Nasania

Whenever there’s a new restaurant that’s gotten a lot of attention from the cooler people in Gwangju, I always seem to be late to the party. Of course, this is something I don’t mind, as it’s nice to be on the receiving end of recommendations while having something to look forward to. Though I had to delay my necessary trip to Nasania for longer than I wished, the wait was definitely worth it.

Cupcake, who had originally eaten at this restaurant in the past, was kind enough to join me when I finally decided to make a visit. As someone who typically has to go a fair distance to downtown or another area that’s nowhere near my neighborhood to visit newer, more interesting spots, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the location of this small, but easy to find place was closer to where I lived and in a part of town that can be a little limited when it comes to interesting food options.

The menu, which came with English translations, featured quite a lot of unique items I had not seen much of in Gwangju. The first page of the menu focused on drinks, which had a lot of tasty options for non-coffee drinkers like Cupcake and myself. I was immediately drawn to choices like the Thai Milk Tea, Chai Latte, and different types of Mojito. There were also teas and sweets available for those seeking more of a tea party type of hangout. As we were hungry, we were far more excited about the savory section of the menu, which had items like the Chicken Fajita Wrap, both Indian and Thai Curry, and Veggie Lasagne. The brunch menu also seemed promising with offerings like French Toast and Eggs Benedict, though it was only available from 11:00am to 2:30pm. The beer menu had a nice range, and it was interesting to see how the restaurant welcomed visitors to bring their own wine with a very reasonable corkage fee. We ended up ordering a couple of Thai Milk Teas, Garlic Bread, which I insisted on after being informed that it wasn’t sweet, Beef Lasagne, and Gambas Al Ajillo. As Cupcake isn’t too great with spiciness, we requested to have the last dish without the usual addition of chili flakes.

It took a little time for our food to arrive, but considering everything we ordered combined with the fact that there was only one person working in the small and beautifully organized kitchen, we certainly didn’t mind. If anything, the clean, personal decor and overall comfortable space made it easy to relax as my dining buddy and I caught up with each other.

The first dishes to arrive were the Garlic Bread and the Gambas Al Ajillo. The chef and owner of the restaurant apologized for the lack of regular baguette slices, which is typically served on the side of such dishes, and offered us slices of buttery garlic bread instead. Needless to say, we didn’t mind. The bread was buttery, garlicky, and that nice combination of soft on the inside while giving that addictive crunch on its exterior. The shrimp, which was cooked in a bath of oil that had been wonderfully flavored with lots of garlic and herbs, was succulent and delicious. I didn’t even miss the chili flakes, which I usually appreciate in dishes like this one. I only wish the shrimp came without tails, though years of living in South Korea has pushed me to become one of those people who just eats shrimp tails.

Before much longer, I was sipping on my Thai Milk Tea while waiting for the Beef Lasagne to cool down. My drink was creamy and wasn’t lacking when it came to that tea flavor many others seem to shy away from, though I did miss that vivid orange color I’ve come to associate with Thai tea. The Beef Lasagne was almost too pretty to eat. Considering how long it had been since I last enjoyed one of my favorite pasta dishes, I took way too many pictures of that perfectly square dish full of melted cheese and meaty tomato sauce. I was quite pleased with each flavorful bite I took. While I did miss other creamy aspects like ricotta cheese and bechamel sauce, it was still one of the better lasagnas I’ve had in Gwangju.

Towards the end of our meal, the chef was kind enough to convert the oil and leftover bits we had from our Gambas Al Ajillo into a beautiful pasta dish with the addition of spaghetti, making me wish this could be a menu item on its own. With great conversation, we ended up staying for hours as we ordered a couple of fruity, fizzy drinks, that were thankfully not too sweet, as well as the Bread Pudding and Tiramisu for dessert. All of our sweets were as tasty as they were gorgeous and weren’t too big, making it possible for us to finish them without hating ourselves too much, even if we did eat a little too much.

Overall, our trip to Nasania was one filled with good food and comfort. The time we spent there just flew by, causing us to stay far longer than we had originally anticipated. The food and drinks were nice, and the short trip home afterwards was definitely appreciated. While not the cheapest of places to visit for food, the care that goes into each dish definitely adds a special touch to this small, but hopefully lasting spot in Gwangju.

Address: 광주광역시 남구 주월동 499
Phone: 010-9305-3835
Website: http://www.instagram.com/_nasania
Hours: 11:00 – 21:30
Average Price: 10,000 to 16,000