Italian weekday lunch in Sangmu, Gwangju: truffle crema, Camel Orzo

If you're looking for a proper Italian restaurant in Gwangju, try Camel Orzo, run by an owner-chef with 25 years of experience.

Camel Orzo location, parking and the weekday lunch wait

Camel Orzo is on the first floor of Urban Peak in Sangmu, Gwangju, and you can use the Urban Peak building parking lot or the outside lots. But at mealtimes the lots seem to be full almost all the time 😭 (probably because Urban Peak Mall has so many good restaurants ㅠㅠ)

I went at weekday lunchtime, and there were 8 parties ahead of me alone~! If you're visiting on a weekend or in the evening, I recommend 💡a Naver reservation💡.

What's the atmosphere like at Camel Orzo?

Stepping inside Camel Orzo, the atmosphere was every bit as good as the exterior. Thanks to the stylish interior and soft lighting, it felt like traveling to an Italian restaurant abroad. There were lots of couples on dates, but also families having meals and groups of friends.

We ordered the arugula lamberry pizza, truffle nuovo crema, the soda of the day and an iced americano~! Camel Orzo is an Italian dining restaurant run by an owner-chef with 25 years of experience, and they say they build their dishes on authentic Italian cooking with seasonal ingredients and fresh seafood. It's a place known for dishes that are hard to find in Gwangju and for a high level of polish, so I was excited even before the food came out.

What does Camel Orzo's soda of the day taste like?

Camel Orzo's soda of the day is made with fresh fruit that changes daily, and today we got grapefruit soda 👍 haha

Arugula lamberry pizza: how's the wood-fired crust?

The dough of Camel Orzo's arugula lamberry pizza, baked in a wood-fired oven, was really good. 💯 It was crispy outside and chewy inside, with a nutty flavor the more I chewed.

Every ingredient was fresh, and I thought I was right to order this one. I immediately understood why it's called a top wood-fired pizza spot in Sangmu.

The fragrant arugula blended well with the toppings, and from the first slice I kept reaching for more.

Can you enjoy the truffle nuovo crema if you dislike truffle?

⭐Truffle nuovo crema⭐ was my personal favorite dish at Camel Orzo.

The truffle aroma wasn't too strong and spread subtly, pairing really well with the cream sauce. I personally don't like truffle, so I hesitated, but I really enjoyed it!🔥

When I popped the egg yolk on top and mixed it in evenly, the truffle aroma spread naturally with every bite and gave it a luxurious taste.💕

Cream pasta can get heavy, but the truffle nuovo crema wasn't overwhelming at all, and the noodles were cooked just right, so the texture was satisfying too.

Sweet potato fries with pistachio honey sauce

We also added the sweet potato fried as a side at Camel Orzo~!

It comes with a sweet ⭐pistachio honey⭐ sauce with nuts you can bite into, so it's fun to chew, and I recommend it as a side.

Would I return to Camel Orzo? Free takeout of leftovers

We had some pizza left over at Camel Orzo, and when I asked the staff to pack it, they neatly boxed it up 🧁 at no extra charge. The staff stayed friendly until we finished, so we wrapped up the meal on a good note.

If you're looking for a restaurant with a nice atmosphere in Sangmu or a special date spot, Camel Orzo is the first place I'd recommend. With wood-fired pizza baked on the spot, flavorful pasta, kind service and a charming space, it has it all, so next time I'll definitely ✔️book on Naver✔️ and try other dishes too.