1. Ujin Haejangguk 우진해장국

This was one of the best stews I’ve ever had. Truly mind-blowing. The stew largely consists of finely shredded beef and 고사리, which is the stem of young ferns that is commonly used in Korean side dishes. This results in a very thick, porridge-like consistency that I’ve never experienced before in my life. The flavor is utterly amazing as well. So nutty, savory, and perfectly spicy. We also had the jeon which was fried to a wonderful crisp and served as an amazing side to the stews.

find it: 11 Seosa-ro, Samdo 2(i)-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do

2. Momae Jon black pork 모메존흑돼지

The restaurant name is essentially short for “Good for Your Body”. Koreans go out on a limb to say everything (including pork) is healthy. However, their food does actually seem healthy. They serve a truly interesting and never-before-seen array of side dishes consisting of handpicked herbs and greens found in Jeju. The lady at the restaurant (I believe the owner) spoke about making all the dishes herself. They tasted close to nature and were truly delicious. And the famous black pig pork belly was amazing too. The texture was satisfyingly chewy and very flavorful. In my opinion, though, the combination and contrast of the oily pork and the handpicked, homemade vegetarian sides was what made this restaurant stand out.

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3. Seoul bread house 서울빵집

I was in the middle of furiously napping when my sister woke me up to try some freshly baked steamed buns. They were SO GOOD. Holy crap. We had some with red bean filling, and some without. Both were perfection. Then we tried this an-pan, filled with a white bean paste and coated with this magical nutty, crunchy powder. Within a few minutes, our family scarfed down four or five piping hot buns. The memory I have of tasting this bread is so distinct and wonderful. I am dreaming of the day I get to eat this again.

You may need to call in advance to acquire an order of their breads, since apparently they sell out really quickly.

contact: 064-713-2947

find it: 1386-5 Hagwi 2(i)-ri, Aewol-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do

4. Mango Ray 망고 래이

It’s really quite expensive. However, the juice is a really concentrated blend of a bunch of mangoes, so I feel like you get what you pay for. It was definitely worth a try. We got a regular mango smoothie and a mango lassi. Both were so fulfilling and naturally sweet.

find it: There are multiple locations, but here is one that I found. 34 Hagwi 9(gu)-gil, Aewol-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do

5. 버드나무집 Beodu Namu Jip (best seafood noodle)

There’s this term in Korean, 얼큰 (ulkeun), which directly translate to English as spicy. But it’s actually so much more than spicy. It’s the kind of spicy that comes in hot soup, the tingly kind that warms your insides. This is what this noodle soup embodies. It’s like a hot peppery spice that is super addicting. It comes in a gigantic bowl with an array of fresh seafood. Grab yourself a dish and serve yourself some chewy knife cut noodles with lots of that delicious soup!!

The restaurant is quite small and very popular, so I would go as soon as it opens (or even a few minutes before!)

find it: 1 Hamdeok 13(sipsam)-gil, Jochon-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do