Food

Gwangju and Jeollanamdo are known for having some of the best food in Korea. The price-to-quality ratio for Korean food is generally much better than what you might find in other provinces. In recent years, Gwangju has become more cosmopolitan, making foreign food options easier to find. This page will give some tips on finding good food in Gwangju.

Also see the Facebook group Gwangju Foodies. You can also attempt to do your own research via Naver blogs and looking up restaurants on Instagram.

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Restaurants for Solo Diners

For dining out, you'll find that most restaurants cater to couples or small groups of eaters. There are a few exceptions beyond fast food places like Lotteria, Mom's Touch, etc. 

For Korean solo dining, look for a local kimbap store, boonsikjip (분식집), gukbap (국밥), or a . 

Boonsikjip (분식집)

These can be found in nearly every neighborhood. They often have extensive menus, selling basic affordable foods like kimbap, ddeokbokki, ramyeon, fried rice, dumplings, and soups. 

Gukbap (국밥)

If you are an adventurous eater and don't mind offal or other "economical" sources of protein, try gukbap! This is a hot soup full of chunky pork bits and vegetables served in a stone pot, into which you add rice. It's also a style of eating, and you'll find diners occasionally eating any kind of brothy Korean soup gukbap-style.

Gisashikdang (기사식당)

These kinds of restaurants are often frequented by taxi drivers, hence the name, which means Driver's Restaurant. Construction workers also often come here, since they tend to open early. Food is generally served buffet style. They usually serve one or two main proteins, generally stir-fried pork or beef. Freshness can be iffy outside of normal lunch hours, but if your schedule allows for it, it can be a great way to fill up for cheap.

Baekbanjip (백반집)

If you're lucky, you'll have a baekban place near you that welcomes solo diners. These places mimic what a homestyle meal might be like if you grew up Korean. It's quite low in protein -- a typical baekban spread might have 8 to 12 different kinds of banchan and just one fried egg per person, a small fish, or cocktail sausages. Rice is usually unlimited at these places. Most baekban places offer a main protein dish but those generally require a minimum 2-person order.

Mandoo shops (만두집)

Dumpling shops, especially the ones with a small menu, are a great place for a quick, affordable, and surprisingly filling meal. Most of the dumplings are filled with meat, even the ones they call "vegetable dumplings!" Some places will also serve steamed buns -- the savory ones are called wangmandoo (왕만두) and the sweet ones are called jjinbbang (찐빵).

Korean Fast Casual

Some franchises like Bapjangin (밥장인 돼지찌개), Guksu Namu (국수나무),  have solo-diner options.

Food Apps

There are a number of food apps available. Most of them are only available in Korean so you might need a friend to show you how to navigate them if you are not confident. It's also quite easy to find online guides. Sometimes, it's worthwhile to check all of the apps because delivery fees, deals, and coupons might differ.

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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! They also have no-contact options, meaning you don't even have to interact with anyone.

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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 nearly identical.

​Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠)

Coupang Eats is yet another. Sometimes, they will have restaurants that can't be found on Yogiyo or Baemin.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options

​While access to non-meat options have greatly improved over the years, it's still a general struggle. Most Korean food is animal based - even kimchi isn't vegetarian. If you visit a restaurant, you can say "채식주의자 입니다. 고기 빼고 주세요" (Chae-shik ju-i-ja 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.

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Cooking for yourself is often the best option, but there are some other options to consider.

Haeddeuneun Jip - Juwol-dong (해뜨는집)

This restaurant serves vegan Korean-Chinese food. It is one of the few places where you can get vegan Kimchi. There are actually many companies with the same exact name, but this specific vegan restaurant is in Juwol-dong.

Bread and Roses Bakery (빵과장미)

The owners of this bakery are very purely vegan, avoiding even honey. The head baker studied in Germany. Unlike most Korean bakeries, which view bread as a snack or dessert, Bread and Roses treats their breads like a staple food.

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Vegan Buffets

A particularly popular vegan buffet, especially for Buddhists and avid hikers, is called 수자타. It is located near Mudeung mountain.

Vegan Meal Delivery

Certain mealkit and prepared-foods companies like Fuel have vegan options, although these can be rather pricy.