Korean restaurant in Gwangju for perilla leaf beef wraps: Dugeori

Dugeori Usintang, famous in Jeonju, also has a branch in Gwangju’s Hyocheon district, so I visited the nearby Imam Branch. True to its reputation as a great Hyocheon-district spot, the owner was so kind, the meal was delicious, and it is somewhere I want to revisit next time.

Dedicated Parking and Restaurant Atmosphere

Dugeori Usintang has its own dedicated parking lot, which was great because there was no need to worry about parking. It is generously sized in the alley behind the restaurant.

It is at 119 Hyocheon 3-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, opening at 10:30 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m. Last orders are at 9 p.m., and yes, there is dedicated parking ⭕️

The dining room is quite spacious. I arrived around 5:30 p.m., but after 6 it was packed with diners—definitely a popular Imam-dong restaurant.

Further inside, there are separate tables for company dinners and group reservations, so groups would do well to reserve before visiting.

Dugeori Usintang’s special hot pot and Usin jjim (braised beef) are sold only after 1 p.m., so you have to go for dinner to try them, haha. They would be great for curing a hangover or as food with drinks 💛

Ordering Usin Jeongol and Galbitang

They simmer the broth from the morning, so you can enjoy fresh broth and ribs every day. Usintang is a spicy beef soup, while special hot pot and Usin jeongol are spicy beef hot pots. That is an easy way to think of it if usintang is unfamiliar.

We reserved in advance. We ordered the Usin jeongol for two at ₩22,000 and galbitang (beef short-rib soup) at ₩14,000.

There were four basic side dishes in all. The baek kimchi (white kimchi) was so refreshing and delicious, and I was pleasantly shocked by how good the salted squid was!

They are also running a receipt-review event. Pay first with a staff member and ask for a receipt; once your review is complete, they give you a cup of ice cream for free ✨

Dugeori Usintang is a chain that started in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, in 2003 and has its main branch in Jeonju. Be careful: if the Dugeoridaek logo is missing, it may be a similar trademark 🚫

The self-service bar was neatly arranged. There were kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), baek kimchi, sauces, and perilla leaves that you could serve yourself. The perilla leaves with the shabu-shabu beef were such a perfect match that I kept going back for more.

Spicy Usin Jeongol in Perilla Leaf Wraps

The owner kindly explained how to eat it, too. Unlike usintang, which comes in an earthenware bowl, Usin jeongol has a different charm, rather like shabu-shabu.

They said it tastes even better if you add all the fresh shabu-shabu ingredients at once and let the broth reduce a little. Another top tip: eat the beef with sauce and perilla leaves.

The broth was perfect with soju. It was not overly spicy, just pleasantly punchy, and so good with rice.

You absolutely have to wrap the shabu-shabu beef and mushrooms in perilla leaves like this. The perilla aroma goes incredibly well with the spicy beef.

There were rib bones in the pot, too, but not a single piece was tough—the meat came right off, so I ate that with perilla leaves as well.

The pot rice was genuinely delicious, too. The difference between Usin jeongol and the special hot pot is that Usin jeongol comes with sticky pot rice, while the special hot pot includes udon noodles, rice porridge, or pot rice, so you can enjoy it like a shabu-shabu course.

Galbitang Loaded with Ribs and Scorched-Rice Pot Rice

I had heard this was a galbitang favorite, and it really was: the broth was flavorful and rich, with an amazing amount of ribs. Add the pepper served alongside to season it to your taste. Galbitang is soul food for parents, and I highly recommend this Gwangju galbitang spot.

The meat was truly tender. The ribs slipped right off, and the meat was soft, flavorful, and completely free of any smell. My dad said it was so good, haha.

The sticky pot rice with nurungji (scorched rice) was reaaally delicious. There was just the right amount of crisp rice, and it made a hearty meal with the salted squid.

For dessert, nostalgic hard ice cream bars are sold for ₩1,000. It had been a while since I had one, and it was a delicious finish to this dinner. My mom raved about the Usin jjim she had in Jeonju and said she fell in love with it, so I want to come back for that, too. Especially if Dugeori Usintang’s distinctive shabu-shabu in Imam-dong appeals to you, I highly recommend the Usin jeongol or special hot pot..!