Passing Plate · 15 stories

A Plate in Passing

Writes about restaurant meals encountered around Gwangju and Jeolla. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju lamb skewers, Terra beer & jisamseon on a Friday: Jangbaeksan

Jangbaeksan Yangkkochi Songjeong (장백산양꼬치 송정본점) is a lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant on Songjeong-ro 1beon-gil near Songjeong Station in Gwangsan, Gwangju. After work on a Friday, the writer ordered 2 servings of lamb skewers, jisamseon (stir-fried potato, eggplant and pepper), corn noodle soup and Terra beer. The complimentary seasoning powder and the pickled chili in the corn noodle soup were the standout flavors. Jangbaeksan Yangkkochi Songjeong is a good dinner-and-drinks stop when you're near Songjeong Station and craving lamb skewers.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju gukbap spot for a day-off lunch of zucchini gukbap: Gujeon

Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch is a 24-hour gukbap (Korean rice soup) restaurant at Jeoncheolu Intersection in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. On a day-off lunch, the writer had zucchini gukbap, assorted sundae (Korean blood sausage) gukbap and 5-piece meat mandu for ₩5,000, all clean-tasting with no gamey smell. Sticky rice and seaweed come out first, and a free baby meal for children under 48 months draws many families. Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch suits a filling lunch or a glass of soju after a baseball game.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangsan eel grill, pre-cut eel, Family Month gift sets: Yuil Jangeo

Yuil Jangeo is a charcoal-grilled freshwater eel restaurant on Donggok-ro (Bongnyong-dong) in Gwangsan, Gwangju, serving Korean eel. On a return visit, the writer chose eel by 2–4 person portions and paid upfront, and Yuil Jangeo served it cut into bite-size pieces and pre-grilled, so it only needed a light finish over charcoal; the table setting fee is ₩4,000 per adult. With a large parking lot and private rooms, Yuil Jangeo is a solid pick for family gatherings or treating your parents.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Naebang pie café: sugar-free MIX2 8-slice set, Hodukkakki Brothers

Hodukkakki Brothers Bangbae branch is a handmade walnut pie dessert café near Exit 8 of Naebang Station in Seocho, Seoul. After a stop at the Express Bus Terminal, the writer took home the MIX2 set of 8 slices in 4 flavors to share with their child. The milk cream pie and the macadamia cheese pie were the standouts. With pies made without refined sugar and a cute gift box, Hodukkakki Brothers is a strong pick for gifts.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulCafés

No-flour café in Mia-sageori: affogato date at Dangara Gwajajeom

Dangara Gwajajeom (당가라과자점) is a sugar-free, flour-free keto dessert café tucked down an alley near Mia-sageori in Gangbuk, Seoul. On a hot afternoon date, the blogger ordered maesil (green plum) ade, affogato, black sesame cheesecake and a chocolate cashew financier, then browsed Dangara Japhwajeom, the variety shop on basement level 1. Dangara Gwajajeom is a sunny, cozy date café in Mia-sageori that delivers both flavor and healthier desserts.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Rainy weekend duck BBQ lunch in Cheomdan, Gwangju: Hyangchon Duck

Hyangchon Duck (향촌오리) is a newly opened charcoal-grilled duck restaurant on Wolgye-ro in the Cheomdan area of Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, serving blueberry-cured duck with unlimited shabu-shabu and house-made kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). On a weekend lunch when it rained all day, a family of three ordered a whole duck (60,000 won) and ate everything from mung bean porridge to kalguksu and blueberry sikhye (sweet rice drink). With duck BBQ and shabu-shabu in one meal, Hyangchon Duck suits anyone looking for a family gathering spot in Cheomdan.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan Terminal milmyeon spot, last-day trip mul and bibim: Samsam

Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch (삼삼밀면 본점) is a milmyeon (wheat cold noodle) restaurant in Dal-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, behind Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal. On the last day of an Ulsan trip, the writer stopped by around 11am and had both the mul milmyeon (cold broth noodles) and the bibim milmyeon topped with raw fish, alongside a warm broth simmered from Hanwoo cow bones. With 1 hour of free parking at the partner lot across the street, a short menu and fast turnover, Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch is a good-value spot for a quick meal before or after the terminal.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Neapolitan pizza in Sangmu, Gwangju: shrimp aglio e olio, Camel Orzo

Camel Orzo is a wood-fired pizza and pasta Italian restaurant on the 1st floor of Urban Peak Sangmu in Sangmu, Seo-gu, Gwangju. For a weekend lunch at Camel Orzo, the blogger ordered the Camel Margherita pizza and the Chodang red shrimp aglio e olio pasta. The chewy Neapolitan dough and the oil pasta sweetened with Chodang sweet corn both let the ingredients' natural flavors shine. For authentic Neapolitan pizza in Gwangju, Camel Orzo is well worth recommending.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Gimhae Korean restaurant, ray set for 4 and a baby tray: Gaya Kkeutjip

Gaya Kkeutjip Samgye is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Gaya-ro in Samgye-dong, Gimhae. On a trip to Gimhae, a family booked ahead and ordered four Kkeutjip steamed ray sets (₩23,000 each), which came as a full spread with clay-oven grilled mackerel, spicy marinated crab and beef seaweed soup, and Dad kept going back for the crab. With baby trays on hand, Gaya Kkeutjip Samgye is a solid pick for a family meal with parents in Gimhae.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangsan eel restaurant that ships eel gifts by courier: Yuil Jangeo

Yuil Jangeo is a charcoal-grilled freshwater eel restaurant on Donggok-ro in Gwangsan, Gwangju. Diners pick eel at the seafood counter, staff pre-grill it and bring it to the table, and diners finish grilling it themselves. The writer took the family to Yuil Jangeo for a hot-summer stamina meal on Jungbok (the middle 'dog day' of summer). Live eel was 29,000 won per kg plus a 4,000 won table fee per adult, eaten with green onion kimchi. Yuil Jangeo also ships eel by courier and accepts Gwangsan Sarang vouchers, and its spacious hall and group rooms make it a solid pick for Boknal family gatherings.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Pizza in Sangmu, Gwangju: margherita dipped in pasta sauce, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch (부엌간 상무점) is an Italian vintage hotel-themed Western restaurant on Seogwangju-ro in Seo-gu, Gwangju, a short walk from the busy center of the Sangmu district. On a weekend visit the writer ordered the basil margherita pizza (19,000 won) and the seafood tomato pasta (19,000 won), sat on the sofa seats for the first time, and found that dipping the mild pizza into the brothy tomato sauce made the best pairing. Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is a relaxed Sangmu brunch spot for pasta and pizza with no parking worries.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean restaurant in Cheongdam: dried shrimp pancake at Mimgye

Cheongdam Mimgye (청담 미미계) is a Korean restaurant specializing in chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and dakgomtang (chicken soup) on Hakdong-ro 77-gil, near Exit 8 of Cheongdam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After a skimpy lunch, the dinner order at Cheongdam Mimgye was half-chicken kalguksu, chogye guksu (chilled chicken noodles) served with the spicy mixing sauce on the side, and a first-ever dried barley shrimp scallion pancake. Cheongdam Mimgye is an affordable place for a filling meal, and the nutty dried shrimp pancake is well worth ordering with a drink.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored