Gwangju Italian restaurant: truffle gnocchi and prosciutto pizza

It had been a while since I’d had a craving for a brunch spot in Sangmu District. I looked around for somewhere good, saw lots of positive reviews for Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, and went!! The interior especially was totally European—sort of like an Italian vintage hotel. It seemed to be a hot spot around Sangmu District and Geumho-dong too, since there was even a wait when we visited 🥹

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch location and hours

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch

It is located across from Jjamppong Jijeon. There are so many good places to eat nearby, so it was not difficult to find. Bueokgan is a great pasta spot in Gwangju!!

Daily 11:00–22:00 Break time 16:00–16:30 Last order 21:00

There is a parking lot behind the building. It can be confusing with the other stores’ parking areas, but there are signs, so just keep an eye out. I liked that the spaces were not cramped. When I asked about parking, they said that during lunchtime you can also park along the road, in the shared lot behind Jjamppong Jijeon, or at Mudeung Church’s parking lot!

There was a wait on weekends. You write your name down by hand, and they call you. As break time gets close, it says that reservations are closed, so be sure not to arrive too late. How do I know? I did not want to know either, haha.

European-style exterior and high-ceilinged interior

The outside was decorated so beautifully. I have been to Italy, and seeing this place made me feel like I had come back to Italy. There are outdoor tables too, and they are seriously so pretty. In Italy, after a meal, I would leisurely have coffee outside before heading back to whatever I was doing. I miss that 😣

Do not enter through the exit—make sure to go in through the front entrance. It is easy to enter through the exit from the parking lot, but you have to see the pretty atmosphere at the front. The mirror was lovely, so I even tried taking a selfie?

I was genuinely surprised by the high ceiling as soon as I walked in. It was obviously indoors, but it did not feel stuffy at all, and the interior was done so well. It felt vintage yet classic, like I had arrived at a luxury hotel, which put me in a good mood for no reason. I heard that some of the finer details were inspired by the ballroom in Titanic! I wanted to sit by the window, but I had not reserved a table, so I could not. If you want a round table, definitely, definitely make a reservation. When we went, around two or three tables were reserved.

They also have high chairs, so I think it is a good place for moms bringing babies. It seemed like lots of people come for family gatherings or group dinners too. About half the tables when we visited were family groups, and brunch menus feel like such a good choice for a family gathering. On a Saturday or Sunday morning, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes the day feel special.

What comes with Couple Set B

They have set menus, so I ordered one too. I chose Couple Set B. It is known as a great pasta spot in Gwangju, and I was sooo curious about the gnocchi. There are seriously not many places that do gnocchi well!

• Garden salad
• Truffle mushroom cream gnocchi
• Arugula prosciutto pizza
• Grapefruit ade
• Iced batch-brew coffee

They give you a pastry pie if you save the place on Naver and write a receipt review. Something to note if you think the portions may not be enough!

From grapefruit ade to gnocchi and prosciutto pizza

The ade and iced Americano came out first. The grapefruit ade had a nice balance of sweetness and tartness. The iced Americano was full-bodied with no acidity! I do not really like acidic coffee, but this coffee was dark.

Then came the salad. We ordered the basic green salad, and it had arugula on top. If you are ordering the arugula prosciutto pizza, I recommend the Caesar salad instead. (I am a pig who likes lots of different flavors.) The salad had so many colors, and the sweet dressing went well with it—it was perfect for waking up my appetite before the meal. The ham was salty, and the vegetables were incredibly fresh and crisp. Good.

The next dish was mushroom truffle cream gnocchi. At first I thought, are these fried potatoes? But it was gnocchi. The truffle aroma came through too, and it was seriously rich and thick 👊 The mushrooms went so well with the gnocchi. So glossy and delicious.

You can see those fluffy potatoes, right? The gnocchi and sauce went together so well that we wiped the sauce clean, haha. It really is a great pasta spot in Sangmu District. Totally approved as a Gwangju pasta restaurant too. When we were leaving, I noticed everyone ordered at least one or two pasta dishes. Because it is delicious, of course.

The pizza that came with the gnocchi! This is the arugula prosciutto pizza. When you are having European-style food, arugula is practically essential, right? The menu marked the prosciutto pizza and jambon pizza as best sellers, and after going back and forth, I chose the arugula one.

You can see the cheese stretching, right? And maybe because it is oven-baked pizza, the crust was so crisp. I normally do not care much for the outer crust of pizza, but it was honestly so delicious. The arugula and prosciutto went together so well too. Though really, what would not?

Arugula, cheese, and ham is truly just...

If the pizza feels a little mild and you want it spicier, drizzle on the Tabasco at the side. Their Tabasco was not the red one we know—perhaps because it uses green peppers.

A group shot once everything was out! With pizza, pasta, salad—the classic combination—and two drinks, I think I would have this same combination next time too. It is such a perfect brunch lineup, so I recommend it. If you prefer soup over salad, you can get Set A instead, so the choices are good. I can eat two or three servings of meat by myself when I go out, but after finishing all this, I was pleasantly full.

Why I recommend it for brunch in Sangmu District

If you are looking for brunch in Sangmu District, I recommend Bueokgan Sangmu Branch. Everything here was delicious in exactly the right way—not too much and not too little. The brunch flavors are well tailored to Korean tastes too. I especially love pasta like gnocchi, so this is a great pasta spot in Sangmu District..!! The table next to us was having a pre-wedding meeting, and you know you need somewhere with atmosphere for that kind of occasion. It was a restaurant that fit that perfectly 🫶🫶