# Gwangju Italian restaurant for Hanwoo mushroom paella: Camel Orzo - By Sian (https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-counter-seat/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Seo-gu, Gwangju - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a sponsored restaurant visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-counter-seat/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@yangnim-counter-seat/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/index.md) ## In short Camel Orzo is an Italian-style restaurant in Seo-gu, Gwangju. On a return visit, I had Polbo Gamberi Rucola and Hanwoo mushroom paella, loving the springy octopus and shrimp and the grilled beef-and-mushroom pairing. Verdict: a delicious, atmospheric meal with convenient parking. ## Good to know - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–23:00 - **Parking**: Parking available - **Amenities**: High chairs, group seating, separate restrooms for men and women - **Ordered**: Hanwoo mushroom paella; Polbo Gamberi Rucola *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ## Italian-style dining in Sangmu-dong with parking It was such a delicious, upscale Western restaurant that I came back after my first visit! This is Camel Orzo, a new go-to Italian-style spot in the Switzen shopping complex in Gwangju. Parking in Sangmu-dong is so difficult, right? But Camel Orzo has several parking options, so it is really convenient! I parked in the Switzen shopping-complex lot, which was nice and close because it is in the Switzen building. Just keep in mind that the lot can fill up on weekends~ It was quite spacious on weekdays! ![Parking information for the Switzen shopping complex](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-01-18zmc-900.webp) Isn't the exterior so pretty?? They say it captures European Italian dining, and it has such an elegant feel, like you have arrived in Italy^^ The beautiful exterior alone put me in a good mood. There is also a terrace outside, so brunch here on a lovely day like these would feel so nice, haha. There were actually lots of guests eating on the terrace~ I was a little sad to eat indoors because of the baby ㅠㅠ It was so pretty that I even took a video~! It feels like Italy, haha (I have never been to Italy). ![Camel Orzo exterior with an Italian dining atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-02-15hzr-900.webp) ![Camel Orzo exterior with a terrace](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-03-uhilu-900.webp) ![European-style atmosphere at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-04-a6ehh-900.webp) ## Classic interior and a high chair The interior is wonderfully classic too~ With its stylish, European-like atmosphere, I feel like the delicious food would taste even better. ![Classic interior space at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-05-1nsy6-900.webp) They have a high chair too. Personally, I like chairs with a baby set in front, and this feels like a restaurant with that kind of thoughtful consideration. ![High chair at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-06-1mjll-900.webp) The tableware is set like this, and the staff come by to pour your water. ![Tableware setting at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-07-mqoh2-900.webp) ![Table setting at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-08-mq8bq-900.webp) ![Dining table at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-09-1mrgy-900.webp) ![Tableware and table setting at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-10-1xf6c-900.webp) ![Dining-area table at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-11-1m0f1-900.webp) ![Tableware at a Camel Orzo table](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-12-1ueom-900.webp) ![Indoor table setting at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-13-f72zp-900.webp) ## An easy-to-choose menu with photos Here is the menu. We ordered the Hanwoo mushroom paella and Polbo Gamberi Rucola. It was great that the menu included photos, making it easy to understand and choose the dishes~ Sometimes a description alone does not tell you what a dish is, but Camel Orzo's menu feels thoughtful because it comes with photos too. ![Camel Orzo menu with photos](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-14-kp3ji-900.webp) Pickles are also set out as a basic side. ![Complimentary pickles](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-15-16flw-900.webp) ![Basic pickle setting at Camel Orzo](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-16-1ljk6-900.webp) ## Polbo Gamberi Rucola, ordered again This dish is Polbo Gamberi Rucola. I had this pasta on my previous visit and it was so delicious that I ordered it again. I totally fell for it after trying it~ First of all, it has big pieces of octopus, and the savory green pesto sauce is the key. It is a harmonious pasta where pesto meets a truly delicious aglio e olio. It has plenty of octopus and shrimp, giving it a wonderful texture. ![Polbo Gamberi Rucola with octopus and shrimp](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-17-16x5f-900.webp) The octopus and shrimp were nicely seasoned and savory, so I really enjoyed them. Their texture was delightfully springy too. I thought the pesto and aglio e olio worked incredibly well together. ![Polbo Gamberi Rucola green pesto pasta](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-18-1aqkp-900.webp) ## Hanwoo mushroom paella with beef and mushrooms This is the Hanwoo mushroom paella. Doesn't it look appetizing just to see it~? It has the kind of visual you would expect from a Gwangju brunch. ![Hanwoo mushroom paella](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-19-12pt4-900.webp) Sliced beef was laid over the top, alongside large diced king oyster mushrooms that had been grilled. The grilling was perfect, the seasoning was just right, and it was so delicious. And the beef goes without saying, haha. The mushrooms were really good too! ![Paella topped with beef and king oyster mushrooms](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-20-1s2n4-900.webp) ![Hanwoo beef and grilled mushroom paella](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-21-132gi-900.webp) Maybe because it is Hanwoo beef, it just melts in your mouth~ I already love king oyster mushrooms, so I thought the combination of meat and mushrooms, along with the distinctive paella sauce, worked beautifully. ![Hanwoo paella with meat and mushrooms](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-22-15ngq-900.webp) Can you see those thick mushrooms?? The texture is incredible when you bite into them. The garlic was grilled in big whole cloves too, giving it such deep flavor. ![Thick king oyster mushrooms and whole garlic cloves](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-23-3zn1p-900.webp) ![Paella with grilled mushrooms](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella-24-s17le-900.webp) I really love paella, and having deliciously grilled meat and mushrooms on top made the flavor even deeper~ The portion was larger than I expected too. I felt satisfyingly full after finishing it. The atmosphere is lovely, of course, but this is truly a brunch spot where the food is delicious. Since it is in the easy-to-reach Switzen shopping complex, I recommend having a meal at Camel Orzo on a fine day, where the atmosphere is great and the food is even better^^ I ate so well ❤️♥️ ## Where it is - Camel Orzo (카멜오르조) - 261 Uncheon-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea - 전남광주통합특별시 서구 운천로 261 어반피크 상무 1층 102호 카멜오르조 - 35.1559146, 126.8540002 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%B9%B4%EB%A9%9C%EC%98%A4%EB%A5%B4%EC%A1%B0/@35.1559146,126.8540002,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-counter-seat/gwangju-sangmu-mushroom-paella/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt