This guide to great restaurants in Seogwipo shows you that the 2nd-largest city on Jeju Island is home to fantastic spots serving delicious traditional Korean cuisine. The island is famous for 2 must-try specialities: black pork and fresh seafood. The pork isn’t actually black, but rather it’s named after the Korean breed of black-haired pigs.

While pork and seafood feature heavily on menus at restaurants in Seogwipo, you can find beef, chicken and some vegetarian options as well. Keep reading to discover our curated list of the great restaurants in Seogwipo where you enjoy a unique experience and tuck into delicious Korean flavours.

  • 1

    Twins Sashimi Restaurant

    A popular seafood eatery for a full sashimi set meal

    Twins Sashimi Restaurant
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    • Group

    Twins Sashimi Restaurant is located in the Jeongbang-dong neighbourhood near Seogwipo port. Whether it’s high or low season, the restaurant is always crowded. So arrive early or be prepared to wait for a table. Even so, the delicious sashimi, huge servings of side dishes, and all-you-can-eat sushi make the wait worthwhile.

    The restaurant offers 2 or 4 people set sashimi meals, plus a lunch special consisting of sashimi bibimbap (Korean rice dish). The dinner set includes a hot plate of vegetables, 2 big plates of sashimi, fried pork and tempura yam, fried rice, seafood soup, and dessert.

    Location: 496-18 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 11 am to 11.30 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)64-762-0478

    Map
  • 2

    Negeori Restaurant

    Where to go to enjoy fresh hairtail fish dishes

    Negeori Restaurant
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    • Group

    Negeori Restaurant looks like an average Korean eatery from the outside, but it offers a very popular menu. After one bite of their signature hairtail fish, you’ll understand why it’s always packed with Korean families and groups of men and young people sipping shots of soju.

    At Negeori Restaurant, you can order it grilled, braised, or as a soup. The soup is spicy and made from fleshy cutlassfish, cabbage broth, and mildly sweet pumpkin. The restaurant has different seating arrangements – public space or a private room, on the floor or a chair – and can accommodate about 80 people. If you’re in a big group, try to go during off-peak hours.

    Location: 20 Seomun-ro29beon-gil, Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 7 am to 9.40 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)64-762-5513

    Map
  • 3

    Ppolsaljib

    A popular spot for affordable barbecue black pork

    Ppolsaljib
    • Food
    • Group

    Ppolsaljib is a popular Korean barbecue restaurant in Seogwipo. The diner’s mixed-meat set is great for 2 diners, and comes with 6 different black pork variations and unlimited side dishes, including radish, bean sprouts, kimchi jjigae, steamed egg, and kimchi soup. 

    The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. You can expect a queue if you arrive after 5 pm in peak season. However, the waiters are fast and efficient, so you can usually get a table within 30 minutes. An English menu is available.

    Location: 37 KR, Jungjeong-ro91beon-gil, Jungang-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 4 pm to 1 am

    Phone: +82 (0)64-763-6860

    Map
  • 4

    CheonJitGol

    A Jeju culinary experience

    CheonJitGol
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury

    CheonJitGol specialises in dombae gogi, a local Jeju speciality of thinly sliced steamed black pork served on a small 4-legged wooden board. The meat is usually eaten with salt, but the kind staff will show you 3 other ways to eat dombae gogi, including wrapping it in leafy greens. 

    Located on Seogwipo’s Arangjoeul Street, CheonJitGol is only open for a few hours at night, so it usually fills up quite fast. If you arrive after 6 pm, you might have to wait in line for up to 1 hour.

    Location: 294-10 Cheonji-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 5 pm to 10 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)64-763-0399

    Map
  • 5

    Dajengine

    A local favourite for fresh, handmade gimbap

    Dajengine
    • Food

    Dajengine is a small restaurant where you can order different kinds of gimbap (Korean seaweed rice rolls). The seaweed rice roll comes in different fillings. Popular fillings include egg, tuna, anchovy, kimchi, bulgogi (barbecue beef), kimchi and samgyeop (thinly sliced pork belly).

    Once you’ve placed your order, expect to wait about 30 minutes for it to be ready. While there are a couple of tables and chairs at Dajengine, gimbap works well as takeaway food. So do what locals do: order your gimbap in the morning and snack on it later in the day.

    Location: 59-1 Dongmun-ro, Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)70-8900-8070

    Map
  • 6

    Ungdam Restaurant

    Korean-style barbecue in Seogwipo

    Ungdam Restaurant
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    • Group

    At Ungdam Restaurant, you don't need to be able to speak Korean because there’s only 1 option on the menu: authentic pork from Jeju’s famous black-haired pigs. The meat is served raw, and you'll cook it yourself over a briquette fire at your table.

    As is the norm with all Korean restaurants, the pork served at Ungdam Restaurant comes with some side dishes. These include green onion, kimchi, and soup. You can add fried rice for a couple of extra won.

    Location: 5 Jungang-ro 59beon-gil, Cheonji-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from midday to 11 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)64-762-6442

    Map
  • 7

    Tam Gung Restaurant

    Authentic Korean barbecue in a welcoming environment

    Tam Gung Restaurant
    • Families
    • Food
    • Group

    Tam Gung Restaurant is directly opposite the Jeju World Cup Stadium entrance in Seogwipo. Although unassuming from the outside, the barbecue restaurant is almost always packed with locals – a sign that you're in for some good food! Unlike typical Korean barbecue joints that use a hot metal plate, Tam Gung Restaurant uses hot charcoal which means you can cook your meat more quickly. 

    Your meat should have a crispy texture and a smoky charcoal flavour. If you aren’t sure how to prepare the meat, Tam Gung Restaurant's staff can help you out. Besides black pork, you can also order beef ribs. The restaurant has a smoke-suction device, which means your clothes won't smell of barbecued meat.

    Location: 32 Woldeukeom-ro, Beophwan-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 9 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)64-739-8944

    Map
  • 8

    Seogwipo, Jeju Island Grill Point

    A delicious black pork barbecue experience

    Seogwipo, Jeju Island Grill Point
    • Families
    • Food
    • Group

    Seogwipo, Jeju Island Grill Point is a cosy and popular spot for Jeju black pork. If you aren’t used to eating a traditional Korean barbecue meal, ask the friendly, English-speaking staff for help. They are very attentive and are ready to teach you how to cook each piece of this iconic and must-try pork dish.

    The waiters at Jeju Island Grill Point – and oftentimes even the owner – will also explain the different ways to eat the pork, plus which sides and sauces each cut goes best with. The diner’s communal tables make it a great place to bring family or friends.

    Location: 110 KR, Taepyeong-ro, Hogeun-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Monday and Wednesday–Saturday from midday to 2.30 pm and from 5 pm to 9:30 pm (closed on Tuesdays)

    Phone: +82 (0)507-1324-3992

    Map
  • 9

    Yong-ee Restaurant

    A relaxed Korean eatery where you fry your own morsels

    Yong-ee Restaurant
    • Budget
    • Food

    Yong-ee Restaurant is a no-frills eatery in Seogwipo where many locals flock after a day of hiking in the mountains. You’ll have no trouble ordering as it only serves 1 dish: a simple DIY stir-fry of pork, bean sprouts, and mixed vegetables – all cooked on a gas-fired hot plate.

    When it’s ready, take a portion of meat and veggies, wrap it in a lettuce leaf, and pop it into your mouth. There’s no drinks menu – only a water filling station. Even so, you can buy soft drinks or alcohol from a shop near Yong-ee Restaurant.

    Location: 298-8 Cheonji-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from 9 am to 10 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)64-732-7892

    Map
  • 10

    Seabong Kitchen

    Korean-western fusion with vegetarian options

    Seabong Kitchen
    • Budget
    • Food

    Seabong Kitchen is a laidback restaurant serving a great selection of Korean and western cuisine, plus cocktails, beer, and house wines. With a cosy atmosphere, welcoming staff, and fast service, it's an excellent choice after a day of exploring Seogwipo or when you’re in the mood for something different.

    The menu includes large portions of burgers with fries, fish and chips, chicken quesadilla, lasagne, creamy seafood pasta, beef fried noodles, and a couple of vegetarian options. While Seabong Kitchen is simple and compact, it offers a chill vibe with small tables laid out under subtle lighting and indie music playing in the background.

    Location: 475-2 Jeongbang-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

    Open: Daily from midday to 11 pm

    Phone: +82 (0)507-1325-8460

    Map
Jacqui de Klerk | Contributing Writer