** UPDATED in July, 2023 **
Jeju Island Restaurants 2017 – Best places to eat for Seafood, Black Pork and More
Jeju Island family trip 2017!!!
During our trip to Korea this summer, we decided to squeeze in a 4 day trip to Jeju Island. Jeju Do (제주도) has changed so much in recent years and I have been wanting to visit especially with our daughter as a family. We were also hoping that we could take our in-law family with us as part of my mother-in-law’s 80th Birthday celebration but both she and my sister-in-law could not make it..so it was mostly just us three – except for the last day when our niece joined us!!
BTW, my niece Heyon who is an artist and art therapist – I LOVE what she does and she is also behind my beautiful pins that I share on pinterest. Thank you Heyon for your help always!!
Visit her Astropaperboat site for more beautiful art that you can even purchase!
I will be writing another post about ‘things to do in Jeju Island’ soon, so let’s just get right into it.
Best Jeju Restaurant for Seafood, Pork and More
Jeju Ohseong Galchi 오성 갈치 (Largehead Hairtail Fish) 제주 오성식당 – Hairtail fish and Abalone
Black Ranch 꺼멍목장 (Kkeomeong Mokjang) – Black Pork and Okdom 옥돔 (Red Tile Fish)
This is a relatively new/unknown place so it didn’t even show up on our car’s navigation. It’s mainly a Jeju Black Pork BBQ place but they also had grilled red tile fish (Okdom Gui) on the menu. A modern-style building (definitely modern with a younger vibe) with self-serve banchan. All the side dishes were yummy and we got some great thick pork belly pieces. The food is all quite good and perhaps what’s even better is that there’s a direct view to the ocean from the restaurant!!
BTW, I didn’t bring my camera with me so we took pictures with our phone and this is what happens when I ask my husband to take pictures…
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blackranch9289,
Address – 338, Ieodo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Venite 베니떼 – Fabulous Italian food in Seogwipo, Jeju
** It’s NOT clear if this restaurant is still open for business. They have no website, social media.. and the last review I saw on Korean internet is only 2020. **
Took a picture of their menu display which was written on an empty wine bottle in between other bottles.
Sogob-E 소곱에 – Seafood Ramen Shop
If you are in the mood for some spicy seafoody ramen 😜 😚then this IS where you need to go!
Their pajeon was perhaps one of the best I have tasted in a while, wonderfully crisp and full of ocean flavor. They don’t skimp on ingredients. I love it when there’s a lot of seafood in my pajeon. I loved how they had layers of crab meat become the crispy shell to the whole pajeon. That’s all they have on the menu aside from Fried Rice 볶음밥 which is their child’s menu. Side dishes are self-serve so get started on that. We went a bit early for lunch and because this is really popular place, the place filled up pretty quickly.
Other Jeju Restaurants recommended by my sister #3
- Deomjang Jungmun (덤장중문본점) – traditional Korean/Jeju food in a large restaurant setting. Big building so you can’t miss it. Basically you order a 상차림 Sangcharim (table full of food with many side dishes), not individual dishes. 17, Cheonjeyeon-ro, Jeju, Jeju Island, South Korea
I came upon your blog when I searched for eateries in Jeju. Everything you posted looks and sounds so yum. I’m visiting Jeju with some friends in September and we will try to hit as much of the places you mentioned as possible. Even though my Korean is limited, I will try my best. If I may ask, what is the best area in Jeju to stay in? We will only be there for 2 days and would like to stay close by to all the places we want to visit, though I’ve read that it doesn’t take long to get around in Jeju. Still, I want to use my time wisely and not waste it on traveling. Thank you for the super helpful post and hope to hear back from you soon. I will try to report back when I come back from my trip. Thank you!
Yes, it doesn’t take long to get around Jeju but since you have limited time, yes, it would be best that you plan wisely. So Gujwa, Seongsan area has the most to see – Seongsan Ilchulbong is probably a must and that area has the more fun and quirky restaurants and cafe’s. If you want to focus on eating, Seogwipo and Jungmun has most of the authentic Korean seafood and pork restaurants. We stayed in Seogwipo area and took day trips to Gujwa, Seongsan area – left early in the morning and came back to hotel at night. But to see the sun rise at Seongsan, we had to get up extra early. I actually have one more post to do which is the hotel where we stayed and also the various sightseeing things we did. I was planning on posting that in May so check back or better yet, follow me and you will get more info! Thanks so much for visiting!
Hi – what hotel did you stay at? We are actually planning a trip now.
We stayed at Shilla Jeju and Podo Hotel Seogwipo. Both were nice but Podo felt a bit too quiet and isolated..
I love Chinese food. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome! I love Chinese food too!
Such a helpful page!! I am visiting Jeju in April for my honeymoon and I have been looking for good eateries. Quick question though, do any of these restaurants have english speaking staff? How difficult would it be for non-koreans to get around. We want to try the local eateries, street stalls and the old rundown places (i find these to be the spots with the most flavorful food). xx
Sure! Glad it’s helpful. Hmm.. I have to say that most of the local restaurants will not have any English speaking staff. But Koreans are quite resourceful and always try to be helpful to foreigners so you should be OK. Show them the menu names in Korean (the ones I have in my post) and they should be able to help you out. As for getting around, most taxis will have English interpreter service (not sure how good they are but..) and if you show them location via google maps, they should be able to find it for you. Yes, local eateries are the best. Most of the ones I share on my post are not touristy places (at least not for foreigners) with authentic foods.Look up Korean Tourism or Official sites, they usually have telephone numbers that you can call for info. Congratulations!! Wish you a wonderful honeymoon~ and thank you.
I love your Korean travel posts Jinjoo <3 I have visited S.Korea but I cannot wait to go back again. I know I don't comment often enough but your blog is still my personal favourite, after many years xx
Hi!! OH – thank you for your comment. You are so sweet. Makes me feel so happy thinking that. I hope you do comment every now and then … 😉 love hearing from you! Glad you enjoyed my post.
Jin joo. I love your article about Cheju-do and the best places to eat. Yum😊❤️ When I went there the most memorable meal was one you described at the end of your article…my friend and I were asked if we liked sushi – sure was our enthusiastic response. Well. This was unlike any sushi we’d ever eaten. There were quite a large group of us and the long, table was filled with things from the sea. Seafood that we had no idea xisted😊😑🙁. I didn’t want to offend our hosts so I managed to swallow everything that was put in front of me. My friend was more discerning in what she ate! Later, my girls , told me there were many things they wouldn’t touch with a “ten foot” chopstick. They got a good laugh and so did all the men who’d eaten these strange creatures. That was just one meal of a marvelously grand trip that I’ll never forget.
Thanks for reminding me ‼️ Jacki
HI Jacki,
YAY!! So happy to hear that you enjoyed my post. Yes, I totally know what you mean about a table full of seafood creatures that sometimes seem a little too strange to eat but then it contains so many others that are absolutely delicious. So nice of you to swallow everything that they gave you – haha.. you are braver than me! I am planning to post another one with Jeju cafe’s and more scenery photos, hopefully you will enjoy that too. Thanks so much for your comment. Always makes my day!