Gwangju Italian lunch set in Sangmu: cuttlefish aglio olio, Camel Orzo

What kind of restaurant is Camel Orzo?

Camel Orzo is an Italian dining restaurant on the 1st floor of Urban Peak Sangmu, 261 Uncheon-ro, in Sangmu District, Gwangju. I'd been curious about it since I heard it's run by an owner-chef with 25 years of experience. It's open 11:00-23:00, with break time weekdays 15:30-17:00 / weekends 16:00-17:00, and last order is 22:30.

Sangmu's go-to Italian spot — I went for a weekend lunch, wanting to enjoy some nice autumn sunshine after a while :)

Parking and how to find Camel Orzo in Sangmu

Camel Orzo is a bit of a walk from Exit 3 of Uncheon Station, so I drove. The Suwichen commercial parking lot and Nice Park Gwangju Chipyeong parking lot are both free for 2 hours regardless of weekday or weekend, so it wasn't a burden. The Suwichen lot is accessed through the alley between Hamane Agujjim and Nutty Donuts, which might be a little confusing if you're going for the first time *_*

Camel Orzo's exterior and dining room

The exterior really caught my eye right away. With an Italian flag hanging and the CAMEL ORZO sign mounted stylishly against beige tiles, I could see why it's known as a Gwangju date-spot restaurant too. The small potted plants by the entrance were neatly arranged, making it a great photo spot too 😊

Once you step inside, there's a row of rattan chairs and wood-tone tables, and the antique gold pendant lighting cast a soft glow that felt surprisingly atmospheric. One wall was lined with wine bottles and decor pieces, so just sitting there was a treat for the eyes, haha. Even the floor tiles had the 1970 (founding year) logo and brand emblem engraved in them, so you could tell they'd thought about every detail.

What comes in the 43,600-won signature set?

I ordered the Signature Set. It came with truffle mushroom soup, jambon salad, and bourdetaga cuttlefish aglio olio pasta.

Truffle mushroom soup and baguette

The truffle mushroom soup came out first, and dipping the baguette in gave that extra layer of nuttiness. Dried shiitake, parsley, and thinly shaved parmesan were on top, so the aroma was strong, and the bread was crisp outside, soft inside — dipping it into the soup was fun 😋

Jambon salad

The salad came with figs, orange, and burrata cheese together, and the saltiness of the ham balanced perfectly with the tangy-sweet fruit. Arugula and radish were added too, so it looked pretty and definitely had that in-season feel.

Bourdetaga cuttlefish aglio olio pasta

The main, bourdetaga cuttlefish, came out scampi-style, with the cuttlefish sliced thick, giving it a chewy texture, and mixing it with the noodles really brought out the savory flavor. The buttery aroma was subtle so it wasn't greasy, finishing clean.

Set prices, reservations, and the verdict on Camel Orzo

Camel Orzo's pricing is split between the Famiglia Set at ₩117,000 and the Signature Set at ₩43,600, so you can choose depending on party size or occasion. I'd made a reservation, so I was seated right away with no waiting, which was another plus. Each plate showed more care than I expected — it was a much more satisfying course than I'd anticipated once I actually tried it.

You could really feel the care in every dish, and it's a place where even going solo, you can enjoy a hearty course-style meal. If you're looking for a proper Italian lunch in Sangmu, or want to treat yourself nicely even eating alone, I'd confidently recommend it :) If you're looking for a proper Italian course meal in Sangmu, or a spot for a family gathering or a date, I'd like to recommend Camel Orzo. Next time I want to come back for dinner and try the cheese platter too :)