The Five Gemi Restaurants in Town

Written by Cho Namhee
Photograph courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City

 

Gwangju Metropolitan City recently announced its five gemi restaurants. “Gemi” (게미), which means a unique taste permeating within, or the more you chew, the more flavor you get, is dialect exclusive to South Jeolla Province. The gemi restaurants project was initiated to establish a new brand of gastronomy in Gwangju and to promote and enhance the existing brands of the city, the arts, the culture, and the tastes of Namdo. Last September, the city held an open call for local restaurants to boast of their uniqueness and savor, and now a panel of nine judges has designated the city’s first group of five gemi restaurants. The judges even made secret inspections of the candidate restaurants for transparent and fair competition.

On behalf of the Gwangju News, I am proud to introduce the five winners of the title of “Gemi Restaurant.” As an award, the restaurants were given complimentary consulting sessions and promotion opportunities, and a sign to hang that indicates the new designation. Each one of the following restaurants serves a very different type of dish from the others, but they all incorporate the characteristics of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province.

1. Myeonghwa Restaurant (명화식육식당) – Zucchini Stew
Located in Myeonghwa-dong, Gwangsan-gu, this restaurant specializes in zucchini stews. With just over a dozen tables in the hall and two separate rooms on the side, it has been attracting more than 300 stew-seekers daily for the last 16 years. While zucchini stew may not sound particularly special, it is worth noting that it is made from a recipe exclusive to Gwangju and its vicinity.

Address: 225-4 Myeonghwa-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 062-943-7760

2. Kimgawon (김가원) – Samhap (삼합)
Heuksan-do, an island far off the southwest coast of South Jeolla Province, is famous for its skate – one of the three main ingredients in samhap (삼합; a combination of three: skate, kimchi, and steamed pork). Skate is one of the delicacies of this region, though it is often regarded among expats as a dish to avoid. It is definitely challenging to eat due to its strong odor and intense taste, but when wrapped with typical Namdo kimchi and steamed pork (수육), the challenge suddenly vanishes. Among the many samhap restaurants in the area, Kimgawon was designated for its fresh ingredients and skate fermented in sesame oil.

Address: 1327-9 Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 062-382-8700

 

3. Maewol Black Goat Garden (매월흑염소가든) – Black Goat Soup and Meat
It may not sound enticing, but black goat has long been regarded as a health food for stamina. Loved by the locals – and the elderly, in particular – this restaurant is a culinary adventure destination for both international visitors and younger Koreans. It is particularly famous for its goat meat and unique bean paste, made personally by the owner of the restaurant.

Address: 480-1 Maewol-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju
Hours: Daily, 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Phone: 062-374-6665

4. Haenam Seongnae Restaurant (해남성내식당) – Beef Shabu-Shabu
This restaurant is a secret hideout for fans of shabu-shabu. Hidden in the alleys of a residential area in Baekun-dong, Nam-gu, a housewife and her mother and mother-in-law from Haenam and Naju, respectively, opened the restaurant in 2015. They made their peerless recipe by combining the mother’s 30-year experience with Korean beef dining and the mother-in-law’s years of expertise in bean paste-making as a daughter-in-law of the head of the extended family. Fresh cuts of hanwoo (Korean beef) and a rich bean-paste broth are their specialties.

Address: 32-2 Dongnim-ro 10-beongil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
Open Monday through Saturday
Phone: 062-672-5123

5. Doldam Marinated Crab (돌담게장백반) – Marinated Crab
In the mountains around Mudeung, near Gwangju Ecological Park, there is a typical Korean-style restaurant located in a remote area. This restaurant is famous for its fresh crabs soaked in spicy or soy sauce marinade and greens from the mountain that give diners the feeling of nature. Over twenty side dishes are served along with the crab dish priced at only 10,000 won per person.

Address: 4 Geumgok-hangosat-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju
Hours: Daily, 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Closed 4th Tuesday)
Phone: 062-265-1183

These restaurants cannot represent the entire gastronomy of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province; however, as they have been carefully designated, it is worth your while to visit them and make your own interpretation of the true tastes of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. Judge them for yourself and bon voyage!

The Author
Cho Namhee currently studies communication at Chonnam National University.