Jeolla’s Countryside Cuisine in the Heart of Gwangju

Written and photographed by Melline Galani.

I have passed by Sigoljib many times, admiring only the building itself and the garden in front of it, but I never entered to try its food until a short while ago. We wanted something special for lunch, so we went to a restaurant recommended by one of my colleagues. Since it was really crowded and had a long waiting line outside, we had to change the plans. We headed for Dongmyeong-dong looking for an alternative. When we arrived in front of Sigoljib, we decided unanimously that this was the lunch place. The sunny and warm weather, the bright colors of the flowers and trees in the garden, and the interesting architecture of the house made us think no more.

Living in Gwangju for a while now, I have gotten used to so many dishes from diverse countries and, of course, Korean cuisine that I have become somehow hard to impress anymore. Sigoljib, literally meaning “country house,” is one of the few restaurants that has caught my attention lately. The interior is a combination of old and new, urban and countryside style, offering a special touch. Various old items are on display inside. It has two floors and plenty of space, but it was rather packed during lunchtime. It has big, wide windows, and it’s a pleasure to look outside at the beautiful garden while eating. Even the menu is made in an authentic traditional style, being written on rice paper glued to the walls. I think the entire building has a distinct charm, making people think of their childhood homes, a feeling of being at granny’s countryside house.

Some tables are Korean style with no chairs, but they are placed on wooden platforms. On the second floor, there is a room with benches and tables, so people don’t have to take their shoes off and sit on the floor. I liked it so much that I visited twice in two weeks. Because I love kimchi and can’t live without it, we ordered kimchi-jeon (김치전), samgyeop-kimchi-jjim or steamed pork belly with kimchi (삼겹김치찜), and dak-bokkeum-tang (닭볶음탕). Kimchi-jeon is basically a pancake made with sliced kimchi and other vegetables. Dak-bokkeum-tang is a traditional Korean dish made with chunks of chicken plus vegetables and spices and resembles a Western-style stew. Samgyeop-kimchi-jjim also resembles a stew, and as the name suggests, is pork belly steamed with kimchi and spices.

The food arrived really fast, despite the fact that the place was full. The side dishes (반찬, banchan) were absolutely amazing and extremely fresh. It had been a while since I had last enjoyed such good banchan. The dishes that we ordered were mild to spicy but delicious, and made for two people (plenty of food, in my opinion). A glass of makgeolli (막걸리) completed the feast. The value for the money is excellent if you ask me. We paid 10,000 won for the kimchi-jeon, 23,000 won for the dak-bokkeum-tang, and 24,000 for the steamed pork belly with kimchi. Some of the dishes can also be ordered for one person.

I would recommend this “country house” to anyone who wants to try authentic, traditional-style Korean food. I consider Sigoljib as a reference point for local cuisine and a must-try restaurant.

Sigoljib (시골집)

Address: Gwangju, Dong-gu, Jang-dong 73-2, 1st Floor

광주광역시 동구 장동 73-2번지 1층

Operating Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., closed on national holidays.

THE AUTHOR

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic. Instagram: @melligalanis