Eggplant lasagna and truffle pizza in Sangmu, Gwangju: Bueokgan

What kind of restaurant is Bueokgan Sangmu Branch?

There's a parking lot right behind the building and the vibe is great, so Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is the first place that comes to mind when you think pasta in Sangmu! It's said to be inspired by the Titanic's ballroom, styled as a vintage Italian classic hotel, and that relaxed atmosphere is exactly why it gets so many group bookings.

There are outdoor tables out front too, which looked perfect for brunch. It was still hot out on this visit so I ate inside where it was cool, but once the weather gets a bit cooler I'm planning to come back for brunch!

Inside Bueokgan: table spacing, group bookings and parking

These days apparently more people book it for wedding-invitation gatherings, but same-day reservations aren't available, so if you're coming for a group meetup in Sangmu I'd recommend booking well ahead. There are little props and interior touches scattered around that set the place apart from others — catches my eye every time I visit haha.

There's a spot on one side to hang your coat, and baby chairs are available, so it looks like a solid option for family gatherings with little ones too.

Best of all, the gaps between tables are wide, so it feels more private than you'd expect! On the day I visited there were a lot of groups in for gatherings, but the parking lot still wasn't too cramped, parking went smoothly, it didn't feel particularly loud, and the food came out faster than I expected — no real complaints haha.

The menu and the Couple and Family sets

The menu at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch! True to its reputation as a pasta spot in Sangmu, the lineup was diverse — shrimp anchovy oil pasta, basil pesto cream pasta, seafood tomato pasta, carbonara, shrimp rosé pasta, gnocchi, and lasagna, quite a range. If you're coming with a group planning to try a variety of dishes, I'd recommend the Couple Set or Family Set — they come with soup and a drink too, and the sets were definitely worth it.

Lasagna, 21,000 won: thick eggplant slices in ragu sauce

Lasagna ₩21,000, Truffle Mushroom Pizza ₩22,000.

Respect to Bueokgan as a Gwangju pasta spot that actually serves lasagna. There aren't many places that do, and honestly there are days you just crave something thick and rich like lasagna, right? Stacked with ragu sauce, wide lasagna sheets, eggplant, and cheese, all simmered from scratch, it tasted exactly like what I'd imagine at a foreign home kitchen — I ended up loving this dish.

Pretty sure I'd order this again on a repeat visit haha. Though there are still so many menu items I haven't tried, so every visit brings the happy problem of what to eat.

There isn't a ton of eggplant, but instead of small bits scattered around, the pieces are properly chunky — unashamedly big, you could say. Thanks to that, even though I normally hate eggplant, I didn't think twice about it, and it paired well with the tomato and finely minced meat, so I really enjoyed it haha. The wide noodles and cheese carried their weight too!

Truffle mushroom pizza, 22,000 won: better than expected

Honestly I didn't expect much from the Truffle Mushroom Pizza, but it was better than expected. There's a nice variety of mushrooms on top, plenty of cheese, and — I don't usually eat the crust, but it was good too, so I cleaned the whole thing haha.

If you love mushrooms, get on this right now. I like mushrooms but I'm not exactly obsessed with them, and even I loved this, so I'd recommend it to anyone deciding what to order!

Is Bueokgan Sangmu Branch worth a visit?

I cleaned every plate at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch! Great atmosphere, prices that aren't too steep, and parking on top of it all — an easy place to use for special-day family gatherings or group meetups, a solid Gwangju pasta spot. Next time I'll come back for brunch and post about it haha.