Suncheon gopchang grill revisit, now spicier: Gwangju Seoul Gopchang

Why I went back to Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon

Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon is a charcoal-grilled gopchang (beef intestine) place on Palma 4-gil in Suncheon, near Palma Gymnasium and Yeonhyang-dong. It's open 16:00–23:00 with last order at 21:30, and has Wi-Fi, group seating, takeout, separate men's/women's restrooms, and parking.

I paid out of pocket to visit Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon right when it opened ❤️ On that first visit I even waited in line, and it turned out better than expected, so the taste kept coming back to me every so often. So over the Chuseok holiday I went back again!

How to avoid the wait at Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon: a 4pm opening-time visit

Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon can have a wait if you go in the evening. Last time I went in the evening and had to wait, so this time, to avoid waiting, I timed my visit to the 4pm weekend opening 💨

I knew Gwangju Seoul Gopchang as a famous gopchang restaurant originally from the Songjeong area of Gwangju, so I was curious as soon as it opened here in Suncheon, where you can get the same charcoal-grilled gopchang. The restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly, so it's an easy place to eat, and more than anything the atmosphere is great for pairing gopchang with a drink, which is probably why a lot of people come in the evening 🍶

What I ordered: one plate of spicy gopchang and gukbap

On this revisit I again ordered one plate of spicy gopchang and gukbap at Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon. Same menu as last time — I remembered this combo being the tastiest, so I ordered the same thing again without a second thought 😆

The basic side dishes are set out neatly, with lettuce, perilla leaves, garlic, onion, kimchi, and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) served alongside. Gopchang is delicious on its own, but eating it wrapped is a different kind of appeal, so I made sure to grab plenty of lettuce and perilla leaves 🥬

How's the spicy grilled gopchang? Full of charcoal aroma, but spicier now

And finally, the spicy grilled gopchang arrived 🔥 The glossy gopchang comes with that distinctive charcoal aroma, and my appetite shot up the moment it hit the table 🔥 The chewy gopchang is coated in a sweet-and-spicy sauce that's so good you can't stop reaching for more!

But eating it again this time, I noticed one thing had changed. It felt noticeably spicier than the last time I had it 🔥

On my first visit it was a pleasantly spicy level, but this time it was quite spicy — people who don't handle spicy food well might find it a bit much.

Why gukbap pairs so well with the spicy gopchang

The gukbap at Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon has a mild yet savory broth that reins in the heat of the spicy grilled gopchang. I actually like spicy food, so I enjoyed it, but as I kept eating the spice really built up, and having a soup dish on the side was essential! So the gukbap I'd ordered alongside really shone,,, ✨ The gukbap broth is mild but savory, and the meat is more generous than I expected 🧡

A bite of spicy gopchang followed by a spoonful of hot broth washed the heat right away — eating the two together really worked well.

Rice-topped spicy gopchang wrap

When you order gukbap, a bowl of rice comes with it too, so I put rice on a lettuce leaf, added a piece of spicy gopchang, and wrapped it up — this is also a special treat 💛 Spicy gopchang sauce plus rice makes it hearty but still addictive! Personally, I found eating it wrapped like this even better than eating the gopchang alone.

If the spice is too much, what should you order instead?

If the spice level worries you, just order the regular grilled gopchang at Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon, and if you love spicy food, I recommend the spicy grilled gopchang and gukbap combo. 🙌🏻 It feels perfect for a stressful day when you want something spicy with a drink! Having visited when it first opened and again now, the gopchang was still delicious, and this time I really got to appreciate the charm of the gukbap 💗

If you're looking for proper charcoal-grilled gopchang in Suncheon, this is worth a visit. If you need somewhere to eat near Palma Gymnasium, or somewhere in Yeonhyang-dong for gopchang with a drink, keep this in mind :) Once again I left Gwangju Seoul Gopchang Suncheon fully satisfied ❤️ Next time I visit, I'll probably order the spicy grilled gopchang and gukbap combo again!