Round Stool Wanderer · 6 stories

A Stool in Jeolla

I share first-hand restaurant visits from Gwangju and Jeolla. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

Suncheon gamjatang spot: pork-bone army stew with a kid, Namdareun

Namdareun Gamjatang Suncheon Jorye branch is a pork bone hot pot (gamjatang) restaurant in Jorye-dong, Suncheon, that also serves army stew (budae-jjigae) and pork cutlets. The writer and a child ordered the medium Namdareun army stew with big pork backbones for 32,000 won, then used the unlimited broth and ramen noodle refills for a second round. For a family whose child has just started eating spicy food, the army stew at Namdareun Gamjatang is a good pick for a hearty, spicy meal out.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangyang, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangyang eel grill, Yi Sun-sin Bridge view my parents loved: Deokeun

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch (더큰장어 광양점) is a grilled eel restaurant at 101 Hangman 9-ro in Gwangyang, where diners choose domestic Japonica freshwater eel (pungcheon jangeo) at the 1st-floor shop and grill it over real charcoal in a 2nd-floor sea-view hall. The writer took their parents during the 10% lunch discount, grilled the eel and finished with flying fish roe rice balls, and even the parents, who are sensitive to eel smell, were very satisfied. Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is a recommended family meal in Gwangyang: a restorative eel lunch with the Yi Sun-sin Bridge in view.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSuncheon, JeonnamRestaurants

Spicy burger takeout in Suncheon: Hot Forest set at Burger Forest

Burger Forest is a handmade burger restaurant in Wangji-dong, Suncheon, near Suncheon Lake Park. The writer's family eats at Burger Forest at least once a month, and this time they took a Hot Forest Burger set and a single Chili Shrimp Burger home for lunch; the sturdy packaging kept both burgers intact, and the fillings were generous. For anyone in Suncheon who wants a spicy handmade burger, takeout or dine-in, Burger Forest is the classic spot people keep coming back to.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangyang, JeonnamRestaurants

Gwangyang BBQ near Donggok Valley with snail ssamjang to go: Mamison

Mamison Hangari BBQ is a jar-smoked Korean barbecue restaurant in Ongnyong-myeon, Gwangyang, Jeonnam, about 5 minutes by car from Donggok Valley. A family of three ordered the half-and-half jar set for 3 and ate pork belly, galbi (marinated ribs), grilled rockfish and the owner's homemade side dishes until stuffed, then took home an extra tub of ureong ssamjang (mud snail dipping paste). With generous portions, the owner's home-style cooking and a spacious dining room, Mamison Hangari BBQ is now this family's regular stop after a valley swim.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceDamyang, GwangjuCafés

Damyang café with blueberry smoothie & tissue bread: Frank Coffin Bar

Frank Coffin Bar Damyang is a bakery café at the entrance to Meta Provence in Damyang, with window seats and a terrace overlooking the Metasequoia Road. On a Damyang trip with her mother and child, the writer ordered a blueberry smoothie and hot chocolate, plus tissue bread with whipped cream, a Dubai croissant, a dirty choco chocolat and an egg tart. Thanks to its rich drinks and wide range of breads, Frank Coffin Bar Damyang is a café the whole family vowed to revisit.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSuncheon, GwangjuRestaurants

Family cockle restaurant in Suncheon for 3 generations: Dowongyeong

Dowongyeong is a Korean set-meal restaurant specializing in cockle set meals on Suncheonman-gil near Suncheon Bay Wetland in Suncheon. After a first visit with her husband, the writer returned to Dowongyeong with her parents and child for a three-generation meal. They ordered the basic cockle set meal, served with soybean paste soup, and the whole family was happy because the seasoned raw cockle salad, cockle pancake and cheese cockle hamburg steak were all mildly seasoned. Dowongyeong is an easy Suncheon pick even if someone in your group isn't a big cockle fan.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored

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