Gwangju brunch restaurant for a wedding-invite meetup: Bueokgan Sangmu

Where is Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, and where do you park?

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is on the 1st floor of 25 Seogwangju-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, and is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00. Break time is 16:00–16:30, last order is 21:00, groups are welcome, and Naver reservations are available.

For parking, pass Jjambbong Jijon and turn right — there's a private lot for Bueokgan with room for 16 to 18 cars. Roadside parking is also allowed during lunchtime. The lot behind Jjambbong Jijon can be used as shared parking, and the Mudeung Church parking lot past Bueokgan is another option.

How we found Bueokgan while hunting for brunch in Sangmu, Gwangju

Hi, this is Ungong. I really love brunch, so when I heard there was a brunch spot in Sangmu, I looked it up and found out Bueokgan has a Sangmu branch too?! And it's even the flagship location — back when Bueokgan used to be in Dongmyeong-dong I always wanted to visit but it closed down before I could ㅠㅠ So I finally went to Bueokgan Sangmu Branch!!

I always drove past this spot on the way to Uniqlo without ever noticing Bueokgan was there!! I really had no idea. Since I was focused on the road while driving, I guess I just missed it. Because it's on the outskirts of Sangmu, a bit away from the busy restaurant strip, it feels like a great place to enjoy a leisurely meal. With its well-groomed landscaping and upscale exterior, I arrived at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch.

Italian classic hotel exterior and the outdoor terrace at Bueokgan

The exterior of Bueokgan Sangmu Branch feels like you've stepped onto a street in Italy. Doesn't it look really upscale and sophisticated? I looked it up and apparently it was designed around the concept of a vintage classic hotel in Italy. Dressing up like a lady or gentleman before you go would make it even more fun.

There were also two tables on the outdoor terrace. It looks like a nice spot to enjoy a cup of tea.

Group tables, round sofa seats and kiosk ordering at Bueokgan

Here's the dining hall at Bueokgan. The center of the hall seems to be made up almost entirely of group tables. Where I sat was a round-sofa table along the edge of the hall, and it was cushioned and comfortable. It seemed like a great setup for couples to sit side by side and eat.

This is the overall view of the hall. Apparently the detailed layout of the space was inspired by the ballroom in Titanic. Overall the atmosphere is cozy and relaxed.

You don't need to call over a staff member to order — you can easily use the table kiosk instead.

What comes in Bueokgan's Couple Set B for three friends

We visited as three women and ordered Couple Set B. I don't eat much haha, so I figured it would be plenty. Set B comes with a salad, pasta or rice, pizza, and two drinks. We ordered the mushroom grill salad, basil pesto cream pasta, jambon pizza, orange juice, and lemonade.

Bueokgan is also running a review event where you get a tasty pastry pie if you save the place on Naver and write a receipt review — worth taking advantage of that service.

We each took the tableware that was set out at the table. The spoons, forks, and knives looked fancy enough to belong to royalty haha.

First to arrive were the lemonade and orange juice. They told us to stir the lemonade well before drinking. The popping carbonation was so refreshing. And the orange juice was cool and sweet-and-tangy.

Mushroom grill salad: the best salad at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch

Here's the side dish, the mushroom grill salad. Seeing it sprinkled generously with cheese made my mouth water.

When I moved the lettuce on top onto the plate, I could see grilled mushrooms layered underneath. I was a little surprised by how much mushroom there was. I could also see it was generously drizzled with balsamic sauce.

Can you see how glossy the mushrooms look? The balsamic sauce had soaked in nicely between the lightly grilled, moist mushrooms. I took a bite and... it was honestly the best salad I've ever eaten. Maybe it's because mushroom + lettuce + balsamic + cheese is exactly my favorite combination. The mushrooms were crunchy, the lettuce was crisp, and right as the tang of the balsamic hit, the nutty savoriness of the cheese wrapped around it all. It was so good that if I come back to Bueokgan, I definitely want to order this dish again.

Signature basil pesto cream pasta with a poached egg

Next up is Bueokgan's signature dish, the basil pesto cream pasta. I'm actually not great with cream sauces, but the two friends with me love cream pasta, so that's what we ordered. On top of the pale green cream sauce, made from a mix of basil pesto and cream, sits a poached egg. It's blanketed in arugula, with cheese and pepper piled on top like snow.

They told us to pop the poached egg open ourselves. Visually, this dish is unbeatable.

I twirled the pasta and dipped it right into the poached egg to eat with the arugula, and even though I don't usually prefer cream sauces, Bueokgan's basil cream pasta wasn't heavy at all — it had a nutty, savory flavor instead. The basil aroma blended into the cream without any off-putting sharpness. And the savory poached egg together with the fragrant arugula took the pasta's flavor up another level.

Wood-fired jambon pizza with green pepper Tabasco

Last up is the jambon pizza, fresh from the wood-fired oven. The jambon pizza is also topped generously with arugula and cheese.

I took a slice and the cheese stretched wonderfully. The salty flavor of the jambon worked well with everything. The crust edges were baked in the wood-fired oven, so they were extra crispy without any heaviness.

I love spicy flavors, so I drizzled some Tabasco on top. At first I was thrown off that the Tabasco bottle was green but the sauce inside was yellow — turns out it was green pepper Tabasco haha. The spicy kick paired really well with the pizza.

Why Bueokgan suits a wedding-invite meetup or a meal with parents

Bueokgan's menu and atmosphere made me think it's a great Western restaurant to bring your parents to. The dishes were consistently above average across the board, and the staff service was friendly and attentive. It also feels like a top-tier spot for a couple's date course or a wedding invitation gathering.

I hope you get to spend an enjoyable time with family, a partner, or friends at Bueokgan, the brunch spot in Sangmu. I really recommend Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, the pasta spot in Sangmu district⭐️⭐️⭐️