Gwangju Korean restaurant for sundae and makchang hot pot: Gujeon

When I was craving a hot bowl in Yongbong-dong

On days when the mornings and evenings are chilly like this, or when I randomly start craving something hot and brothy, nothing beats gukbap (rice soup) or hot pot. I visited Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch (구전국밥 용봉본점) in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat around Chonnam National University or the Yongbong district, you may have heard of this place. What I especially liked was that it is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you can have a warm meal even late at night. This time, we ordered the sundae and makchang hot pot for ₩30,000, and the broth was seriously spot-on. It would be great with drinks or as a hangover cure :)

What about parking and seating?

Up to five cars can park for free behind the restaurant, and the original post says curbside parking around the restaurant is also possible from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Worth keeping in mind if you are driving.

It is conveniently located near the center of Chonnam National University and the Yongbong district! More than anything, I loved that it is open 24/7, all year round! It looked good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a late-night meal, or a hangover-curing visit.

There are counter seats that make solo dining easy, regular tables, and group seating, so it did not feel daunting to come alone. It also seemed fine for a family meal, a get-together with friends, or a company dinner. There are lots of gukbap places when you look for good food in Yongbong-dong, Gwangju, but not that many that work so well for everyone from solo diners to groups, you know?!

Ordering the ₩30,000 sundae and makchang hot pot

Menu information

The menu we ordered that day was the ₩30,000 sundae and makchang hot pot.

It was generous enough for three people, so it seemed perfect to order one hot pot with a drink or have it as a meal with rice. As it started bubbling, the aroma of the broth rose up, and it looked like it was made for rice, haha. There was an ample amount of sundae and makchang, so it was fun fishing out the ingredients, too. Eating them with the broth made it feel like a truly filling meal!

Free sticky rice, roasted seaweed, and spicy kimchi

Gujeon Gukbap says it serves house-cooked sticky rice and roasted seaweed for free, carrying the memories and home-style touch of the sticky-rice grandmother who was loved for 45 years in front of Namgwangju Market.

They say it is nice to first have a bite wrapped in the spicy kimchi and roasted seaweed served alongside it, then enjoy it with the gukbap or hot pot.

It was fun that even these basic side dishes carried a story from the restaurant, and my parents really liked them too. Top appetizer spread award goes to you—

Ampong sundae and a hot-pot broth that deepened as it simmered

Personally, my favorite thing in the hot pot was the ampong sundae!!

The sundae was not just loosely filled; it was packed all the way through, so it had a proper bite and the rich, nutty flavor of the filling came through nicely. The characteristic chew of the makchang alternated with the soft, clean taste of the sundae, and I kept reaching for more.

And the broth, haha, seriously... it was delicious ㅠㅠ At first it was spicy and savory, then as we kept simmering and eating, flavors from the ingredients joined the broth and it seemed to grow deeper! It was not just aggressively spicy; it was spicy but savory, so it worked well with rice and paired beautifully with drinks too.

If you are looking for a hot pot in Yongbong-dong, Gwangju, I think this is one you should definitely try. With its spicy, deep broth, chewy makchang, and generously stuffed ampong sundae, it is the kind of flavor that makes you think of a shot of soju, haha. On the other hand, even if you do not drink, mixing rice into the broth makes for a filling meal, so it seemed good for a hangover too. Being open 24 hours is a huge plus when you suddenly crave something brothy late at night!

Kimchi made the appetite come alive even more

There are lots of people who think kimchi is important at a gukbap restaurant, right?

I always end up eating more gukbap when the kimchi is good, and the kimchi here was spicy and tasty. Have a spoonful of hot-pot broth, then add a piece of kimchi, and that spicy kick instantly wakes up your appetite. The hot pot itself is already on the spicy side, so eating it with kimchi makes it a little more intense, and it went well with rice too.

Seasonal bibimbap from the review event

We also joined the review event and received seasonal bibimbap (mixed rice).

Sometimes review-event food comes in a small portion and feels a bit thrown together... but this place always exceeds expectations! The portion was just right to have with the hot pot, and it tasted good too.

I especially recommend adding a little sesame oil! The nutty sesame-oil aroma really brought the bibimbap to life, making it great to alternate with the hot pot. One bite of broth, one bite of bibimbap, then a piece of kimchi—and before you know it, your spoon just keeps moving, haha. It did not feel like something carelessly served just because it was a review event. So good, so good.

Why it is good for dining with a baby

When you are raising a child, the food matters when dining out, of course, but whether you can bring your child along matters more than you might think. Gujeon Gukbap says it provides a free children's meal for children under 48 months, with beef-bone soup, roasted seaweed, sausage, seasonal fruit, and more, and it also has high chairs.

It seemed like a good option for people looking for a family dining spot with young children. There are seats for a comfortable solo meal, as well as spaces for families and groups, so being able to use it for all kinds of situations is another advantage!

Final thoughts after the meal

• Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Sundae and makchang hot pot — ₩30,000
• Generously filled, plentiful ampong sundae
• Spicy and savory hot-pot broth
• Spicy, addictive kimchi
• A substantial seasonal bibimbap is also offered through the review event
• Adding sesame oil boosts the bibimbap's flavor
• Free children's meal for children under 48 months
• High chairs and group seating available
• Free parking for up to five cars behind the restaurant
• Takeout and group orders available

For a gukbap restaurant, the three important things are broth flavor + kimchi + generous portions, and the combination at Gujeon Gukbap was quite satisfying this time. The sundae and makchang hot pot is a dish you can enjoy with drinks, then finish with a filling bowl of rice, so it made me want to try the other gukbap dishes next time.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat near Chonnam National University, or craving warm, brothy food even late at night, stop by :) As someone raising a child, I was able to enjoy a comfortable meal here too, so I would love to return for another menu next time 🤍