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Cafés, restaurants and places in Gwangju, written by bloggers who went there.
Kkankkan Jjokbal Suwan Branch is a Korean restaurant in Gwangsan, Gwangju, serving charcoal-grilled jokbal (braised pig’s trotters) and other jokbal dishes. I had the 42,000 won charcoal-grilled jokbal with soft tofu stew, steamed egg, and spicy mini bossam from the review event. Verdict: a great pick for a different kind of jokbal with a subtle charcoal aroma.
Camel Orzo is an Italian restaurant in Sangmu District, Seo-gu, Gwangju. My husband and I had arugula bulgogi pizza and cuttlefish aglio pasta for lunch, and especially loved the chewy crust and bright lemon finish. Verdict: Camel Orzo is a place I’d happily return to.
Tongkeun Shabu is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant near Yeosu City Hall in Yeosu. Choose from classic, sukiyaki, mala, or chicken-bone broth, then fill up on pork, beef brisket, sushi, chicken, yukhoe, and more for 26,900 won on weekdays. Tongkeun Shabu is a hearty pick for a family meal, haha.
Deokeun Jangeo is a freshwater eel restaurant on Hangman 9-ro in Gwangyang, Gwangju. Diners choose Korean farmed Japanese eel downstairs, then grill it over charcoal upstairs with eel tteokgalbi and rich eel soup. For a family meal, order grilled eel and eel soup together.
Hols Men’s Hair is a men’s hair salon in Hadang, Mokpo. With hair still too short for a perm, he kept length on top and had his naturally wavy sides smoothed with a down perm and cut. Verdict: a neat, wedding-ready dandy cut with room to grow out for a future perm.
Yuil Jangeo is a freshwater eel restaurant in Gwangsan, Gwangju, where diners grill farm-direct eel over charcoal. My parents and I enjoyed a 3-person eel set for ₩42,000, rich eel soup, and eel tteokgalbi; Yuil Jangeo is a great-value choice for a family restorative meal.
Hoyang Horim is a hanok-style roastery café in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. I tried house-roasted decaf hand-drip coffee, sweet pumpkin injeolmi waffles, and Gaeseong juak ang-butter. Verdict: a lovely spot for coffee and traditional desserts in a serene hanok setting.
Bueokgan Suwan Branch is an Italian restaurant in Suwan District, Gwangju. A repeat visitor ordered seafood tomato pasta, basil Margherita pizza, and a glass of white wine. Verdict: a lovely choice for generous pasta and chewy pizza in a pretty setting.
Mujinjang Sik-yuk Kkori Gomtang is a Korean restaurant near Pyeonghwa Square in Mokpo, Gwangju. On a late lunch visit, I tried its clean, deeply flavored broth, tender beef tail meat, and bright tangy sauce. A comforting, filling meal worth considering.
Jumak Inho is a Korean restaurant on Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju, serving gukbap at lunch and snacks with traditional drinks in the evening. Four of us stopped by for a second round and enjoyed rice soju, chilled pork, soft tofu stew, and fried octopus with potato dumplings; the calm wooden interior was a highlight, though the brisket soybean-paste rice bowl was sold out.
Chomyeon is a cocktail bar on the second floor near Dongmyeong-dong’s dining alley in Gwangju. I visited with a friend for five cocktails and salsa nachos; its quiet mood, bar seats, smoked Godfather, and rich espresso martini stood out.
Gujeon Gukbap Yongbong Main Branch is a Korean restaurant near Jeon Cheol-woo Intersection in Yongbong-dong, Gwangju. I had spicy zucchini gukbap and mixed spicy pork gukbap for dinner; the broth and generous pork were good, though our meat dumpling order was missed.
