Jeju Island Itinerary: 11 Local-Approved Dining Spots

If you are planning a trip to Jeju Island and want to eat like a local, here is an honest review of 11 dining spots tried and tested during a 4-day, 3-night trip.

1. Doldam-wie Heukdwaeji

Located right in front of the sea at 608 Aewol-haean-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, this black pork restaurant offers ocean views. Open around 7 PM, it can get packed quickly. An order of black pork costs 66,000 KRW for a full portion (or 33,000 KRW for half), which comes with pork rind. Other items include Hallasan soju (5,000 KRW), Terra beer (5,000 KRW), spicy soybean paste stew with Jeju shrimp (9,000 KRW), kimchi stew (8,000 KRW), yeolmu cold noodles (7,000 KRW), and seaweed rice (1,000 KRW).

2. Hagalbi Guksu

Situated at 54 Aewol-bukseo-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, this spot is popular for morning hangover cures with a view. Menu options include galbi bibim noodles and galbi meat noodles (14,000 KRW each), premium ha-gukbap (15,000 KRW), mom ha-gukbap (17,000 KRW), hagalbi rice (14,000 KRW), regular meat noodles (9,000 KRW), regular bibim noodles (9,000 KRW), children's hagalbi rice (8,000 KRW), and seasonal galbi cold noodles (14,000 KRW).

3. Terados

Located at 207-2 Esang-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, this trendy cafe serves its signature pastry alongside milk pudding (5,000 KRW), castella cake (7,800 KRW), milk tea (5,500 KRW), and americano (4,500 KRW). Sets are available with 4 pieces for 13,200 KRW or 6 pieces for 19,800 KRW.

4. Nawon Hoepocha

Found at 2 Dongmun-dong-ro, Seogwipo-si, this popular local spot is famous for fresh mackerel sashimi. The menu includes live mackerel sashimi (65,000 KRW), assorted raw fish (65,000 KRW), assorted raw fish with seafood platter (95,000 KRW), and peeled raw shrimp (50,000 KRW).

5. Danggyeo Buldak

Situated near Olle Market at 42 Jungang-ro 42-gil, Seogwipo-si, this spot serves spicy chicken dishes for a late-night snack. Spicy chicken wings cost 8,000 KRW per portion, salt-grilled chicken is 8,000 KRW, spicy chicken feet are 8,000 KRW, boneless chicken feet are 17,000 KRW, cheese buldak is 18,000 KRW, and steamed eggs are 3,000 KRW.

6. Maendorong Haejangguk

Located at 11 Taepyeong-ro 353-beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, this restaurant opens early at 7 AM and closes by 2 PM. It is known for serving geengi soup (crab soup, 10,000 KRW), alongside momguk (8,000 KRW), bomal soup (10,000 KRW), bomal knife-cut noodles (10,000 KRW), and soft tofu stew (8,000 KRW).

7. Buttumak Sikdang (Seopjikoji Branch)

Located at 11 Goseong-ojo-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, this spot offers braised cutlassfish (small for 39,000 KRW) which comes with a complimentary whole grilled cutlassfish. Additional items include sea urchin seaweed soup (13,000 KRW) and tilefish (40,000 KRW).

8. BSS Boiling Seafood

Situated in the Rich U Classia commercial area (D-101) at 55 Seongsan-deungyong-ro 17-beon-gil, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, this spot offers original seafood boils (38,000 KRW) and special seafood boils (89,000 KRW) with customizable spice levels.

9. Sanji Haejangguk (Seongsan Branch)

Located at 30-4 Seongsan-jungang-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, this well-known spot serves beef haejangguk (9,000 KRW) and beef offal soup (9,000 KRW).

10. Jeju Heukdwaeji Massim

Located at 18 Tapdong-ro, Jeju-si, this local favourite in the Jeju Black Pork Street serves fresh black pork shoulder and belly blocks (60,000 KRW) and white pork blocks (49,000 KRW) grilled over briquettes.

11. Guksu Manchan

Located at 1 Eunnam 3-gil, Jeju-si, this popular noodle house serves generous portions of meat noodles (8,500 KRW), anchovy noodles (7,000 KRW), and bibim noodles (7,000 KRW).