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Given that Jeju-do is surrounded by water, it's no surprise that the region is known for its seafood dishes. The popular restaurants in town offer delicious varieties of local favorites but don't hesitate to venture out into the lesser-known parts of the island for an excellent sampling of the regional island fare.
Seoul-based coffee roaster Anthracite opened its second branch in a 70-year-old former sweet potato flour mill in Jeju's increasingly trendy Hallim district. They kept the lava rock walls and wooden ceiling, but planted a verdant indoor garden of ferns and other local plants along one wall, fed by plenty of natural light pouring through the ceiling. It's a wonderful place to drink an espresso, Americano, latte, or one of the non-coffee beverages on hand. If you like coffee dark and chocolaty, go with the William Blake blend. They bake plenty of cakes, cookies, scones, and other baked goods to snack on, too. The seating is a bit on the minimalist side, though, and the cafe can fill up on weekends, so if you're looking for a quiet space to kick back for a couple of hours, this isn't it.
Tucked away in a cove in northeastern Udo Island, this cafe opens its window walls when the weather is nice, letting in the ocean breeze. Udo Island is renowned throughout Korea for its peanuts, a fact reflected in the menu starring peanut ice cream, lattes with peanut-flavored milk, peanut cheesecake, and even jars of peanut jam. Non-peanut beverages are available, too, including a smoothie made from Jeju hallabong. The minimalist white interior distracts little from the seaside scenery, though if you really want to embrace the surroundings, take a seat on the outdoor terrace.
Hidden in an old stone home in a small forest grove in the town of Seongsan, this cozy place serves a mean galchi jorim (braised hairtail), a Jeju specialty. It's also known for being especially inviting to solo diners, still something of a rarity in Korea. Solo diners can enjoy their galchi jorim with a choice of three side soups: abalone and seaweed, sea urchin and seaweed, or soybean paste. The dishes are fresh and plentiful, too. Order a bottle of local Hallasan soju to complete the meal.
Two old homes overlooking the Sehwa Coast have been renovated into one of the island's most picturesque cafes. Strategically placed windows offer captivating views of the emerald sea, while the vintage interiors foster a warm, intimate atmosphere. The signature menu item is the Jeju Carrot Cake, made from locally grown carrots and shaped like Hallasan itself, complete with white frosting "snow" and some crumbled cornflake "lava" at the peak. In addition to the usual selection of espresso-based beverages, they also serve tangerine juice, tangerine iced tea, and tangerine aide, putting Jeju's ubiquitous citrus fruit to good work. No children are allowed, however.
Kim Sa-hong, one of Korea's top baristas, moved his operations to this former tangerine plantation on the slopes of Hallasan in 2020. His cafe has since become a travel destination in its own right. The Super Clean Espresso is, true to its name, a superbly clean beverage free of the grit of your usual espresso. For something a bit more fruity, the Tangerine Cappuccino—garnished with an actual tangerine slice—blends deep chocolate flavors with a citrus bouquet. Situated in an old tangerine warehouse, the cafe is part of a larger complex that includes a library, art museum, and guest house. No kids are allowed.
Located on the grounds of Playce Camp Jeju in Seongsan, Dorrell projects a younger, edgier vibe with its skateboarder aesthetic, but coffee lovers of all ages flock here for its singular "Nutty Cloud"—cold milk and cold peanut cream over hot espresso, drunk unmixed. Simultaneously bitter and sweet, it's a great way to start the morning. You'll find some unusual local baked goods here, too, including mugwort donuts, Hallabong cupcakes, and sweet rolls shaped like Jeju carrots stuffed with jam and egg salad. The seating on the floor is more hip than comfortable, but the second floor has more traditional seating for customers who value comfort over selfies.
Udo Island might seem a strange place to find one of Korea's finest burger joints, yet this renovated lava rock house overlooking the sea hits the spot with massive, filling burgers, the patties made of locally produced "black pork" or shrimp sitting high atop lettuce, tomato, and other ingredients. The signatures are the garlic burger with a sauce made from garlic cultivated just across the strait in Jeju's Gujwa township, and the peanut burger served with a sauce made from Udo's very own peanuts. You'll need to cut your burger in half before grabbing it. Wash it down with coffee or a locally produced fruit juice. For dessert, have an Udo peanut or Gujwa garlic ice cream. Indoor and outdoor seating is available; note the restaurant closes at 5 pm.
This small, unassuming joint in downtown Jeju has only one item on the menu: gogi guksu (a hearty soup of thin wheat noodles, pork broth, and thick slices of pork meat), served with a side of kimchi and a couple of green chili peppers. You can find this local specialty throughout Jeju, but few places do it better. They don't skimp on the pork, and the broth is especially rich and filling. As the celebrity signatures covering the walls would attest, this place is quite popular, with lines forming from the morning. Still, turnover is such that you're unlikely to wait too long.
Owner Kamal B. K. serves delicious traditional Indian cuisine in this second story restaurant located on a busy shopping street in Yeon-dong district. It's a dimly lit, cozy space, decorated with Indian tapestries on the walls and very popular with visitors looking for a break from Korean food. The family-size specials are a great deal and come with a green salad, dessert, and a scrumptious sweet curry. This mouth-watering menu is large, so choosing between the varieties of chicken, lamb, and vegetarian dishes can be challenging. If it all gets too hot, the Indian cinnamon-milk tea helps temper the spice.
Located on a small, family-run organic green tea plantation on the middle slopes of Hallasan mountain, this tiny tea shop not only serves a lovely cup of tea, but also offers fine views of the rolling tea fields. The tea costs ₩5,000 per person, and it's the only thing on the menu, but that gets you a lot of tea served with sweets made from Jeju tangerines. While you're there, you can walk around the tea fields, too. The plantation has inspiring views of Hallasan mountain, and the fields are beautifully landscaped with walls of volcanic rock and rows of evergreen trees.
At this no-frills Korean eatery—so popular that it has its own waiting hall—one of the house specialties is gosari haejangguk, a rich stew of pork and fernbrake, an edible fern that covers Jeju's fields in spring. So thick that it's almost a porridge, the stew reportedly keeps hangovers away, an assertion you could test with a bottle or two of locally produced Hallasan soju. The other specialty is gomguk, an equally rich soup of minced pork, pork bone broth and gulfweed, an edible brown seaweed. You might have to wait an hour to get in during the busiest lunch and dinner hours, but it's well worth it.
This lively spot in one of downtown Seogwipo's entertainment districts has just one thing on the menu: duruchigi (spicy stir-fried pork and vegetables), which you cook yourself on a skillet at your table. It's cheap, tasty, and filling. Be sure to grab a bowl of rice from the communal steamer and fry it up in the leftover sauce. They don't sell alcohol, but they let you bring your own booze, and there are nearby convenience stores to assist you in this endeavor. It can get crowded at night, but the atmosphere is energizing.
This cozy retro space near downtown Seogwipo's historic Lee Jung-seop Street brews a serious cup of coffee, making it a favorite of local aficionados. If you prefer drip coffee, you can choose from three blends, and there are plenty of espresso-based beverages as well, including the house signature, the Songsan-dong Coffee, an especially rich cream latte. The cafe can get a bit crowded, though, so be prepared to wait in line. Founder Jo Yu-dong has won many of Korea's most prestigious coffee awards, a fact he advertises by covering the place's walls and ceiling with plaques and certificates.
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