Gwangju brunch restaurant truffle mushroom pizza to go: Bueokgan

Today I had a mother-daughter date in Gwangju. Trying to decide on lunch, I skipped Korean food and went for Sangmu-area brunch instead — we visited Bueokgan! Here's my honest review of the brunch we had at Bueokgan in Sangmu.

Where is Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, and where do you park?

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is at 25 Seogwangju-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 1st floor, on the way from Sangmu to Seogwangju Station. Hours are 11:00–22:00 with last order at 21:00, and break time is 16:00–16:30.

• Address: 25 Seogwangju-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 1st floor
• Hours: 11:00–22:00 / last order 21:00
• Break time: 16:00–16:30
• Parking: lot behind the building; Mudeung Church parking lot also available

Bueokgan sits on the road between Sangmu and Seogwangju Station. I used to carpool from Seogwangju Station back in the day and never knew there was a brunch spot here — I only found out on this visit.

Bueokgan is right before you pass the Starbucks, with a parking lot behind it. You can also use the Mudeung Church parking lot. (Easy parking really does make for a better meal!)

Titanic ballroom-inspired interior and seating at Bueokgan

The European vibe starts right from the awning out front at Bueokgan Sangmu Branch. Apparently the interior is actually modeled after the ballroom in Titanic, haha. There are tables outside too, so once it gets a bit cooler, eating outdoors would be lovely.

The interior is clean and spacious. It's a good vibe for gatherings, with tables that work well for larger groups too. (Honestly it feels like the kind of place moms come for tea time after dropping the kids off at kindergarten.) Menu below ⬇️

Ordering by table kiosk: what we picked

At Bueokgan Sangmu Branch you order through the kiosk at your table. The menu is really varied. I wanted the pilaf too, but too many carbs means blood sugar spikes, so I held back. We ordered basil pesto cream pasta (with poached egg ⭕️) and truffle mushroom pizza.

The table comes with the flatware already set.

Basil pesto cream pasta with an added poached egg

We ordered Bueokgan Sangmu Branch's signature basil pesto cream pasta. The poached egg is optional — you can add it or skip it.

I went with the poached egg! Having the egg gives it a deeper, richer feel, haha (just my personal taste). Basil and cheese are piled on top of the egg, and the whole dish is finished with the cream sauce poured over it.

This cream sauce is different from carbonara — a light, non-greasy basil pesto cream. Parents can be picky about pasta like this, but my mom loved it! A pasta flavor even the older generation enjoys!! (She basically ate more than half of it herself... well, fine, this gestational diabetes mom will let it slide ㅠㅠ)

Truffle mushroom pizza and Tabasco sauce

Next up: truffle mushroom pizza. Pizza is one of the few foods that actually passes my glucose test 🥹

Bueokgan has all kinds of pizzas, and as a mushroom lover, I naturally went for the mushroom pizza. A bottle of Tabasco sauce comes along with any pizza order.

Look at the amount of mushrooms on there. Looks healthy just from the photo lol. Zero grease on the crust — basically a made-to-order pizza for a gestational diabetes mom.

Loads of cheese, loads of mushrooms, loads of tomato paste ❗️❗️ A light, non-greasy pizza with a subtle whiff of truffle.

This Tabasco sauce is the real kicker — once you try it drizzled on, you understand why they serve it alongside. Even my mom approved of that flavor. (She kept telling me to pour more sauce on — I'll decide that myself, thanks^^)

A pizza you don't get tired of no matter how much you eat. Two slices was my cutoff as a gestational diabetes mom. My mom was already full after the pasta, so two slices did it for her too 😂 We boxed up the remaining two slices — they packed it up cutely like a pizza bread. Decided to let dad try this flavor too!

Is Bueokgan Sangmu Branch a good place to bring your parents?

That's my mother-daughter brunch outing at Bueokgan in Sangmu today. It was a really satisfying meal, and even though older folks don't always go for Western food, my mom loved it — so this feels like one of those Western restaurants that's great to bring parents to. I recommend Bueokgan Sangmu Branch. Next visit, I'm going for three dishes 🙌

⭐️Verdict⭐️ Taste — light, clean flavors even older generations will enjoy without hesitation. Service — friendly staff. Value — reasonable portions at a fair price.