs, scissors, and hygiene gloves for each dish — I felt well taken care of throughout the meal 😊 ![Table set with tongs, scissors, and hygiene gloves](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-07-14gar-966.webp) ![Table setting with water glass and cutlery](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-08-mfve3-966.webp) ## Ordering at Camel Orzo: kiosk orders with a printed menu too You can order everything from the kiosk! There's also a menu board, so I checked that first and then ordered at the kiosk haha ![First page of the Camel Orzo menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-09-1wg36-966.webp) ![Camel Orzo pasta menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-10-jvh4y-966.webp) ![Camel Orzo pizza and calzone menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-11-n3f0q-966.webp) ![Camel Orzo paella menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-12-qko3y-966.webp) ![Camel Orzo drinks menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-13-115vy-966.webp) Swipe over to check the menu! There were two of us, and we ordered mushroom soup, basil calzone, and Hanwoo paella. ## ① Mushroom soup This is the mushroom soup that came out as a starter. It wasn't a bland texture like it had been blended smooth in a mixer — you could feel the texture of chopped mushrooms, and the soup itself is a thick, rich cream. Instead of tasting like artificial seasoning, it has a deep, savory character from mushrooms slow-cooked and reduced over a long time 🩷 ## ② Basil calzone with tomato caprese ![A plate of basil calzone with tomato caprese](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-14-1mrx2-966.webp) The basil calzone was the tastiest dish! ![Basil calzone baked in a half-moon shape](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-15-z7dmh-966.webp) The calzone is an authentic Neapolitan-style dough, aged low and slow before being baked in a high-heat wood-fired oven. When you cut the half-moon-shaped calzone with scissors, savory basil sauce and gooey melted mozzarella stream out from inside the dough. The dough itself is crispy on the outside and chewy and stretchy on the inside, like mochi! Alongside the calzone comes a generous pile of Italian fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, savory jambon, and fresh arugula. They thoughtfully gave us extra basil sauce on the side, so we never ran out of sauce all the way through 😊 ### The best way to eat the basil calzone Here's a tip! Put on the hygiene gloves and load the chewy dough with jambon, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and arugula, then wrap it up like a lettuce wrap and eat it in one bite 🥹 ![A bite of dough topped with jambon and fresh mozzarella](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-16-diom0-966.webp) The savory warmth of the dough and the fragrance of basil hit first, then the tomato's tangy juice and the jambon's umami burst through right after. ✨✨ I dipped the dough in basil sauce too, and thanks to the tomato caprese, it was completely free of any greasiness — fresh and multi-dimensional in flavor 🩷 ![Plate after enjoying the calzone](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-17-14lke-966.webp) Proof that it was really delicious, exhibit 1 ..haha ## ③ Hanwoo steak and mushroom paella (only after 1pm!) ![Hanwoo steak mushroom paella served in the pan](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-18-163as-966.webp) This is the paella, our main dish. ![Paella rice colored bright yellow with saffron](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-19-5gj5i-966.webp) Made with pancetta, premium saffron, and a deeply simmered natural stock, the rice grains are coated in a bright yellow color and rich umami ✨ ![Close-up of paella mixed with pancetta](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-20-s222p-966.webp) With every bite you get a faint hint of pancetta's smoky meatiness, along with saffron's fragrance and a subtle herbal note. The aged Hanwoo (Korean beef) steak on top as the main topping is so tender you can cut it with a spoon, no knife needed — and the moment you bite into it, rich Hanwoo juices burst out 😋 ![Aged Hanwoo steak being cut with a spoon](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-21-105hg-966.webp) Peas mixed through the rice add a pop of texture and a pleasant sweetness :) (For anyone who dislikes peas, there's an option to remove them when ordering via tablet!) ![Paella mixed with peas and mushrooms](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-22-q4juf-966.webp) King oyster and button mushrooms stir-fried in add a plump, springy texture. Put a piece of mushroom and Hanwoo steak on top of the saffron rice and eat it in one bite... the meat's juiciness, the mushroom's texture, and the rice's flavor come together in perfect harmony 🩷 ### What fell short at Camel Orzo What was disappointing was that there was no crispy rice crust — the lifeblood of paella.. 🥲 But the pancetta bits scattered through were salty and crisp, which was a total win haha ![Paella pan cleaned completely empty](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-23-13e3k-966.webp) We cleaned this one up completely 🤭 ## Who Camel Orzo in Sangmu is best for Camel Orzo isn't just a pretty-looking place — it's a restaurant that carefully calculates the flavor and texture of every single ingredient 🥹 If you're looking for a reliable restaurant with easy parking in Sangmu, I highly recommend visiting once 🩷 Strongly recommend it as a date spot, pre-wedding gathering venue, or anniversary restaurant in Sangmu, Seo-gu, Gwangju. ![Final shot wrapping up the visit to Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner-24-i869q-966.webp) Also keep in mind — you get 20% off drinks with takeout orders! ## Where it is - Camel Orzo (카멜오르조) - 261 Uncheon-ro, Urban Peak Sangmu 1F, Unit 102, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea - 전남광주통합특별시 서구 운천로 261 어반피크 상무 1층 102호 카멜오르조 - 35.1559146, 126.8540002 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%B9%B4%EB%A9%9C%EC%98%A4%EB%A5%B4%EC%A1%B0/@35.1559146,126.8540002,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@chungjang-noon-jeotgarak/gwangju-sangmu-calzone-hanwoo-paella-dinner/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt