Cheomdan, Gwangju duck restaurant with private rooms: Hyangchon Duck

Hyangchon Duck (향촌오리), Cheomdan 235-1 Wolgye-ro, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea (1st floor) Open 11:00, close 23:00

Is parking easy at Hyangchon Duck in Cheomdan?

Yes, there's a parking area right next to the restaurant, so parking was easy. I heard a roast duck place had recently opened in Cheomdan, so I stopped by for lunch >ㅇ<

I've struggled with parking in Cheomdan so many times, but the lot next to Hyangchon Duck meant I parked with no fuss. Done!

I booked ahead and arrived on time, and the staff guided us in quickly and kindly!

Hall or private room: how is Hyangchon Duck's seating set up?

Hyangchon Duck has both a hall and private rooms.

Even the hall is divided by partitions, so you can eat comfortably with your group. Maybe because it's a newly opened spot, the whole place felt pleasant and clean.

Is Hyangchon Duck a good restaurant to visit with kids?

There are a high chair and aprons you can use freely, and with the rooms we could eat with a child without worrying about the looks. We came as 4 adults and 1 child and were shown to a room.

At our table they had set out dipping sauces for the meat, kimchi, scissors, tongs and a ladle. Tableware, cups, gochujang sauce, wet wipes, tissues, sauce dishes and small plates were already on the table, so we didn't have to ask staff for anything and it was all very convenient.

And since it was a room.. haha, even eating with our super active little Kkultteok (my nickname for the kid), we didn't feel self-conscious. Loved that!

What's on the Hyangchon Duck self-serve bar?

The self-bar has ssam vegetables, plus kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) noodles, mushrooms and vegetables for the shabu-shabu, dongchimi (radish water kimchi), green onion kimchi and shabu-shabu broth. I kept running back and forth 😝

You can order whatever you like: sodas like Tums Zero, Coke and Sprite-style cider, all kinds of alcohol like Jinro, Chamisul, Terra and Cass, even kids' drinks ~

How many people do a half duck and a whole duck feed?

At Hyangchon Duck, half a duck serves 2 and a whole duck serves 3–4. If you find it hard to gauge amounts, use this when ordering ><

• Half duck = 2 people
• Whole duck = 3–4 people

We were four adults and one baby, and ordered a whole duck and perilla oil makguksu. You order on the tablet set up at the table. The staff were generally kind and the atmosphere was neat and tidy, so it was a good place to eat with my parents.

Free porridge served before the duck

Before the dishes were set out, Hyangchon Duck served a nutty porridge first. It had mushrooms and mung beans, and it was lovely to have on an empty stomach before the real feast.

Kkultteok must have liked it too, because he emptied two bowls, haha

Whole duck with the included shabu-shabu hot pot

The whole duck at Hyangchon Duck is for grilling or for the shabu-shabu~ Just from the color, it looked fresh.

When you order duck, a shabu-shabu hot pot comes included. The duck can be grilled, or simmered in the pot, which is a treat too.

If you need more vegetables, refill at the self-bar, and the kalguksu noodles are delicious, so please grab some before you leave 🥹👍🏻

Which sauces go best with the roast duck?

Soy sauce, wasabi, soy and salt all worked, but for duck, perilla powder plus gochujang sauce is the winner.

Because of how the edge of the grill is built, oil didn't splatter while grilling, which I liked, and the heat is strong, so the meat cooked as fast as beef.

Is Hyangchon Duck's perilla oil makguksu a mixed noodle dish?

The perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) at Hyangchon Duck was a brothy noodle served with broth on the side. I'd assumed perilla oil makguksu means mixed noodles, so this was a surprise. The toppings were generous, and the pop of whole black peppercorns was a real highlight!

The green onion kimchi was so good I kept eating it alongside ,,👀 hahaha

Juicy duck with its true flavor 🍗 The salt plus wasabi combo was great too

Finishing with kalguksu noodles in the shabu-shabu

I also brought the kalguksu noodles from the self-bar and added them to the shabu-shabu pot, and the noodles were really chewy ~~

Lots of clams, and the broth was clean-tasting, so I happily slurped it up

Blueberry sikhye and free coffee machines after the meal

Hyangchon Duck serves blueberry sikhye (sweet rice drink) after the meal, a refreshing palate cleanser.

They even thoughtfully have 2 coffee machines, so you can have an Americano, milk coffee or job's tears tea (yulmu-cha) as you like

Who is Hyangchon Duck in Cheomdan best for?

I recommend Hyangchon Duck in Cheomdan for dates and gatherings, a meal out with your parents, and anyone looking for a Gwangju restaurant with private rooms.