Enoki-wrapped pizza at a Gwangju Suwan brunch restaurant: Bueokgan

I was looking for a nice-atmosphere restaurant in the Suwan district and visited Bueokgan Suwan Branch (부엌간 수완점) in Gwangju.

It's a place where you can enjoy a wide range of Western menu items that everyone tends to love, like pasta, pizza, and risotto — so it looked great for lunch, brunch, or a date spot.

What are the mood and seating like at Bueokgan Suwan Branch?

The first thing that caught my eye walking into Bueokgan Suwan Branch was the open kitchen. It wasn't fully closed off — it was open enough that you could naturally see the food being prepared. Restaurants with open kitchens tend to feel more energetic since the atmosphere of the cooking space carries right through the room. It felt comfortable and casual.

Seating was made up of a bar table and 4-seat tables. The bar table suited two people sitting side by side who wanted to feel close to the kitchen atmosphere, while the 4-seat tables — from the outdoor terrace to the indoor tables — looked good for a more relaxed, spacious meal.

What comes in the couple B set for two?

We ordered the couple B set at Bueokgan Suwan Branch and picked garden salad, abalone cream risotto, and basil margherita pizza for the menu. For drinks, we chose grapefruit ade and apple Earl Grey ade. With two people, being able to put together salad, main dish, pizza, and drinks all in one set was more convenient than picking everything separately. It was a great fit for anyone who wants to try a little of several dishes.

Do check out the video too!

Garden salad

The garden salad had that clean, fresh vegetable flavor come through nicely. It also had bacon and cherry tomatoes, but only enough to blend naturally with the vegetables, so it was easy and light to eat.

Grapefruit ade and apple Earl Grey ade

The grapefruit ade had that distinctive grapefruit tartness along with a subtle bitterness. After eating something as savory and creamy as the abalone cream risotto, it felt refreshing in the mouth. The apple Earl Grey ade combined apple's sweet aroma with the subtle scent of Earl Grey tea. It felt softer and more fragrant than the grapefruit ade, and would appeal to anyone who likes sweeter drinks. Personally, I liked the apple Earl Grey ade better!

Abalone cream risotto with grilled enoki mushrooms

The abalone risotto came out with grilled enoki mushrooms on top. The rich flavor of the risotto cream combined with the umami of the abalone gave each grain of rice more texture than a typical cream risotto, leaving behind a subtle, savory-salty taste from the abalone.

Wrapping the enoki mushrooms in the pizza like this made them even tastier.

Basil margherita pizza, wrapped around the enoki

The basil margherita pizza had that classic combination of tomato sauce, cheese, and basil.

You could really taste the basil, and even the crust was delicious all the way through — never got tiring.

Why pasta is next on the list at Bueokgan Suwan Branch

I'd like to recommend Bueokgan Suwan Branch to anyone looking for a comfortable date restaurant. This time we chose abalone cream risotto and basil margherita pizza instead of pasta, but since it's a place with such a wide range of Western dishes, I'm already thinking I'd like to try the pasta menu next time. Between the freshness of the garden salad, the savory softness of the abalone cream risotto, the fragrant basil margherita pizza, and the two ades, it was a hearty and satisfying meal.