20 Best Restaurants in Jeju-do, South Korea

This homey spot just up the road from Hallim Park is a diamond in the rough when it comes to vegan fare in Jeju. And Yu offers scrumptious meat-free, Western-style dishes like vegan chicken curry, vegan bulgogi burgers, vegan pulled-pork wraps, as well as desserts. They also have coffee, tea, soft drinks, and kombucha, along with a small shop selling vegan products.  

Tucked away in a cove in northeastern Udo Island, this café 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.

This hole-in-the-wall joint is the perfect incarnation of a Korean matjib, which literally translates to \"flavor house.\" The simple one-room affair has just five tables and an erasable whiteboard for a menu, presided over by one woman who takes the order and cooks each dish herself to great effect. While known for her gogi guksu (noodles with slices of pork), the kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) she whips up will most likely knock your socks off. It's like dining in your favorite Korean auntie's home. She only opens for dinner, and usually stays until after midnight.

Two old homes overlooking the Sehwa Coast have been renovated into one of the island's most picturesque cafés. 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 café 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 guesthouse. No kids are allowed.

The water off southwest Korea is seriously rough but also rich in galchi (hairtail), and there are few better places to enjoy it than Deokseung Sikdang in the port of Moseulpo. This original branch on the waterfront has been around for decades, serving fish caught that day by the Deokseung-ho, the owner's fishing boat. The galchi jorim (braised hairtail) is a local favorite and is tender, served in a wonderfully savory stew. It does tend to be a bit bony, however, so be careful while you're eating. Another specialty is the mulhoe, or raw fish or cuttlefish served in a chilled spicy soup. Deokseung Sikdang has a newer, second branch nearby that's much bigger and cleaner. If you want old-school local ambiance, however, stick with the original branch.

You'll find heukdwaeji (black pork) all over Jeju, but a can't-miss place is Donsadon, where they grill skin-on pork belly and other cuts over coal briquettes, lending the meat a delightfully smoky flavor. Wash the meat down with a shot, or several shots, of Hallasan soju, a much-beloved local firewater. If you're still hungry after the meat, order some spicy kimchi jjigae stew and a bowl of rice.

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.

Right on the waterfront in the fishing port of Moseulpo, Glagla Hawaii has plenty of Hawaiian vibes, and there's a poke bowl on the menu, to be sure. The real star of the show, however, is the fish-and-chips, made with a selection of fish freshly caught in the waters off Moseulpo. The freshly made fish burgers are pretty good, too, and if you want to splurge a bit, try the \"Hawaiian steamed seafood,\" a big spicy bowl of shrimp, murex, mussels, broccoli, corn, potatoes, and sausage. Wash your meal down with a glass of Hawaiian or local draft beer.

Easily one of the most-photogenic cafés on Jeju, Gujwa Sanghoe is a collection of restored Jeju stone homes, beautifully renovated with vintage wood interiors decorated with arrangements of dried flowers. The star of the menu is the carrot cake, prepared from locally grown carrots. The black tea served in vintage cups is a major draw, too. The neighborhood is pretty cool, too, with a flower shop, bookstore, and other charming spaces. It's quite popular with travelers and young couples, so don't be surprised if there's a line to get in.

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.

Overlooking the sea near Hyeopjae Beach and set within a renovated traditional Jeju home, this is a charming spot to order a lunch of udon (Japanese wheat noodles) and tonkatsu (Japanese pork cutlets). Hot udon is available, but the house specialty is its chilled udon, to which you can add fish cake and egg tempura. The sirloin tonkatsu is prepared nice and thick, with a side of rice. The place draws a lot of young couples who typically order both and share, but if you're eating alone, you can order a set of udon with a small slice of tonkatsu on the side. Aside from the food, another draw is the view of Biyangdo Island out the window—it's like looking at a landscape painting. It's a lunch-only place, however, and a reservation is usually a must.

This airy, alabaster cafe in Hallim is known for its exquisite, aromatic hand-drip coffees, as well as the focaccia and ciabatta baked on-site to excellent results. Its brunch menu features both savory and sweet pancakes, ricotta cheese salad, along with a few creative egg dishes. Its oceanfront location lends expansive views.

Situated just a few blocks from the waterfront, this Japanese-style izakaya specializes in nigiri sushi and sashimi, as well as dishes such as chicken karaage and Nagasaki jjambbong (seafood noodle soup). It also offers bar seating where you can watch the chefs ply their trade---solo diners are welcome---along with a nice selection of sake, beer, soju, and cocktails.

This vegetarian temple food restaurant serves dishes made with organic and seasonal ingredients, many of which, like seaweed porridge, a selection of spicy kimchi dishes, and rice wrapped in lotus leaves, are vegan-friendly. The rustic dining room is decorated with traditional Korean art and pottery. Diners can sit at one of the long, low wooden tables on colorful cushions or at a regular table if you prefer to stretch your legs. The restaurant is located in owner and Chef Kim Ae Ja's home, where she also grows many of the herbs that you'll find in your meal. Start off with a glass of shindari, a fermented rice drink and the perfect aperitif.

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.

Just a few blocks down from the Playce Camp complex, this friendly joint serves a mean godeungeo jorim (braised mackerel) as well as 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 and Jeju in particular. The side dishes are fresh and plentiful, too, and all of it is best washed down with a bottle or two of locally produced Hallasan soju.

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 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.