Sangmu, Gwangju restaurant: Mediterranean octopus at Camel Orzo

Camel Orzo location and opening hours in Sangmu, Gwangju

Camel Orzo is a Western-style restaurant on the first floor of Urban Peak, 261 Uncheon-ro, in Gwangju's Sangmu district. It's open daily from 11:00 to 23:00 (last order 21:00), with break time on weekdays from 15:30 to 17:00 and on weekends from 16:00 to 17:00.

I visited Camel Orzo, a well-known Western food spot in Gwangju's Sangmu district. It had been a while since I chose a Western menu, and I was very satisfied with the cooking style that highlights seasonal ingredients and the natural flavor of fresh seafood, along with the owner-chef's thoughtful, polished dishes!! 😊

Both the dining room and the outdoor terrace had such an exotic vibe that just being at Camel Orzo felt like a special little trip.

What is the atmosphere like at Camel Orzo?

"The last chapter of Maekmundong, an old-style Western restaurant infused with the owner-chef's soul: Camel Orzo"

Having gone through various brunch restaurants like Queen's Kitchen Studio, Covent Market and Tate Modern Maekmundong, hearing this was the final chapter naturally raised my expectations for the food.

The sleek, sophisticated interior and warm, sentimental atmosphere make it a great spot for gatherings, family meals or dates too.

How to order at Camel Orzo and current events

At Camel Orzo, once you're seated, they greet you with a neat table setting, and you can order right away using the tablet T-order. There are various events running too — all-day draft beer 1+1, a dessert happy hour, and coupon benefits when you reserve through Naver — so keep that in mind!!

There are so many events that it'd be a shame to just eat and leave, so try to grab the extra perks while you're there.

What we ordered at Camel Orzo and menu prices

• Sweet corn ricotta salad (18.6)
• Camel di Polpo (26.5)
• Manjo Crema Risotto (22.5)

Just looking at the visuals, you can feel the sincerity of the chef's cooking philosophy — focusing on the essence of the ingredients and staying true to the basics.

Sweet corn ricotta salad

This sweet corn salad stood out for its fresh, varied combination of ingredients!! Made with the tastiest summer-season sweet corn, domestic jambon, ricotta cheese, nectarines, cherry tomatoes and various vegetables, it was a menu item that nailed both looks and flavor, packed full of freshness.

Camel di Polpo: Mediterranean-style octopus

Camel di Polpo is a Mediterranean-style octopus dish where the octopus is steamed for a long time, then seared crisp on the outside in olive oil, served with roasted potatoes, sweet pumpkin purée and a special sauce. 🐙

With a soft yet chewy, springy texture, squeezing lemon over it and adding the special sauce made me realize just how properly that one sauce alone was made. The octopus wasn't tough at all — clean, and it naturally brought out the seafood's own flavor. A must-order menu!!

Manjo Crema Risotto with galbi steak

A nutrient-packed Manjo Crema Risotto combining moist Korean-style marinated galbi (short rib) steak, grill-roasted mushrooms and whole garlic!! A crispy pastry on the side added a fun texture, and the natural stock and fresh cheese gave it really great flavor.

As I ate, I noticed they use basic fresh ingredients, but their sense for how to use those ingredients is really, really good!!

Is Camel Orzo worth a return visit?

Every dish I ordered was satisfying, which made me curious about the other menu items — apparently every plate here is a canvas holding the chef's soul, which makes Camel Orzo all the more exciting!!! Throughout the meal the service and atmosphere were kind, and there wasn't a single thing lacking in taste or service, so I'll be back again soon.

If you're looking for a proper Italian restaurant in Gwangju, I recommend Camel Orzo, a well-known spot in Gwangju's Sangmu district.