Spicy braised hairtail in Cheongju: Jeju Badang Korean restaurant

Parking and the restaurant atmosphere

There is a parking lot, so it was fine to visit by car. However, it is shared with other businesses rather than being exclusively for Jeju Badang, so spaces may be unavailable at busy times such as weekends. Since I visited on a weekend, the lot was indeed pretty crowded. 👉 If you're visiting on a weekend, I recommend allowing a little extra time!

Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong, instead of Jeju Island

I've been saying I want to go to Jeju Island nonstop lately, but this time I went to Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju, instead. 🌴

From Korean dishes with a Jeju Island feel to grilled fish, plus an unlimited self-serve bar that I ended up liking more than expected! It's a great place for a hearty family meal, and I was quite satisfied after eating here. 😊

It was easy to find in Gagyeong-dong, and the restaurant itself is fairly spacious, so there were quite a lot of people. I especially saw many families, and there was a kids' zone that makes it nice to visit with children. There were so many kids when I visited that I simply couldn't take a photo of the kids' zone…😂

There was a wait when I went. But the line moved quickly!

I ordered the lunch special!!!

Chicken at the unlimited self-serve bar

What I was more satisfied with than expected at Jeju Badang was the self-serve bar! You can take as many side dishes as you want, and best of all, they have chicken here. 🍗

It honestly tasted like chicken from a proper chicken place, so it was delicious. Haha. It didn't feel like it was all batter—the chicken itself was quite good, so I kept reaching for it. The person who came for grilled fish and also ate plenty of chicken…🙋🏻♀️

The self-serve bar also had a variety of side dishes, so it was nice to be able to comfortably get more of whatever I wanted. Since it's unlimited, I think it would be especially convenient when visiting as a family.

It may seem like a small thing, but I personally care quite a bit about the taste and temperature of water at restaurants. I liked that they had ice water ready here, so I could drink it nice and cold. 🧊 Having a cool glass before eating somehow put me in a good mood. Haha.

The side dishes were neatly presented too, so it was really nice for lunch >___<!

Overall, the food was tasty, and the chicken at the self-serve bar was especially better than I expected, so it really stuck with me. Hahahaha. Can you see the chicken on the table…? Being able to comfortably enjoy Jeju-inspired dishes in Cheongju is another plus!

Braised hairtail in a spicy sauce

The dish I ordered this time was galchi-jorim (braised hairtail)! 🐟🔥 From the look of the bubbling stew when it arrived, the sauce had soaked in beautifully and looked so appetizing. The hairtail meat was nice and thick, and when you lift off a piece with your chopsticks and eat it with the sauce, the rice goes down so easily.

The spicy yet savory sauce had soaked into the hairtail really well, making it perfect with rice. If you like galchi-jorim, it would be nice to enjoy Jeju-style braised hairtail in Cheongju without going all the way to Jeju Island! 🌴

One-line verdict

Maybe I don't need to go to Jeju Island? 😂🌴

Personally, after trying it, I thought, “Maybe I don't need to go to Jeju Island?” 😂🌴 If you're craving Jeju-style Korean food in Cheongju or looking for somewhere to have a hearty meal with your family, Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong could be worth a visit. 🐟💛