Crock Diarist · 11 stories

Kimchi Crock Lid Lifted, Jeolla Restaurant Stops

Writes about restaurant meals eaten in Gwangju and the Jeolla region. · Writes about: Restaurants

Gwangju jokbal spot with garlic wood-fired trotters: Jipbaewon

Jokbal Jipbaewon Gwangju Munheung branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork slices) restaurant in Munheung-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Three people shared a medium half-and-half of garlic wood-fired jokbal and bossam with tuna rice balls, got half an old-style fried chicken through the receipt review event, and even a dad who rarely eats jokbal enjoyed the meal. Jokbal Jipbaewon in Munheung-dong is worth a 15-minute drive.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju duck BBQ team dinner with leftovers to go: Hyangchon Duck

Hyangchon Duck (향촌오리) is a charcoal-grilled duck and beef rib restaurant on Wolgye-ro in Cheomdan, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. On a Sunday, three of us ordered one whole duck, and with starter porridge, unlimited vegetable shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), there was so much food that we took the leftover meat home. We also tried the beef rib from the photo review event and the blueberry sikhye (sweet rice drink). With a big parking lot, private rooms and cheap drink deals, Hyangchon Duck is a perfect duck BBQ spot for a team dinner in Cheomdan, Gwangju.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangsan eel restaurant, 30-min Sunday wait and 2 big eels for 3: Yuil

Yuil Jangeo (유일장어) is a grilled eel restaurant on Donggok-ro in Gwangsan, Gwangju, where you pick your eels at the seafood counter, pay upfront and have them pre-grilled and brought to your table. The writer arrived with two others at 11:30 on a Sunday, waited about 30 minutes, chose two large eels to share in a private room, and received a free eel tteokgalbi (grilled patty) for a receipt review plus a mini eel soup for following on Naver. At ₩29,000 per kg, with tender eel and no bones, Yuil Jangeo is a place to return to for good-value eel.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored

PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Cheomdan, Gwangju shabu-shabu lunch with galbi & carbonara: Shabu20

Shabu20 Gwangju Cheomdan is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant on Cheomdanyeonsin-ro in Buk-gu, Gwangju. On a weekday lunch visit, the basic half-and-half broth lunch course (₩24,900 per person, 80 minutes) covered 12+ plates of thin-sliced meat, galbi (Korean short ribs), carbonara and soy garlic chicken from the self-bar, then porridge and soft serve to finish. With easy parking and a self-bar that isn't overloaded, Shabu20 Gwangju Cheomdan makes a very satisfying lunch in Cheomdan.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangsan eel restaurant, 5 eels for 4 at Monday opening: Yuil Jangeo

Yuil Jangeo (유일장어) is an eel grill restaurant on Donggok-ro in Gwangsan, Gwangju, where diners pick their eel at the seafood counter and prepay, and the staff pre-grill it and bring it to the table. The writer's group of 4 arrived right at opening on a Monday, chose 5 eels, ate in a private room, and also tried the eel tteokgalbi (grilled eel patty) from the receipt-review event and eel soup for dessert. With eel at 29,000 won per kg, a huge parking lot and a self-serve bar, Yuil Jangeo is the place the writer will go back to whenever eel comes to mind.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju octopus buffet with 1.5-serving free fried rice: Sin Jjukkumi

Sin Jjukkumi Unlimited Refill Duam Branch is an all-you-can-eat jjukkumi (baby octopus) and pork belly buffet in Duam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. The writer chose the 23,500-won refill of jjukkumi, fresh pork belly and thin-sliced pork belly, paired it with mayonnaise and scallion salad from the self-serve bar, and finished with free flying fish roe fried rice that came out close to 1.5 servings. Sin Jjukkumi Duam has no dedicated parking lot, so you park on residential streets, but the jjukkumi sauce (neither too spicy nor too salty) and the tender fresh pork belly made for a big, satisfying meal.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Pasta restaurant in Sangmu, Gwangju: post-gym late dinner, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch (부엌간 상무점) is a pasta, risotto and pizza restaurant on Seogwangju-ro in Sangmu, Seo-gu, Gwangju. After work and a gym session, the writer ordered shrimp rosé pasta, abalone cream risotto, kung pao chicken pilaf and truffle mushroom pizza à la carte (20,000–22,000 won each), and the abalone cream risotto was the clear favourite of the four. The BUUK sign and entrance can be confusing on a first visit, but with the review-event pastry pie, Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is a very satisfying Western-style restaurant in Sangmu.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDong-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju octopus stir-fry, medium heat for spice-shy: Jjukkumi Sinnara

Jjukkumi Sinnara (쭈꾸미신나라) is a newly opened baby octopus (jjukkumi) stir-fry and hot plate restaurant on Mudeung-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju. A diner who can't handle much spice ordered the baby octopus stir-fry for 2 at medium heat for a late Saturday lunch, along with fried shrimp from the receipt review event and refillable corn from the self-serve bar. Even for the spice-shy, medium heat at Jjukkumi Sinnara only leaves your lips slightly tingling, making it an easy, filling meal.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYeosu, GwangjuRestaurants

Wood ear mushroom shabu-shabu buffet in Hakdong, Yeosu: Tongkeun Shabu

Tongkeun Shabu is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant on Mangma-ro in Hakdong, near Yeosu City Hall. The writer went with their parents and ate as many wood ear and white wood ear mushrooms as they wanted, along with sushi, yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), pizza, pomegranate and plum drinks, and the 1++ hanwoo chuck from the review event. For mushroom lovers and families dining out with older parents, Tongkeun Shabu is a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored

PlaceBuan, JeonbukRestaurants

Gyeokpo Korean restaurant: braised hairtail, galbitang at Gyehwado

Gyehwado (계화도) is a Korean restaurant in Gyeokpo, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan, Jeonbuk, right in front of Sono Belle Resort. Four people shared a braised hairtail set for 2, one galbitang (beef short rib soup) with abalone and one cockle bibimbap, and found the clean broth, generous cockles and mild braised hairtail sauce all satisfying. With a spacious dining room and free parking, Gyehwado is a good meal stop for families and groups traveling around Byeonsan and Gyeokpo.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored

PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Never-frozen pork belly at a Gwangju jjukkumi buffet: Sin Jjukkumi

Sin Jjukkumi Unlimited Refill Duam Branch is an all-you-can-eat jjukkumi (spicy baby octopus) and pork belly buffet in Duam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. The reviewer chose the jjukkumi + fresh pork belly + thin-sliced pork belly refill for 23,500 won, grilled jjukkumi and pork belly side by side on a half-and-half pan, and finished with flying fish roe fried rice. The fresh pork belly, which turned out to be tender rather than frozen, ended up being eaten more than the jjukkumi. Thanks to a sauce that even spice-shy eaters can handle and fresh pork belly wrapped with pajeori (scallion salad), Sin Jjukkumi Duam is worth the extra 2,000 won for unlimited pork belly.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored

You've reached the end · 11 stories