Gwangju restaurant for family lobster celebrations: Tams Badaetgaja

A reserved lobster-course meal on our Gwangju trip

On a long-awaited trip to Gwangju, I was wondering where to eat, and this time we went to Tams Badaetgaja for a lobster course meal!! I had heard it was a place where you could enjoy lobster as a course in Gwangju, so we made a reservation and visited. The restaurant was more spacious than expected and had such a clean atmosphere that I thought it would be great for a family gathering or an important meal.

Tams Badaetgaja has its own parking lot beside the building, plus a large public parking lot below, so parking was not much of a concern.

Since we had reserved, there was even a list of reservation names on the sign at the entrance, which made our room easy to find. Inside, the clean, well-kept tanks were full of lobsters. Seeing them in person, they definitely looked fresh, and it was nice to be able to check with my own eyes what kind of lobster they use!!

Course and lobster guide

There were lots of menu options, from lunch specials to courses that families could enjoy together. Tams Badaetgaja uses Canadian lobster, and they say it takes about 10 years for one to grow to 1 kg...!!!!

• Tams Course: 600–700 g, 7–8 years old
• Couple Course: 1.6–2 kg, 16–20 years old

Course prices can vary according to the lobster grade. If there are no live lobsters in the tank or it is difficult to serve raw lobster, they use cooked or previously frozen lobster instead. Still, they said they basically insist on fresh, grade-A live lobster, and I could feel their pride in the food!

In particular, Tams Badaetgaja is the only place in Gwangju where you can taste a lobster course meal.

Quiet private rooms for family occasions

They said that opening the doors between rooms allows group dining for up to 38 people, so it looked like a good venue for family occasions or group gatherings too.

Each room is separate, which made it nice for a quiet meal. The room we reserved had floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the scenery; sunlight poured in, and the view was prettier than I expected, so I felt happy throughout the meal :)

The Tams Half Course and its main lobster

We ordered the Tams Half Course, which includes half a lobster per person, so it felt like the table was filled to the brim.

First came a nutty black sesame salad, kimchi, pickles, and more, followed by soup and a jellyfish cold salad that really awakened our appetites.

Then we had noodles in a spicy broth simmered with crab meat. The broth had a gentle kick and plenty of savory depth, making it nice to eat between courses.

At last, the main lobster appeared! Lobster topped with cream sauce arrived with fried rice, and it looked delicious—but more than anything, the lobster meat was seriously substantial!!! 🤤💛

The meat was springy and lightly sweet, and I understood why this place is known for lobster courses in Gwangju. We could also hear little stories about lobster along the way, which made it more fun than simply eating.

The fried rice was stir-fried with butter and bell peppers, so it was nutty yet clean-tasting. It was a pretty good match with the lobster meat too.

At the end, they served homemade sujeonggwa (Korean cinnamon punch), which wrapped everything up refreshingly. The dishes came out one at a time, making it easy to enjoy a leisurely meal, and the private room meant we could talk as a family without worrying about those around us. So, for anyone looking for a Gwangju lobster course and hoping for a special family meal or a gathering in a spacious, clean room, I think Tams Badaetgaja would be a good choice!

It seems especially nice for a day when you want a somewhat special meal, like taking your parents out or holding a family celebration. Since you can enjoy a generous lobster course that is not something you eat every day, the meal itself felt like an event. If you are looking for a lobster course in Gwangju, I think it is worth visiting at least once :)