Gwangju Italian restaurant for red shrimp seafood paella: Camel Orzo

Do you know Camel Orzo, the atmospheric and delicious Italian restaurant in Sangmu, one of Gwangju's best-loved spots? It's especially famous for its paella, pasta, and wood-fired pizza!

Today I ordered the red shrimp mare paella and the polpo gamberi pasta :) I'll walk you through the vibe, the parking tips, and whether the paella really tasted like something out of Europe — plus how big the portions were~!

Where Camel Orzo is in Sangmu, Gwangju, and how to book

Camel Orzo sits on the first floor of the Urban Peak commercial building in Sangmu! It's not far from Uncheon Station either, so it's well within walking distance if you're looking for a restaurant near Uncheon Station :) I booked through Tableing, and as soon as the reservation was confirmed, I got a text with confirmation and parking support info right away.

Especially in Gwangju or Sangmu, you often end up driving, right? Having such detailed parking info sent ahead really helped when finding the way!

Parking: 2 hours free at the Nice Park Chipyeong lot

I used the Nice Park Chipyeong lot, which gives 2 hours of free parking. A full 2 hours free means you can take your time eating without rushing!

The in-store kiosk also has detailed parking info displayed :)

Camel Orzo's exterior and outdoor terrace seats

Right from the building's exterior, there's a huge photo of Italian dishes hanging up — it's almost overwhelming just looking at the food photo, haha.

And you can tell right away from the outside that the place is huge, right?

It says 'Italian dining pizzeria,' and apparently this place is really famous for its wood-fired pizza too? Already excited haha.

Another perk of Camel Orzo — there's outdoor terrace seating! Haha it reminded me of eating at a European dining terrace last year while enjoying the view, and just thinking about it makes me all soft inside,,haha.

When the weather's nice, having a simple brunch on the terrace while soaking in the outdoor atmosphere sounds lovely :)

At the front of the restaurant, Camel Orzo's business hours, break time, and last order time are all clearly posted!

What the name Camel Orzo means

The meaning behind the name Camel Orzo is also explained in detail!

• Camel: desert camel
• Orzo: barley

It's a compound meaning dishes made with the time and care put in slowly, like a camel crossing the desert!

You could glimpse the owner's philosophy in the name — focusing on the essence of ingredients and staying true to the basics, haha.

Inside Camel Orzo and how the waiting list works

During peak hours, Camel Orzo gets crowded, so if there's a wait, you register at the machine below.

When your turn comes up, they notify you via KakaoTalk, so no worries there! The interior is gorgeous and looks really upscale!

The arched walls and brick textures had that authentic Italian feel haha. With various props and vintage framed pictures hanging around, it was also great for photos.

It felt like visiting a tourist attraction rather than just a restaurant! There was so much to look at, you might not even need to go sightseeing separately, haha.

Since I'd reserved ahead, there was even a welcome card waiting — with the reservation holder's name on a card placed right at the seat. The owner's attention to detail is amazing, right?!

The seats were super clean too! You order from the tablet at each table.

Camel Orzo menu and prices: what dinner for two cost

There's also a physical menu, which I photographed. Since Orzo means barley, apparently the rice dishes are characterized by having barley mixed in! Interesting, haha.

Here's what we ordered today~~:) For two people, we got today's juice, 2 croutons, polpo gamberi pasta, and red shrimp mare paella!

We ordered more than expected, but it came to just over ₩50,000! Pretty good value, right?!

There's currently a review event going on too~~!:) Post an Instagram story or leave a Naver receipt review and get a free Americano, fruit bowl, or gelato!

How the red shrimp mare paella, polpo gamberi pasta and juice of the day tasted

I was curious about today's juice, so I ordered it — apparently it changes day to day! Today's was pineapple and orange, freshly blended on the spot, and being made from real fruit, it was totally fresh!

Isn't the look gorgeous too? Kind of creamy and fluffy~~ Today's main dish, the red shrimp mare paella (mare paella, seafood paella), was a flavor I kept thinking about even after I got home! (That's how good it was~~)

Shrimp, mussels, and octopus were evenly spread across the top, and the cherry tomatoes and olives gave it perfect color! Taking a bite of the rice, unlike a normal paella, you could feel the barley — the dish really lived up to the name Camel Orzo (barley).

The polpo gamberi pasta (polpo, octopus + gamberi, shrimp) tasted like it could remind you of Spanish polpo! It was loaded with octopus and shrimp, so the seafood aroma was fully there too.

The octopus melts in your mouth. It was perfectly boiled, and the cherry tomatoes and shrimp harmonized well with the polpo oil pasta :) This was our signature pasta of the day, haha.

As for the portions — eating the pasta, the paella, and today's juice thoroughly between the two of us left us completely full! No dessert needed afterward, just so you know~~

Is Camel Orzo worth a visit in Gwangju?

If you're looking for an Italian restaurant with great atmosphere among the restaurants in Sangmu, I recommend Camel Orzo! I came away feeling completely refreshed, haha. It's a great spot not just for dates but also for family gatherings. You could really feel the owner's care throughout the place.

Taking a bite of the rice, unlike a normal paella, you could feel the barley — the dish really lived up to the name Camel Orzo (barley).