Food · Jeju · South Korea
What to eat in Jeju
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Jeju, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Robert Simmon, using Landsat data provided by the United States Geological Survey., Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Jeju black pork, Cold raw-fish soup and Abalone porridge. In the evening the night-market section of Dongmun Market in Jeju City fills with stalls cooking black-pork skewers, abalone and tangerine-flavoured treats; graze your way through for a cheap dinner. Side dishes (banchan) are refilled free on request; it is normal to ask for more kimchi or lettuce.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Jeju black pork
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in Korea and can confuse staff.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Jeju black pork (Heukdwaeji)
Thick-cut pork from Jeju's black-haired pig, grilled over charcoal with the skin on and dipped in melted anchovy sauce (myeolchijeot) bubbling at the edge of the grill. It is the island's signature meal.
Where: Dedicated barbecue houses across Jeju City and Seogwipo, including the cluster of restaurants on Jeju City's Black Pork Street; staff usually grill and cut the meat for you.
Dish
2.Cold raw-fish soup (Mulhoe)
A chilled summer soup of sliced raw fish, often damselfish (jari) or squid, in a tangy broth seasoned with doenjang or gochujang, vinegar and herbs. It is a fishermen's dish, eaten with rice.
Where: Seafood restaurants around Bomok harbour near Seogwipo, best in the summer damselfish season.
Breakfast
3.Abalone porridge (Jeonbok-juk)
Rice porridge simmered with abalone and sesame oil; the greenish colour comes from the abalone innards, which give it a rich sea flavour. A gentle breakfast after an early sunrise climb.
Where: Haenyeo-run restaurants and seafood houses around Seongsan, Gujwa and the north-east coast.
Dish
4.Braised hairtail (Galchi-jorim)
Silver hairtail (cutlassfish) caught off Jeju braised in a spicy red sauce with radish and potato; the milder galchi-guk is a clear soup with pumpkin and cabbage. Often served for two or more people.
Where: Seafood restaurants around Seogwipo, Seongsan and Jeju City's harbour area.
Dish
5.Pork noodle soup (Gogi-guksu)
Thick wheat noodles in a cloudy pork-bone broth topped with slices of boiled pork, a hearty everyday lunch that is distinct to Jeju.
Where: Jeju City's noodle street near Samseonghyeol shrine and casual noodle shops across the island.
Dish
6.Momguk
A traditional Jeju soup of pork broth thickened with gulfweed seaweed (mojaban) and buckwheat flour, historically served at weddings and funerals.
Where: Local restaurants in Jeju City that serve Jeju home cooking; often paired with boiled pork.
Dish
7.Grilled tilefish (Okdom-gui)
Jeju tilefish is lightly salted and half-dried, then grilled until the skin crisps; it was once offered to royalty and is still a prized island fish.
Where: Seafood restaurants in Seogwipo and Jeju City, often as part of a set meal.
Snack · Vegetarian
8.Hallabong tangerines
A large, sweet citrus with a distinctive knob on top, grown in Jeju's orchards and in season roughly from December to March. Jeju's ordinary tangerines (gamgyul) ripen from about November.
Where: Dongmun and Olle markets, roadside farm stands, and juice and ice cream at cafés across the island.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Omegi rice cake (Omegi-tteok)
Chewy rice cake made with Jeju millet, filled with red-bean paste and rolled in bean powder or nuts; a snack from the island's farming past, when rice was scarce.
Where: Rice-cake shops inside Dongmun Market and the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market.
Street food · Vegetarian
10.Buckwheat crepe roll (Bingtteok)
A thin buckwheat crepe rolled around seasoned shredded radish; Jeju grows much of Korea's buckwheat, and bingtteok is a market staple.
Where: Market stalls in Dongmun Market and the island's five-day markets.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Jeju green tea
Jeju's mild climate supports large green-tea plantations, and the island's teas, green-tea lattes and green-tea desserts appear on café menus everywhere.
Where: The O'sulloc Tea Museum in Seogwang and tea cafés along the west coast.
Food experiences
Dongmun night market
In the evening the night-market section of Dongmun Market in Jeju City fills with stalls cooking black-pork skewers, abalone and tangerine-flavoured treats; graze your way through for a cheap dinner.
Haenyeo restaurants
Some village diving co-operatives run simple restaurants serving the divers' catch — sea urchin, abalone, conch and octopus — and porridge; look for them along the coast at Seongsan, Gujwa and Udo.
Black-pork barbecue night
Order a mix of pork belly and shoulder, let the staff grill it, and dip each piece in the anchovy sauce; finish with cold noodles or a bowl of rice fried on the grill.
Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
The south coast's main covered market sells hallabong, fresh hairtail and ready-to-eat sashimi platters; it is a good place for a cheap lunch on an Olle walking day.
Quick bites and street food
- Abalone porridge — Haenyeo-run restaurants and seafood houses around Seongsan, Gujwa and the north-east coast.
- Hallabong tangerines — Dongmun and Olle markets, roadside farm stands, and juice and ice cream at cafés across the island.
- Buckwheat crepe roll — Market stalls in Dongmun Market and the island's five-day markets.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Hallabong tangerines, Omegi rice cake, Buckwheat crepe roll and Jeju green tea. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Side dishes (banchan) are refilled free on request; it is normal to ask for more kimchi or lettuce.
- Barbecue and braised-fish dishes are often sold for a minimum of two people, so solo diners may need to pick noodle or porridge shops.
- Outside Jeju City and Seogwipo, many rural restaurants close early in the evening; plan dinner if you are staying on a quiet stretch of coast.
- Mulhoe and many fish dishes are seasonal; ask what is fresh rather than ordering from a fixed idea.
- Water is usually self-service from a dispenser and is free.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Korea and can confuse staff. Prices include service, and some upscale hotels add a service charge to the bill.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Annyeonghaseyo | Hello |
| Gamsahamnida | Thank you |
| Honjeo opseoye | Welcome (Jeju dialect) |
| Igeo juseyo | This one, please |
| Eolmayeyo? | How much is it? |
| Masisseoyo | It's delicious |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Jeju famous for?
Jeju black pork, Cold raw-fish soup, Abalone porridge and Braised hairtail. Thick-cut pork from Jeju's black-haired pig, grilled over charcoal with the skin on and dipped in melted anchovy sauce (myeolchijeot) bubbling at the edge of the grill.
+Is Jeju good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Hallabong tangerines, Omegi rice cake and Buckwheat crepe roll.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Jeju?
Tipping is not customary in Korea and can confuse staff. Prices include service, and some upscale hotels add a service charge to the bill.