Brunch restaurant in Jeju City with pumpkin cream gnocchi: Melbirds

What kind of restaurant is Melbirds in Jeju?

Melbirds is a brunch and Western restaurant that used to operate in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju, and has now moved to Gunam-dong, Jeju-si. When it was in Nohyeong-dong, it was near my home, and the space was big and pretty, so I often took friends there for brunch when they came to visit Jeju.

They say the "mel" in Melbuzz (멜버즈) stands for a taste made with honey-like care that stays in your memory, and "buzz" stands for the lively energy in the space and the warm energy between people.

Melbirds opening hours and closing day

• Address: 19-3 Gunam-dong 2-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju
• Hours: 10:00 to 20:00
• Break time: 15:00 to 17:00
• Last order: 14:00 and 19:00
• Closed: every Wednesday

Where is Melbirds, and how far is it from Jeju Airport?

Melbirds, a brunch spot near Jeju Airport, is about 15 minutes from the airport by car. It sits in Gunam-dong, which is known as a café street in Jeju City.

It operates on the ground floor of a villa building, and since it just reopened after the move, both the outside and the inside look clean and fresh.

How to avoid the lunchtime wait at Melbirds

Melbirds was selected for the Blue Ribbon in 2024, so there is a wait at lunchtime. We went a little after the lunch rush and got in right away with no wait.

If you visit at lunchtime, you can join the waitlist through Catchtable, so I recommend queuing remotely first and then heading over.

Melbirds interior and seating

The ceiling is exposed concrete with a high roof, so it never feels stuffy, and the soft lighting gives the place a mellow mood.

There are seven 4-person tables and one 6-person table, and the tables are spaced widely apart, so you can eat fairly privately without being bothered by the looks or noise from the next table.

The kitchen is open, so you can watch how much care goes into cleanliness and cooking.

The restroom is also styled with a lot of vibe, and it has mouthwash, dental floss and hand cream inside, so use them if you need them.

Melbirds signature dishes and bread

Melbirds' signature dishes are the potato gnocchi, risotto and sous vide skirt steak, and they are very popular. The menu has shrunk a lot compared with the Nohyeong-dong days, but the dishes we used to love are still there, which was nice.

Melbirds does not serve complimentary bread, so if you want some, add the focaccia for ₩3,000.

What we ordered at Melbirds and prices

• Hummus garden salad ₩13,500
• Vongole pasta with deep umami ₩18,000
• Handmade soft sweet pumpkin cream potato gnocchi ₩16,500
• Focaccia ₩3,000

First, homemade pickles made with various vegetables such as cucumber, radish, carrot and cabbage came out.

Hummus garden salad (13,500 won)

The hummus garden salad at Melbirds is ₩13,500. Ordering a salad is a must to reduce blood sugar spikes!! haha

It is a salad with hummus made from mashed chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, grapefruit and assorted vegetables.

The mild flavor of the hummus and the fresh tang of the dressing went well together, making it a healthy salad.

Vongole pasta with deep umami (18,000 won)

Melbirds' vongole pasta is ₩18,000, an oil-based pasta made with clam broth.

An oil-based vongole soaked in the umami of fresh clam broth... need I say more? haha It's delicious, no question, haha

The noodles were chewy and springy, cooked just right, and I liked how the bite brought out a nutty flavor.

Sweet pumpkin cream potato gnocchi (16,500 won): our best gnocchi in Jeju

The sweet pumpkin cream potato gnocchi at Melbirds is ₩16,500. I can confidently recommend it as the best potato gnocchi I've had in Jeju.

It keeps the fluffy texture of the potato, and the creamy sauce with the deep flavor of sweet pumpkin goes so well with it. It's seriously delicious pumpkin potato gnocchi.

You can feel the care that went into the plating of every single piece of gnocchi.

Focaccia (3,000 won)

Cream without bread just feels like something is missing, so I also ordered focaccia (₩3,000).

Dipping bread in cream is the golden rule, right? haha Melbirds' focaccia has a subtle buttery flavor and soaks up the cream well, so it's perfect dipped in the pumpkin cream, haha

Is Melbirds in Jeju worth a return visit?

Melbirds, a great brunch restaurant in Jeju, has a wonderful atmosphere, and since it just reopened after moving, the facilities were very clean too. Above all, I recommend Melbirds' potato gnocchi as the best gnocchi I've had in Jeju, haha