10 Best Local Restaurants in Seogwipo

Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market is a lively indoor market in the city's centre. 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.

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 specialities. Must-tries include grilled black pork belly and oyster hangover soup.

A helpful map (in English and Korean) at the main entrance shows the restaurants' names, the kind of food they serve, and their location on the street. 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.

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 savoury 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.

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.

Locals flock to Haesim Garden to enjoy the restaurant’s speciality of raw pork ribs grilled on a hot plate at the table. The pork ribs are sliced and grilled 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.

Reservation by phone is not possible, so expect to queue at peak times. 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.

Hyeon-ine Gugbab 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 grilled fish. Prices are affordable and the menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and in season.

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. 

Jeju Black Pork, as the name suggests, is a restaurant in Seogwipo that serves Jeju’s iconic black pork. This local meat speciality 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.

Memil-Ae is a laidback restaurant specialising in naengmyeon – traditional Korean cold noodles. The popular summer dish consists of noodles made with buckwheat and potato or sweet potato starch. It's served in a chilled broth made from beef or radish, and topped with thinly sliced vegetables, fish, or beef. 

The restaurant is in Gangjeong-dong, around a 30-minute drive west of central Seogwipo. Some of the tables overlook the beautiful East Sea. Nearby, you can visit popular viewpoints and coastal hiking trails with views of Beomseom Island.

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 small hilltop accessible via a short and easy hike. At the top, you’re rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the sea, Seopseom Island, and the surrounding countryside.