Exploring Seogwipo: 9 Restaurants Locals Love
Where to Find Seogwipo’s Best Local Food?
The best local restaurants in Seogwipo serve authentic regional Korean cuisine made with seasonal, locally sourced produce from the land and the East Sea. Jeju black pork is a must-try dish in Seogwipo. Barbecuing your meat at your table is half the fun.
Many of the Seogwipo restaurants we’ve listed below are small, with limited seating space. So, either plan to arrive before peak lunch or dinner times or be prepared to wait for a table. Ready to discover which restaurants locals love the most in Seogwipo? Read on for some of our best suggestions.
1. Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
The largest market in Seogwipo
Good for: Shoppers, Food, Budget
Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market is a lively indoor market in the city’s center. You can browse dozens of stalls selling fresh produce from Jeju as well as live seafood, traditional street food, and souvenirs. It’s a great place to pick up snacks for a picnic or a hike. There are also a handful of restaurants around.
A fun plan is to order food from one of the vendors and then enjoy it at one of the benches lining the middle of the market. For an extra special experience, visit at night when the market buzzes with locals.
Location: 18 Jungang-ro 62beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Daily from 7 am to 9 pm
Phone: +82 (0)64-762-1949
Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
2. Arang Joeul Food Street
Rows of restaurants serving a wide variety of local specialties
Good for: Food, Budget
As the name implies, Arang Joeul Food Street is a street lined with restaurants in Seogwipo. There are dozens of dining spots to choose from, each serving local Jeju specialties. Must-tries include broiled black pork belly and oyster hangover soup.
The street is located in Cheonji-dong, within walking distance from the Lee Jung Seob Art Gallery, Seogwipo Chilsipnisi Park, and Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market. Grab a helpful map (in English and Korean) at the main entrance and navigate the bustling street by the restaurants’ names, the kind of food they serve, and their location on the street.
Location: 321-1 Cheonji-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Daily from 11 am to 9 pm
Arang Joeul Food Street
3. Oneunjeong Gimbap
Local favorite specializing in one of Korea’s most popular street foods
Good for: Food, Budget
Oneunjeong Gimbap is the spot to head to in Seogwipo for a casual meal made with freshly prepared ingredients. The take-out restaurant only serves gimbap. This popular Korean dish is made with rice and savory fillings like tuna, cheese, pork, and minced beef wrapped in seaweed, akin to Japanese sushi.
Note that this restaurant is very popular, so expect long waiting times, especially on weekends. Many locals even phone the day before to place their order for the following morning. So, to avoid the crowds, order beforehand or arrive early in the morning.
Location: 2 Dongmundong-ro, Jungang-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Monday–Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm (closed on Sundays)
Phone: +82 (0)64-762-8927
Oneunjeong Gimbap
4. Angeori Bakgeori
A traditional and hearty Korean set meal
Good for: Budget, Food
Angeori Bakgeori is a no-frills restaurant near Seogwipo’s Lee Jung Seop street. It’s a great place to enjoy traditional Korean food at reasonable prices. It has vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus. Main dishes include fried fish, boiled black pork, steamed egg, and bean paste stew.
Each meal set includes banchan (side dishes), an essential part of Korean dining. These refillable dishes often are pickled seaweed, kimchi, beansprouts, anchovies, and cucumber. Try different combinations and see which one you like the best.
Location: 584-3 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Monday–Wednesday, Friday–Sunday from 8 am to 9 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Phone: +82 (0)64-763-2552
Angeori Bakgeori
5. Haesim Garden
A great place for Korean-style pork ribs
Good for: Budget, Couples, Food
Locals flock to Haesim Garden to enjoy the restaurant’s specialty of raw pork ribs broiled on a hot plate at the table. The pork ribs are sliced and broiled without seasoning, giving the meat a soft and chewy texture. You can also find Jeju’s famous black pork ribs on the menu. Set meals include unlimited self-refilling of side dishes.
Haesim Garden is located in Cheonjeyeon-ro, which is approximately 10 km west of the main city of Seogwipo and is easy walking distance to Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls. Reservation by phone is not possible, so expect to queue at peak times.
Location: 203-4 Cheonjeyeon-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Daily from 12.03 pm to 9.30 pm
Phone: +82 (0)64-738-2820
Haesim Garden
6. Hyeon-ine Gugbab
Serves one the tastiest gukbap soups in Seogwipo
Good for: Food, Budget
Hyeon-ine Gugbab (or Hyun’s Gookbap) is a humble local diner just across the road from the Seogwipo Port bus stop. It’s best known for serving gukbap, a traditional Korean hot soup served with rice. The soup is prepared in a black earthen bowl, so it stays hot throughout your meal.
Try the kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew) for a warming lunch or dinner on cold days by the port. It’s served with various banchan (side dishes), such as kimchi, stir-fried crab, and broiled fish. Prices are affordable and the menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and in season. So, visit on several days during your stay in Seogwipo and savor different flavors every time.
Location: 786-9 Songsan-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm
Phone: +82 (0)64-762-9595
Hyeon-ine Gugbab
7. Soban
For a delicious Korean culinary adventure
Good for: Budget, Food, Unusual
Soban is a welcoming restaurant in Seogwipo with great service and delicious traditional Korean food. There’s no menu, only a set meal consisting of banchan (typical Korean side dishes), jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and a pitcher of barley tea.
Side dishes can include kimchi, kongnamul (soybean sprouts), shigeunchi (spinach), danmuji (pickled radish), and dashima (seaweed). The restaurant only has 6 tables and can only accommodate about 20 people. If you arrive during peak lunch or dinner hours, be prepared to wait a bit.
Location: 260-26 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Monday–Friday from 11 am to 3 pm (closed on Saturdays and Sundays)
Phone: +82 (0)64-732-2528
Soban
8. Jeju Black Pork
The place to go for juicy barbecue black pork
Good for: Couples, Families, Food
Jeju Black Pork, as the name suggests, is a restaurant in Seogwipo that serves Jeju’s iconic black pork. This local meat specialty comes from a black-haired pig native to the Korean island. The restaurant staff are friendly, welcoming and eager to help visitors understand the menu.
When you dine at Jeju Black Pork, staff will show you the correct way of preparing the pork over a hot plate at your table. As is the norm at local Korean restaurants, the main meal comes with banchan, several different kinds of refillable side dishes for you to enjoy with your main dish. Try the fermented or steamed vegetables to deepen the flavor of the pork.
Location: 58 Taepyeong-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Open: Monday, Wednesday–Sunday from 5 pm to 10 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +82 (0)64-739-5115
Jeju Black Pork
9. Gudumi
A Korean barbecue restaurant off the tourist radar
Good for: Families, Food
Gudumi is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Bomok-dong, east of Seogwipo City. The eatery is known for its top-class barbecue white pork, delicious side dishes, smooth service, and industrial-chic interior. You can cook your meat at your table, but if you need help, the waiters will explain how to do it, and which side dishes go best with each cut of meat.
There are only 6 tables, so grab a seat early in the evening or be prepared to wait. Gudumi is near Jejigioreum, a hilltop accessible via a short and easy hike. At the top, take in the beautiful panoramic view of the sea, Seopseom Island, and the surrounding countryside.
Location: Jeju-do, Seogwipo-si, Bomok-dong, 1289-2, South Korea
Open: Monday, Wednesday–Sunday from 4 pm to 9.30 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +82 (0)64-762-7004
Gudumi
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