Gwangju Italian restaurant couple set with truffle pizza: Bueokgan

While out around Sangmu District at lunchtime, I ended up stopping by a European-style restaurant.

A European-style space made for a Sangmu District date

This European-style restaurant in Sangmu District has exactly the right atmosphere for a date, so anyone looking for good pasta in Sangmu District has probably heard of it at least once. Parking is available behind the building, so I could head in without worrying about the car. Its black-toned exterior, striped awning, and row of potted plants made it stand out from afar. There is also a separate outdoor terrace, which looked like it would be lovely for a coffee on a nice day.

The moment I walked in, I understood why they say the interior was inspired by the Titanic ballroom. Antique décor unfolds before you, with black wood furniture, gold lighting, and sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows creating a truly distinctive mood :) Vintage plates and little objects decorate the walls, while mirrors and lights are placed throughout, so I thought any seat would make for good photos. The tables are nicely spaced out, and each wooden table has a tablet ordering device, which made ordering easy. When I was shown to my seat, a staff member even asked first, “Would you like a window seat?” I loved getting to sit somewhere with such beautiful natural light 😊

What comes in the couple set?

That day, I ordered the couple set, which came with garden salad, truffle mushroom pizza, shrimp anchovy oil pasta, and grapefruit ade all at once.

Being able to enjoy two mains in one set was another satisfying point—it meant we could have a full meal without overthinking what to order.

Starting fresh with the garden salad

The garden salad arrived first. It looked fresh from the start, topped generously with arugula, radicchio, cherry tomatoes, and grated Parmesan. The tangy dressing perked up my appetite, making it an easy, refreshing start before the mains.

Truffle pizza and anchovy oil pasta

For the mains, the truffle mushroom pizza came out first, and its mound of chewy mushrooms was seriously impressive. One bite in, the subtle aroma of truffle oil spread through the pizza, with the chewy mushrooms and cheese coming together so well that I kept reaching for more 😋 The crust was thin and pleasantly chewy too, and what could have felt rich finished surprisingly cleanly. Next came the shrimp anchovy oil pasta, said to be Bueokgan’s signature menu item. The plump shrimp and anchovies were beautifully infused with the oil, giving it a savory, deeply umami flavor.

The noodles were cooked nicely al dente, so they stayed pleasantly chewy throughout. I think pasta lovers would be very satisfied.

The grapefruit ade was filled with ice and little bits of sweet-tart grapefruit pulp, making it perfect for a cool palate cleanser. The couple set itself was reasonably priced, too. There was a bit of a wait because it was the weekend, so I recommend making a reservation before you go. Both the food quality and the atmosphere were much better than I expected, and it made me want to come back during weekday brunch next time. If you are looking for a date-course stop or good pasta in Sangmu District, I think Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is well worth a visit *_*