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Cafés, restaurants and places in Gwangju, written by bloggers who went there.
Kim Taeju Seonsan Gopchang, Yongbong Branch, is a gopchang hot pot restaurant in Buk-gu, Gwangju. The two-person hot pot was simmered with fresh kimchi, followed by rice and fried rice. Verdict: a deeply spicy, satisfying meal for a soup-craving day.
Tams Badaetgaja is a lobster course restaurant in Dong-gu, Gwangju. I had the Tams Course for 74,000 won, from crackers and soup to live lobster and dessert, and looked around its private rooms and group seating. Tams Badaetgaja is a polished choice for family gatherings or formal meetings.
Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is a pasta and brunch restaurant in Seo-gu, Gwangju. After a 40-minute Saturday afternoon wait, we had carbonara with a poached egg, Kung Pao chicken pilaf, and Fema Nong jambon pizza. Verdict: worth revisiting for a date or get-together, even with a wait.
Eco Revi Hair & Spa Gwangju Hanam Branch is a hair salon in Gwangsan, Gwangju, offering scalp and hair consultations alongside styling services. I had a build perm with CS curls to tidy up my very loosened hippie perm, plus face-shape advice and at-home volume styling tips. A comfortable choice for tidying up a perm with a thorough consultation.
Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch is a gukbap restaurant in Buk-gu, Gwangju, serving Jeolla-style rice soup and Jeju-style bracken hangover soup. We enjoyed thick bracken soup with perilla seed powder, sundae assortment gukbap, and a free children’s meal. Verdict: a wonderfully filling family meal, even for someone who usually skips gukbap.
Ravenna is an ocean-view Italian restaurant in Soho-dong, Yeosu. We ordered the Hot Seafood Ttukbaegi Pasta S and Gat Kimchi Pilaf S, both loaded with ingredients and generously portioned. Verdict: a great choice for a relaxed meal with a sea view.
Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch is a pho restaurant in Buk-gu, Gwangju, near the university’s back gate and Buk-gu Office. We tried classic pho and mala-tang pho, then went back for free noodle and bean-sprout refills. Verdict: a place I’d happily revisit if you love pho, haha.
Mayway (메이웨이) is a Chinese restaurant in Gwangsan, Gwangju, known for house-made noodles and jjukkumi stone jjajang. We tried the 32,900-won jjukkumi stone jjajang and the 12,900-won set meal, finishing the leftover sauce as fried rice with green-onion kimchi. Verdict: generous, great-value food, especially the spicy stone jjajang.
Jwasuyeong Baguette Burger is a café near Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, Gwangju, serving baguette burgers and sea-breeze mugwort desserts. On an impromptu Yeosu trip, I tried the burger, Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort ice cream, and thick macarons; the burger stayed on my mind the longest. Verdict: a great light stop after Yi Sun-sin Square and Jinnamgwan.
Avocado Yeosu is an avocado dessert café near Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, Gwangju. After a meal, I enjoyed a nutty, not-too-sweet smoothie and ice cream topped with coconut chips, plus the avocado décor and photo booth. For a cool, clean finish to a meal, Avocado Yeosu is a great fit.
Deokeun Jangeo is a charcoal-grilled eel restaurant in Buk-gu, Gwangju. After a weekday lunch wait, we picked just over 800g of eel for about ₩40,000 and enjoyed self-bar sides and nurungji. Verdict: a satisfying spot for a filling plate of freshly grilled eel.
Kkankkanhan Jokbal is a jokbal and bossam restaurant in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan, Gwangju. We shared the 58,000-won half-and-half Friend Set with my cousin, husband, and child; it was plenty for three adults and one child, with baseball on the big screen too. Verdict: a relaxed, well-equipped choice for family meals or gatherings.
