At this time, Koreans are undergoing an uncomfortable and stuffy daily routine that is very different from what they were used to in the past. People can’t move freely, and there are severe limitations on where they may travel. Therefore in the September addition, CBT reporters are going to introduce restaurants that are only found in Jeju Island. CBT reporters hope you get vicarious satisfaction when you read this article. CBT reporters experienced local food and learned about the past and present of Jeju Island. In fact, CBT reporters visited Jeju Island before COVID-19, and now we are in a position to share ideas about the authentic cuisine of Jeju Island. Also it was a chance to learn about the very soul of Jeju. Finally CBT reporters hope that this article excites curiosity about Jeju Island.




[Geuliun Bada Seongsanpo,  Jeju city / Soo-min Hong]

  All Koreans know that Jeju Island is famous for seafood. However most people are not familiar with mackerel sashimi and they won’t have much experience eating it. I also only ever heard about mackerel sashimi, so I visited the Geuliun Bada Seongsanpo restaurant. This place is not easily accessible by public transportation, so you should take a car. Since this spot is very popular I made an early reservation. When I arrived I saw a photo of president Moon Jae In enjoying a meal there. Therefore, I anticipated that the food was going to be great. There are three courses, Geuliun, Bada and Seongsanpo. Since I was going to eat roasted fish at another store, I chose the Bada course. It offers mackerel sashimi, silver hairtail sashimi, braised silver hairtail, abalone crab and seaweed soup. The best food is the mackerel sashimi. As the main food of this restaurant, there is a special method for eating the mackerel sashimi and enjoying it more. It is rice-wrapped like Ssambap, so I ate sashimi and rice together giving it a more savory taste. I noticed that the mackerel sashimi is greasier than other sashimi, and therefore it goes well with rice and sauce. The owner told a very funny story that people can’t enjoy mackerel sashimi if they don’t live in Jeju Island because the mackerel dies very fast after being caught. Thus, this experience was very fresh. Also, I envied Jeju residents because they have lots of opportunity to eat mackerel sashimi. You should definitely try to enjoy mackerel when you visit Jeju, since you can’t encounter it on the mainland.

[Nolman, Jeju city / Ji-min Kim ]

  Nolman is a Seafood Ramen restaurant in Aewol-eup, Jeju city. Because of past TV programs, it became famous for ramen with octopus which the owner personally catches in the sea as soon as he gets an order. As it is a famous store, people queue up at lunch and dinner time. There is a typical Jeju stone fence around the store with a wooden board showing the name ‘Nolman’ on it.  This gives it a very authentic Jeju feeling.
  Those who are visiting the store for the first time should note that there is a surfboard in the entrance of the restaurant.  After taking a number you may place an order at the counter when it is your turn. Also, you should return the plates in person after your meal.  Because of all the surf boards and diving suits in the restaurant, it feels like the ocean. Also, since it is an open kitchen, watching the cooking process can be a charming point of this store. Many kinds of seafood like crab, mussels, and red-banded lobster are in the ramen which is the only option on the menu in this store, and they provide a hot and delicious flavor. Customers enjoy their food outside at tables under a tent. Eating food while watching the beautiful sea of Jeju, and the waves crashing on the beach, is another merit of this store. Also, feeling the wind while listening to exciting music and the sound of the waves, makes me feel good. I recommend eating obligatory and delicious seafood ramen when visiting Nolman in Jeju.

[Sammu Guksu, Jeju city / Soo-min Hong]



  Jeju island is famous for meat noodles. Jeju residents live on an island so they can’t make Janchi noodles that  require vegetables. Therefore they replace vegetable with meat. This place’s best advantage is that it is close to Jeju airport. In fact it only takes 7 minutes to get there by car. I think Jeju meat noodles are similar at the various  stores. The basics are pork stock and the difference is  whether it includes boar taint or not. Therefore I recommend that you go so Sammu Guksu. When you arrive at Jeju airport and your stomach is growling you can go this store to enjoy Jeju Island traditional food. I ordered meat noodles and meat bibim noodles, which is more spicy. If you go there, you should order both, . because meat noodles is greasy so Meat Bibim noodles helps to get rid of oily taste. Also it doesn’t contain boar taint. You can enjoy a simple but rewarding meal and transportation is very convenient. In the past, Jeju residents ate this food when there were celebrations, and it was like traveled back in time, and I could identify with with their experience.

[Olle Samdajung, Seogwipo City / Soo-min Hong]

  Surely you have seen internet home shopping that sells Jeju silver hairtail. However there is a notable difference between the fish sold online and the fish ordered fresh in Jeju Island. I visited Olle Samdajung to experience real Jeju silver hairtail. This spot is very popular, but fortunately, when I visited, there were no people. This place is famous for grilled  or braised cutlassfish. The owner  cut the freshly grilled fish for your convenience. Also, rice and braised fish are a fantastic duo. After visiting this store, I realized why Jeju silver hairtail is famous. It’s more fresh and thick than I have eaten in my city. I looked around and noticed that there are people of various ages, from children to elders enjoying the food which is popular with all generations. After I experienced fresh cutlassfish, I became a nature lover. If you travel to Jeju Island, you simply must eat silver hairtail.

[Bong Soon’s Black Pig, Seogwipo City / Ji-min Kim]

  Bong Soon’s Black Pig restaurant is located in Seogwipo City, Jeju. On the left of the parking lot, there are many tables on a grassy field, and it is a good option to enjoy your meal outdoors.  At night the lights that hang on  beside the grassy field foster a beautiful mood. Also, there are many people who are taking pictures sitting on the colorful benches under the lights. Black pig, sliced thick and big, is served after being pre-grilled once in the kitchen. Jeju Black pig is different from other pigs in that it has a chewy texture. Salted anchovy,  traditional Jeju food,  is enjoyed with delicious Black pig.  Theanchovy is  caught and salted  locally in the Seogwipo ocean. A lot of People either like or hate it because of its characteristic flavor, but it is well-suited with Jeju Black pig. I want to recommend Bong Soon’s Black Pig nearby Osulloc when you  are in the mood to eat Black pig in Jeju.

[Jeju Starbucks / Ji-min Kim]

  Starbucks is a well-known global coffee brand and can easily be seen everywhere. It may surprise you to learn that there are some Starbucks menu options that  are only available in Jeju. There are many kinds of food made of Jeju’s specialties like Jeju mugwort cream frappuccino, Jeju camang latte and prickly pear chocolate crunch cake. Also, there are many kinds of Starbucks goods that nurture Jeju’s characteristics. Many goods are made  in the form of dolhareubang and Hanrabong, and they catch the eyes of people. Though there are many kinds of limited-edition drinks or dessert, among those, I recommend  Jeju camang latte, yellow sweet potato latte, and carrot basalt cake. Jeju camang Latte is made with savory black sesame and soft milk, so it tastes sweet and savory. The latte looks grey because of the black sesame is in it, it reminds of basalt which is the representative rock of Jeju. Because it is slightly different from black sesame latte that is well-known, it is very popular with people visiting Jeju again. Yellow sweet potato latte is made of newly interpreted sweet potato pudding which is a traditional Jeju dessert. The sweetness of the sweet potato and the crispy rice topping  on the drink are balanced, so I can experience another taste from the sweet potato latte.
  Lastly, not only from the name of the carrot basalt cake but also the shape of it, I could experience Jeju-Island. Sweet and sour cream cheese between squid ink cake sheets  with basalt shaped bread on the top of the cake. The cream cheese and crushed carrot made the perfect harmony. It is highly recommended to people who eat cheesecake often. Also, on the way to the 2nd floor in the store, I could see photos of places where representatives of Jeju are hanging on the wall and can feel Jeju by only looking at the pictures. Also, sitting and watching the Jeju ocean while eating food  is a remarkable experience. To really experience and enjoy the specialties of Jeju, I recommend you to visit Starbucks in Jeju because it will be everywhere but not everywhere.

By Kim Ji-min l jimin41@cbnu.ac.kr
By Hong Soo-min l sm41@cbnu.ac.kr