Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
