Spicy grilled gopchang in Suncheon vs Gwangju: Gwangju Seoul Gopchang

Today I visited Seoul Gopchang in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon, a place where you can enjoy grilled gopchang (beef intestine) and sundae gukbap (blood sausage soup) together. I'd tried the original Seoul Gopchang in Gwangju before, so I was curious how the Suncheon branch would compare — and it turned out the grilled gopchang tasted quite similar to the original, which made me happy. The Suncheon branch also has a cream sundae gukbap that the original Gwangju location doesn't have, so I ordered that too, and it was surprisingly smooth and savory — really satisfying.

For parking, you can just park along the roadside in front of the restaurant. Or there's a public parking lot if you go around behind the main street, and you can park there and walk over.

Where is Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon, and what does it look like?

This branch is located in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon. If you're looking for a good spot for dinner and a drink with gopchang in Yeonhyang-dong, this location is worth noting. When we visited, there were already quite a few customers eating, and overall it had the vibe of a neighborhood gopchang joint people drop into easily.

They're open as usual during this year's Chuseok holiday too, so I'll have to bring friends here when they visit Suncheon.

What is the dining room like inside?

Walking in, I noticed every table had ordered grilled gopchang along with a drink. Nearly every table around us was going through several bottles. If you're looking for a gopchang spot in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon that's not too formal but perfect for a relaxed drink with gopchang, this is the place. It might be the best spot around for a casual neighborhood drink.

The restaurant is spacious, the tables are wide, and the owner was friendly, so even as first-time visitors we felt comfortable.

Menu and prices: spicy grilled gopchang 28,000 won, cream sundae gukbap 12,000 won

We ordered spicy grilled gopchang and cream sundae gukbap. The spicy grilled gopchang was 28,000 won and the cream sundae gukbap was 12,000 won. With two of us, ordering one grilled gopchang and one gukbap let us try a variety of dishes, which was nice. The cream sundae gukbap in particular is a menu item we hadn't seen at the original Gwangju Seoul Gopchang, so out of curiosity we ordered it at the Suncheon branch.

If you take part in the receipt event, you get one free drink — alcoholic or non-alcoholic — so make sure to join in.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

True to its reputation as a gopchang restaurant in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon, the side dishes came out generously. Unlike the gopchang jeongol (hot pot) places most people are familiar with, Gwangju Seoul Gopchang serves grilled gopchang, and it's incredibly chewy and delicious. It's so famous in Gwangju that pretty much everyone from there has tried it, and it seems it's franchised its way to Suncheon now.

If you run out of any side dish, you can just grab more from the self-serve bar.

Does the spicy grilled gopchang taste like the Gwangju original?

Having visited the original Gwangju Seoul Gopchang before, I found the grilled gopchang at the Suncheon branch tasted quite similar overall.

The distinctive flavor of gopchang combined with the spicy seasoning made for a great drinking snack. I ordered the spicy version, and it was spicier than I expected.

It was completely chewy with a nice grilled, smoky flavor — really delicious. Maybe because it was spicy, it came with mayonnaise on the side, and eating it wrapped in lettuce with the mayo was fantastic.

What struck me most was that the tables around us kept drinking as they ate the grilled gopchang — after trying it myself, I understood exactly why it's such a popular drinking food. They also kept a candle lit underneath so it stayed warm throughout, which I really appreciated.

I used to be sad that grilled gopchang was only available in Gwangju, so I'm thrilled there's now one in Suncheon. I'm sure I'll come back whenever I'm craving it.

Cream sundae gukbap, found only at the Suncheon branch

The cream sundae gukbap sounds different from a typical sundae gukbap just from the name, and it really was — the broth was incredibly smooth and savory.

Maybe because of the cream, it felt much softer than a regular sundae gukbap, and the savory flavor really came through. Personally I prefer broths that are smooth and savory rather than heavy or intense, so I enjoyed it quite a bit.

It was also great to order alongside the grilled gopchang, using it to cool down the spiciness in between bites. It's loaded generously with ingredients too. If you don't want to just stick to grilled gopchang, or want a soup dish alongside it, definitely order the cream sundae gukbap — it was my first time trying it, and I was surprised by how good it was.

Honest verdict on Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon

Having tried the original Gwangju Seoul Gopchang before, this visit to the Suncheon branch was fun to compare against. The spicy grilled gopchang tasted quite similar to the Gwangju original, and it was spicier than expected, so if you're not great with spicy food, keep that in mind. On the other hand, the cream sundae gukbap — only available at the Suncheon branch — was an interesting find, and its smooth, savory flavor was quite good.

The owner was friendly and the atmosphere was easygoing, perfect for gopchang and drinks in the evening. If you're looking for a gopchang restaurant in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon, go for the spicy grilled gopchang with a drink, and if you want something a bit different, order the cream sundae gukbap alongside it too.