Gwangju brunch with kids' tableware for babies: Bueokgan Sangmu

The morning weather turned cool and the sky was clear, so we went out for a family meal over the weekend! I was looking for a good Gwangju pasta spot for a relaxed weekend brunch in the Sangmu district and ended up here. Let me share our visit to Bueokgan Sangmu Branch with my baby Haengbok!

Where is Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, and what about parking and baby chairs?

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch is located near Maewol-dong! It's on the main road, just past Jjamppong Jijon and before you reach Uniqlo Seogwangju :)

• Address: 25 Seogwangju-ro, 1F, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00 (break time 16:00–16:30 / last order 21:00)
• Baby amenities: Baby chairs available / kids' tableware available / strollers a bit hard to fit due to narrow table spacing
• Parking: Private lot right behind the restaurant (roadside or Mudeung Church parking available at lunchtime)

Since it was Saturday afternoon, there was a bit of a wait, but after sitting at an outdoor table for a little while, we were seated quickly! The weather was nice, so taking photos of Haengbok and people-watching at the outdoor table made the waiting time enjoyable too, haha.

Inside Bueokgan Sangmu Branch: tablet ordering and Couple Set B for 51,000 won

After sitting down, we ordered conveniently using the table-order tablet. There's a wide range of menus from set meals to individual dishes. We went with Couple Set B!

• Couple Set B: 1 salad + choice of pasta/rice + 1 pizza + 2 drinks
• Price: ₩51,000 (extra charge depending on selections)
• Options chosen: mushroom grill salad, vongole pasta, jambon pizza, lemon ade, grapefruit ade

They said the furniture inside is all directly imported, styled to feel like an Italian vintage classic hotel! True to its reputation as a well-known Gwangju pasta restaurant, the mood was sophisticated and stylish without being over the top. It had been a while since I felt this kind of nice atmosphere, so waiting for the food wasn't boring at all. The table-order screen kept popping up notices that preparation might take longer due to a backlog of orders, so we could wait comfortably.

How did the mushroom grill salad, vongole pasta and jambon pizza taste?

Since the food took a little while, I fed Haengbok the baby food I'd brought along first, worried she'd get hungry. Even though I hadn't asked, they kindly brought out a kids' tray, spoon, and fork ahead of time! The two floor staff looked really busy, but they were so kind and attentive — I really appreciated it :)

1. Mushroom grill salad

The mushroom grill salad came out first, and the vegetables were really fresh, packed mainly with mini king oyster mushrooms and oyster mushrooms. Eating the veggies with the sauce felt healthy, and my husband ate it happily too, saying it was delicious.

2. Vongole pasta and jambon pizza

The vongole pasta, a signature Sangmu pasta dish, was generously loaded with clams, plus plenty of seafood like shrimp meat, giving it a deep flavor! The portion wasn't small either, so we ate well and got full.

The jambon pizza had ham that wasn't salty but clean and light, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy. In particular, dipping the pizza crust edge — my husband calls it the 'handle,' haha — into the vongole pasta sauce was a real delicacy!

This was Haengbok's second time trying ham since gimbap (seaweed rice roll), and when I gave her a small cut piece to taste, she ate it so well and kept asking for more, which put me in a bit of a bind, haha. But when eating out, everything's allowed! I let her taste small cut pieces of the pizza and mushroom salad too, showing her the taste of the mortal world.

3. Lemon ade and grapefruit ade

Brewed coffee has no extra charge, but ade does. Still, it was worth it — the base flavor wasn't just plain sweet but healthy and refreshing, which I really liked :) I gave Haengbok a little grapefruit ade with a spoon, and she dribbled it right out, haha.

Verdict: a Sangmu district brunch spot to revisit with the baby

This was our first visit to Bueokgan Sangmu Branch, and every dish we chose was a hit, making for a really satisfying meal! If you want to try their signature pastry soup, go with Couple Set A. I definitely want to try the pastry soup on my next visit. The menu is so varied that you could also mix and match individual dishes to your taste.

Since the atmosphere is nice, there were lots of couples on dates and friends dining together, but also quite a few senior couples and friend groups.

With easy parking, a great atmosphere, and excellent food, Bueokgan Sangmu Branch left a really good first impression — it was a Sangmu brunch spot I'd love to visit again with baby Haengbok on a nice-weather day :) After the meal, we headed straight to a nearby café for round two — Basque cheesecake, haha.