What to eat in Jeju island & where to eat in Jeju? — 21 food must eat in Jeju island (Jeju must eat food) & best places to try them
Not as noisy, bustling, and crowded as Seoul, you will enjoy the peaceful scenery and fresh air in Jeju, so Jeju has always been one of the most appealing tourist destinations in Korea, is a destination in every visitor’s dream. This island is also known as the “Hawaii of Korea,” a romantic haven for couples. Famous for its stunning natural scenery, which includes majestic waterfalls, breathtaking hiking trails, white sand beaches, and a clear blue sea… It will, however, be a huge omission if you do not visit Jeju’s culinary paradise. So, where to eat in Jeju island (what to eat in Jeju, what to eat in Jeju) and what to eat in Jeju island? Check out our Jeju food blog and guide with the 21 best Jeju must-eat foods.
Heuk Dwaeji (Black Pork)
This special black pork food is only available on the beautiful island of Jeju, so this is the dish that anyone who comes to Jeju have to try. Jeju Black Pork has a unique flavor different from regular pork, these pigs are smaller in size with black skin and smooth hair. Although this dish is simple prepare, but it is marinated with very special spices. Grilled black pork will be served with pickled vegetables such as kimchi, pickled vegetables or seaweed, raw garlic, mushrooms, bean sprouts, perilla leaves, etc… This dish is served with a bowl of hot rice and another bowl of kimchi soup is really best.
Among Jeju Island’s dishes, black pork is at the top of the table. This is a famous specialty in Jeju Island that visitors should enjoy, is processed into many different dishes such as BBQ or soup. It has delicious meat, low fat and is extremely suitable for Korea’s famous barbecue.
Where to eat?
You can go to Black Pork Street to enjoy this dish. And some best restaurants are:
Dombedon
Address: 25 Gwandeong-ro 15(sibo)-gil, Geonip-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Hours: 11AM–12AM
Phone: +82 64-753-0008
Donsadon
Address: 15 Gwangpyeongdong-ro, Nohyeong-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Hours: 2–10:30PM
Phone: +82 64-747-7876
Neulbom Heukdwaeji
Address: 2343-3 Nohyeong-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Hours: 11AM–11:45PM
Phone: +82 64-744-9001
Hwae (Fresh Raw Fish with Salad)
Jeju is an island surrounded by water on four sides, so the seafood is always fresh. And, of course, Hwae raw fish salad is the best option if you’re stuck for ideas on what to eat in Jeju. Hwae raw fish salad is similar to sashimi in Japan, but it is prepared in the traditional Jeju style, with a variety of extremely fresh seafood, including squid, abalone, octopus, and especially flounder. Other dishes that I recommend are grilled sardines (kalji fish), which is a popular dish on Jeju Island.
You can find some places to eat this dish by strolling along coastal roads, where you will come across countless eateries and food booths with similar flavors and prices. If you see a crowded shop, stop by. You should also rent a bicycle and cycle around, watching the sea and looking for a restaurant, because walking is very tiring on your feet.
Live Octopus Sashimi
Raw food, particularly seafood, is popular in Korea. Fresh octopus caught from the sea is prepared and cleaned before being cut into small pieces to fit your mouth, then mixed with sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds; it’s a simple dish that many diners enjoy. If you want to try “thrills,” you should try eating live octopus; this will be an exciting experience like no other. When you put pieces of octopus in your mouth, they stick to your tongue, wiggling in your mouths and possibly making you cry. This dish tastes like sesame oil, octopus, and very chewy sea cucumber chewy, Lol.
What to eat?
Dongmun Fish Market is the best place to try this dish. If you want to relax even more, walk along the coast; there will be shops right next to the sea where they will prepare this dish with live octopus and sea cucumber caught from the sea. It’s very relaxing to be sitting on the beach, sipping a glass of soju wine while eating a famous Korean dish.
Address: 64-1 Gwandeong-ro, Ido 1(il)-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Phone: +82 64-752-8959
Jeonbok juk (abalone porridge)
Abalone porridge is considered a noble dish, usually reserved for ancient kings to nourish their bodies. I haven’t heard the phrase “healthy and balanced” yet, lol. However, this dish is already very popular today. On Jeju Island, you can easily enjoy a delicious and nutritious bowl of abalone porridge. On Jeju Island, the abalone is extremely fresh, simmered with rice, fragrant and sticky, and inside are many more nutritious diced vegetables that make the dish extremely harmonious in color and nutrition.
Abalone is a very nutritious dish and Koreans compare it to ginseng from the ocean. Jeju abalone is rated as tastier than any other. Abalone is often prepared into abalone porridge, stewed abalone soup with ginseng and other stews.
What to eat?
Recommend for you the famous abalone porridge restaurant in Jeju Island:
Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone Restaurant
Address: 1282 Haemajihaean-ro, Gujwa-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Hours: 9:30AM–9:30PM / Tuesday: Closed
Phone: +82 64-782-9944
Price: 8.000 – 12.000 won ($6.61 – $9.91)/bowl
Fruit of Jeju Island – Hallabong
Because Jeju is a good land, fruits from Jeju Island are always loved and sought after. After visiting Jeju Island, you must try Jeju fruits to see if they differ from fruits from other places, right? Hallabong (a fruit similar to oranges and tangerines but with a more typical flavor), oranges, and tangerines are the typical fruits on Jeju Island, which not only Koreans enjoy but also tourists from Vietnam and China. Korean tangerines are small and sweet, about the size of a child’s fist.
Where to buy?
You can easily buy these fruits at Dongmun Market, affordable but always fresh and clean.
Hwangge – Crab Curry
If you ever thought curry rice was boring, you’d have to reconsider after tasting Jeju Island’s famous curry. Moon Sso curry is not only beautiful and appealing, but it also has an extremely harmonious and delicious flavor. You will especially enjoy hwangge crab – an extremely firm meat specialty crab with a very famous soft shell of paradise island.
Unlike in Vietnam or India, crab curry here has a distinct flavor and preparation method. Diners are extremely excited when they eat this dish because it has an extremely harmonious and delicious flavor, firmly crab meat, light sweet, and a soft shell. The hwangge curry, in particular, has striking colors; in addition to crabs, there are also half-boiled eggs, emphasizing the fatty and fragrant flavors that entice people to eat.
Where to eat?
Moon Sso Restaurant
Address: 326-3, Ongpo-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju
Phone: 010-4055-1145
Price Range: 10.000 – 20.000 Won ($8.26 – $16.52)
Hours: 11AM – 7 PM / Closed: Friday
Sanbang Mountain Hamburger
This specialty burger not only has a very unique crust, but it also has a very appealing flavor. The black crust is made of extremely thin but extremely tough bamboo charcoal, and the filling is full of soft beef, succulent sauces, and vegetables inside, resulting in a very appealing and delicious burger. A delicious burger set meal with salad and drinks will be served.