Food
Gwangju is known for having some of the best food in Korea. Local cuisine is easy to find, and there are a number of foreign food options available too. This page will give some tips on finding good food in Gwangju.
Also see the Facebook group Gwangju Foodies.
Skip to: Food Apps/ Vegetarian & Vegan Options/ Kimbap Nara.
Food Apps
There are a number of food apps available. Two of the best are Dining Code and Yogiyo. They are both only available in Korean so you might need a friend to show you how to navigate them if you are new to learning Korean.
Yogiyo (요기요)
Yogiyo is a food ordering app which delivers right to your door. Set your location and choose what you would like to eat. You can choose from different payment options. Yogiyo is very convenient for those days you want restaurant food, but don't want to leave the house!
Baemin (배달의 민족)
Baedal Minjok is another food ordering app that usually has different options from what you'll find on Yogiyo. Both are owned by the same parent company so the experience is identical.
Dining Code (다이닝코드)
Dining Code is a food search engine where you can find restaurants and reviews from all over Korea. You can tailor your search to your area and what kind of food you are looking for. This app helps you discover great restaurants around Gwangju.
Vegetarian/ Vegan Options
It is very difficult being meat and animal-product free in Korea. Most Korean food is animal based - even kimchi isn't vegetarian. If you visit a restaurant, you can say "채식 입니다. 고기 빼고 주세요" (Chaeshik imnida. Gogi ppaego jusaeyo). This means "I am a vegetarian. Please give me the dish without meat." Exercise caution as many Koreans are misinformed as it what is and is not fit for a vegetarian and might still include some meat in the dish. Many of the side dishes and broths may also be animal based.
Cooking for yourself is the best option, but there are some other options to consider.
Vegan Buffet
Gwangju has a vegan buffet restaurant called 수자타. It is located near Mudeung mountain.
Vegan Food Delivery
Sprout is a Seoul-based business that makes home-cooked vegan meals for delivery. Their menu and ordering instructions are all in English. Delivery happens weekly so it is possible to order a week's worth of meals to be delivered to Gwangju.
Fatbag
Fatbag is an online shopping site which offers a number of vegan grocery options. Ordering is in English.
Kimbap Nara
Kimbap restaurants such as Kimbap Nara (김밥나라) and Kimbap Cheonguk (김밥천국) are common restaurants in Korea and it is almost guaranteed there will be one in your neighbourhood. The restaurants usually have a bright orange sign and they have decent food that's fast and cheap. You'll be presented with a menu similar to the one below. This can be daunting to tackle if you are not familiar with or confident in your Korean.
Below is the transliteration and explanation of each dish on the menu below. The number written on the menu corresponds with the number below. Please note that this is based off a menu from a number of years ago, so prices will differ from those listed here.
For people with allergies, nuts will probably not be in anything except for occasionally #72. However, every place is different so be careful.
김밥류 (Kimbap Ryu) - Kimbap selections
Kimbap looks similar to sushi, but is quite different.
1. 원조 김밥 (Wonjo Kimbap) - Dollar Kimbap: The most basic of Kimbap, fillings include damuji (a yellow pickled sweet radish), processed ham, carrots, some green, maybe spinach, and cooked egg.
2. 야채 김밥 (Yachae Kimbap) - Vegetable Kimbap: Filled with various veggies including carrots and spinach. Little variation from Wonjo Kimbap.
3. 김치 김밥 (Kimchi Kimbap) - Kimchi Kimbap: Standard kimbap fillings (ham, eggs, carrots, radish) with a healthy dose of kimchi.
4. 계란말이 김밥 (Gaeranmal Kimbap) - Egg wrapped Kimbap: Standard fillings. The kimbap is rolled in a thin omelet, then sliced.
5. 치즈 김밥 (Chijeu Kimbap) - Cheese Kimbap: Standard kimbap fillings including a slice of processed cheese.
6. 치즈 샐러드 김밥 (Chijeu Saelodeu Kimbap) - Cheese Salad Kimbap
7. 참치 샐러드 김밥 (Chamchi Saelodeu Kimbap) - Tuna Salad Kimbap
8. 참치 김밥 (Chamchi Kimbap) - Tuna filled kimbap: Standard kimbap fillings including tuna, ggaenip (sesame leaf), and mayonnaise.
9. 소고기 김밥 (Sogogi Kimbap) - Beef filled kimbap: Standard kimbap fillings including beef.
10. 누드 김밥 (Nudeu Kimbap) - Nude Kimbap: Standard kimbap fillings, like an inside out roll, with the seaweed on the inside and rice on the outside.
11. 웰빙 김밥 (Wellbing Kimbap) - Wellbeing Kimbap: Healthy salad kimbap.
12. 유부초밥 (Yubuchobap) - Tofu stuffed rice: Fried tofu is stuffed with rice. Similar to inari sushi. Some places heavily season the rice with vinegar.
식사류 (Shiksa Ryu) - Meal selections
13. 김치 덮밥 (Kimchi deopbap) - Kimchi Rice: Rice mixed with kimchi.
14. 오징어 덮밥 (Ojingo deopbap) - Squid Rice: Spicy squid with carrot onion melange served either atop, or next to a serving of sticky rice.
15. 제육덮밥 (Jaeyuk deopbap) - Meat Rice: Stir fried pork, carrots, squash, and onions in spicy sauce served aside rice.
16. 카레덮밥 (Karae deopbap) - Curry Rice: Rice topped with curry sauce, diced potatoes, carrots, and meat.
17. 순두부 찌개 (Sundubu Jjigae) - Soft Tofu Stew: Bubbling bowl of soft tofu, freshly cracked egg (don't stir if you'd like it hard boiled), chilli peppers, enoki mushrooms, clams, onions and deunjang (Korean miso) paste. Served with a side of sticky rice.
18. 김치 찌개 (Kimchi Jjigae) - Kimchi Stew: Bubbling bowl of kimchi, chili powder and raw chilies, onions, mushrooms, pork, ttoek (rice cake) in a pork broth. Served with a side of sticky rice.
19. 참치 김치 찌개 (Kimchi Chamchi Jjigae) - Kimchi Tuna Stew: Like Kimchi Jjigae (see above) with tuna.
20. 된장 찌개 (Doenjang Jjigae) - Soybean Paste Stew: Soybean paste, enoki mushrooms, onions, clams and tofu. Served with a side of sticky rice.
21. 갈비 탕 (Galbi Tang) - Beef Soup: Short rib soup with garlic and green onion.
22. 소내장 탕 (Sonaejang Tang) - Beef Intestine Soup: Soup made with cow's intestines.
23. 육개장 (Yukgae Jang) - Spicy Beef Stew: Beef and green onion soup in a spicy chilli pepper broth.
24. 다슬기 해장국 (Daseulgi haejangguk) - Hangover Soup: Soup usually made with ox bones and soybean paste. This variety adds fresh water snails. Sometimes made with ox blood.
25. 우거지 해장국 (Woogeoji haejangguk) - Hangover Soup: Soup usually made with ox bones and soybean paste. This variety adds shredded dried cabbage leaves. Sometimes made with ox blood.
26. 비빔밥 (Bibimbap) - Mixed rice: Rice in a silver bowl covered with various vegetables and gochujang (red chilli paste). Carrots, mountain weeds, cucumbers, sprouts, etc.
27. 돌솥 비빔밥 (Dolsot Bibimbap) - Hot Stone Bibimbap: Same as bibimbap but served in a hot stone bowl and topped with a fried egg.
28. 양푼 비빔밥 (Yangpun bibimbap) - Large Bowl Bibimbap: Bibimbap served in a large metal bowl, usually serves two people.
29. 돈까스 (Donkkaseu) - Pork Cutlet: A pork cutlet coated in egg and dredged in crunchy panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Served with a nest of shredded cabbage and rice.
30. 치즈 돈까스 (Chijeu donkkaseu) - Cheese Pork Cutlet: A pork cutlet graced with a slice of processed cheese, battered and coated in crunchy panko bread crumbs and fried. Served with a nest of shredded cabbage and rice.
31. 생선 까스 (Saengseon Kkaseu) - Fish Cutlet: Breaded and fried fish. Served with a nest of shredded cabbage and rice.
32. 오므라이스 (Omeuraiseu) - Rice Omelette: Fried rice usually containing ham, carrots, Asian melon (zucchini-like) and peas wrapped in a thin omelette and smothered in ketchup.
33. 뚝배기 불고기 (Ttukbaegi bulgogi) - Beef Stew: Stewing bulgogi meat with sweet potato (glass) noodles and vegetables in a peppery savory broth. Served with sticky rice.
34. 김치 고등어 뚝배기 (Kimchi godeungo ttukbaegi) - Kimchi Fish Soup: Kimchi and fish soup in a stone bowl.
35. 짜장 덮밥 (Jjajang deopbap) - Black Sauce Rice: Rice topped off with the sweet black bean sauce (jjajang).
36. 철판 치즈 덮밥 (Cheolpan chijeu deopbap) - Cheese Fried Rice: Fried rice topped with cheese, on a hot plate.
37. 철판 불고기 덮밥 (Cheolpan bulgogi deopbap) - Beef fried rice: Marinated beef atop rice on a hot plate.
38. 철판 김치 볶음밥 (Cheolpan kimchi bokkeumbap) - Kimchi fried rice: Kimchi fried rice with peas, carrots and ham served on a hot plate.
39. 철판 새우 볶음밥 (Cheolpan saewoo bokkeumbap) - Shrimp fried rice: Shrimp fried rice with diced carrots and peas served on a hot plate.
40. 공기밥 (Gonggibap) - Rice: Plain white sticky rice
41. 호박 죽 (Hobak Juk) - Pumpkin Rice Porridge: Thick pumpkin rice porridge.
42. 단팥 죽 (Danpat Juk) - Red Bean Rice Porridge: A thick red bean rice porridge.
43. 소고기 야채 죽 (Sogogi Yachae Juk) - Beef Rice Porridge: Thick rice porridge with meat and various vegetables.
44. 전복 죽 (Jeonbok Juk) - Abalone Rice Porridge: Thick abalone rice porridge.
분식류 (Boonshik Ryu) - Foods made from flour (i.e. noodles, dumplings, etc.)
45. 떡볶이 (Tteokbokki) - Spicy Rice Cakes: Simmered rice cake (log form) with spicy pepper sauce augmented with odaeng (processed fish), cabbage, carrots, onions and leeks.
46. 라볶이 (Rabokki) - Ramyeon Tteokbokki: Tteokbokki (see above) with ramyeon.
47. 치즈떡볶이 (Chijeu Ttoekbokki) - Cheese Ttoekbokki: Ttoekbokki (see above) with cheese.
48. 치즈 라볶이 (Chijeu Rabokki) - Cheese Rabokki: Rabokki (see above) with cheese.
49. 김치 만두 (Kimchi Mandu) - Kimchi Dumplings: Steamed kimchi, pork, noodle, leek, onion and chilli-filled dumplings. Comes with a small side of soy sauce.
50. 고기 만두 (Gogimandu) - Meat Dumplings: Meat, noodle, leek, onion and chilli-filled dumplings. Comes with a small side of soy sauce.
51. 물 만두 (Mulmandu) - Water Dumplings: Small dumplings filled with meat and green onions, served in a pond of steaming liquid. Comes with a small side of soy sauce.
52. 떡만두국 (Ttoek mandu guk) - Rice Cake Dumpling Soup: Sliced rice cakes, meat dumplings, egg, sliced green onion, melon (zucchini-like), and other vegetables in a thick broth.
53. 떡국 (Ttoekguk) - Rice Cake Soup: A dish traditionally served on the Lunar New Year; sliced rice cakes, meat, and egg in a beef broth.
54. 만두국 (Mandu guk) - Dumpling Soup: Dumplings and vegetables in broth.
55. 항아리 수제비 (Hangari sujaebi) - Vegetable Dumpling Soup: Vegetable and dumpling soup served in a pot. For two people.
56. 라면 (Ramyeon) - Instant Noodles: Green onions and chilli powder give a twist on cup noodles.
57. 떡라면 (Ttoek Ramyeon) - Rice Cake Ramyeon: Noodles and green onions with sliced rice cakes.
58. 치즈 라면 (Chijeu Ramyeon) - Cheese Ramyeon: Noodles and green onions topped with a slice of processed cheese.
59. 만두 라면 (Mandu Ramyeon) - Dumpling Ramyeon: Noodles and green onions with meat dumplings.
60. 짬뽕 라면 (Jjambbong Ramyeon) - Spicy Ramyeon: Ramyeon served in a pot with clams, squid, shrimp and a spicy sauce.
61. 바지락 칼국수 (Bajirak kalguksu) - Clam Noodles: Hand cut thick noodles in an anchovy stock with short neck clams.
62. 쫄면 (Jjolmyeon) - Vegetable Noodles: Thick noodles with mixed with spicy sauce and various vegetables like bean sprouts, cucumber and carrots.
63. 스파게티 (Seupagaeti) - Spaghetti
64. 짜장면 (Jjajangmyeon) - Black Sauce Noodles: Wheat noodles topped with a sweet black bean sauce concealing some veggies, carrots, and meat-ham.
65. 나라우동 (Nara Udong) - Noodle Soup: Thick and slippery wheat noodles in a binto (fish) broth with green onion and tofu skins.
66. 김치우동 (Kimchi Udong) - Kimchi Noodle Soup: Thick and slippery wheat noodles in a binto broth with kimchi.
67. 해물 우동 (Haemul Udong) - Seafood Noodles: Thick and slippery wheat noodles in a binto broth with various seafood including clams, prawns and mussels.
68. 물냉면 (Mul naengmyeon) - Cold Noodles: A soup of chewy buckwheat noodles in a cold broth generally topped with sliced cucumbers and a hard-boiled egg.
69. 비빔 냉면 (Bibim naengmyeon) - Spicy Cold Noodles: Thin white noodles and thinly sliced carrots, cabbage and cucumber in a fiery red sauce.
70. 잔치 국수 (Janchi guksu) - Banquet Noodles: Traditionally served at large banquets. Wheat noodles in an anchovy broth topped with sliced egg, meat, mushrooms and other vegetables.
71. 비빔국수 (Bibim guksu) - Spicy Meat Noodles: Wheat noodles mixed with various sliced veggies and meat in a spicy sauce.
72. 콩국수 (Kong guksu) - Soy Milk Noodles: Thick wheat noodles in a cold soy milk broth usually topped with sliced cucumbers. Usually eaten in summer.
This translation has been edited. Original translation provided by Mary Eats.