Rainy weeknight Italian dinner in Sangmu, Gwangju: Camel Orzo

I was looking for a nice-atmosphere Italian spot in Sangmu and found somewhere that truly delivered. I'd had this place bookmarked ever since I passed by while eating at a nearby restaurant, and I finally chose it as my last meal before heading back to Seoul at the end of my vacation!! It was so much better than I expected — the atmosphere, the food, the service — all of it. This is Camel Orzo.

Near-full even on a rainy weekday evening

Camel Orzo is a place I'd recommend not just for dates but for family meals and gatherings too. It was surprising to see it almost fully booked on a weekday evening, in the rain.

Watching guests keep streaming in, it was clear this place already had a lot of word-of-mouth buzz. There can even be a wait on weekends or during peak mealtimes, so I'd recommend booking ahead through Table Ring.

• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
• Break time: 15:30–17:00
• Last order: 21:00
• Address: 261 Uncheon-ro, Urbanpeak Sangmu 1F, Unit 102, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea

Parking in Sangmu — Camel Orzo has 4 partner lots

Parking is always the biggest headache when eating out in Sangmu, right? But Camel Orzo really impressed me by offering support at a whopping four different lots.

The Switzen commercial building and Nice Park lots both offer 2 hours of parking support on weekdays and weekends, and the Peace Park underground lot gives 1 hour if you bring your parking ticket. The Megabox annex lot gives 1 free hour from 11am to 4pm on weekdays, so you can just pick whichever suits your situation.

A bright European feel, like being abroad

A space that puts you in a good mood the second you walk in. Camel Orzo has a slightly different vibe from your typical Italian restaurant — the entrance already has an exotic terrace feel, and the warm, upscale interior made me feel like I'd stepped into a restaurant overseas.

Turns out it's run by an owner-chef with 25 years of experience, doing Italian dining. They say they focus on using seasonal vegetables and fresh seafood to bring out natural flavors, and hearing that naturally raised my expectations for the food. The staff were also so kind — every time I ordered or asked for something, they made it easy and comfortable, and these little details made the whole meal feel even better.

A great Sangmu brunch café for group gatherings too

The Camel Orzo space was bigger than I expected, with a variety of tables. They have seating for 4 up to 6, which looked great for friend gatherings, family meals, or even wedding-invitation meetups with a group.

Ordering was done via tablet, so I could take my time browsing the menu comfortably. There's a really wide selection — pizza, pasta, risotto — so you can pick whatever fits your mood. They even had a seasonal-limited sweet corn menu, which made choosing even harder haha.

Truffle mushroom soup

The first dish to arrive was the truffle mushroom soup. From the first spoonful, a subtle truffle aroma spread through — not too strong, so it was easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. I also liked that the mushrooms weren't blended too smooth, keeping some texture to bite into.

The portion was quite generous too, plenty for two people sharing one bowl, and dipping the bread that came with it was really good. On the way home I even looked up the recipe because I wanted to try making something similar myself.

A Gwangju brunch pizza pick: arugula gamberi pizza

This was the dish I was looking forward to most, and it exceeded expectations~~ Big shrimp sautéed in butter piled generously on top, and the arugula — which isn't cheap — was added without holding back. It was much more generous than the menu photo suggested, and I was happy the moment I saw it ❤️

The dough had that chewiness typical of wood-fired pizza while still being soft and fluffy. Garlic sauce and tomato worked their way through, keeping it light and never greasy, so I kept eating without getting tired of it.

Bottarga cuttlefish pasta, tried for the first time

The dish that left the strongest impression that day was the bottarga cuttlefish pasta. The cuttlefish was piled on generously, giving a great chewy bite, and long strips of zucchini cut noodle-thin made it even more special.

The oil didn't sit on top but soaked naturally into the ingredients, and a slight spicy kick at the end kept it from feeling greasy. Cuttlefish usually starts smelling fishy pretty quickly, but this one had me impressed right up to the last bite.

It was a completely different style from the pastas I usually see, which made it feel even more special — a dish I'd want to order again next time.

Various ongoing events made it even better

There were so many events going on that it would've felt like a waste to just eat and leave. Takeout drinks are 20% off, and in August there was a 1+1 draft beer event running. If you join the review event, you can get your choice of an americano, fruit bowl, or gelato — definitely worth joining if you visit.

Final thoughts

If you're looking for a good Italian restaurant in Sangmu, Camel Orzo is more than satisfying. The food shows the skill of a 25-year owner-chef, the ingredients are fresh, the service is kind, and the atmosphere feels like being abroad — nothing to complain about at all. I'd confidently recommend it to anyone looking for a date spot, planning a family meal or wedding-invite gathering, or searching for a Sangmu brunch café or a great Gwangju brunch pizza spot. Next time, I definitely want to try more of the menu.