Seogwipo Korean restaurant for black pork stir-fry: Jejurowoon

When you travel in Jeju, there comes a point about once a day when you really crave a proper table full of Jeju food. The place my family was truly happy with on this trip was Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon Seongsan Ilchulbong Branch (제주로운청해원 성산일출봉점). It is widely known for braised cutlassfish, but since we had already eaten that the day before, we ordered the D Set with black pork duruchigi (spicy stir-fried pork). I wondered if I might feel a little disappointed not having the braised cutlassfish, but that thought disappeared as soon as we started eating. The whole spread was so good, from the black pork duruchigi to grilled tilefish and sea urchin seaweed soup.

By the end of the meal, I was actually thinking, “If the duruchigi here is this delicious, how good must the braised cutlassfish be?”

Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon location and hours

Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon is on the first floor at 101 Sinyang-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. It is open daily from 08:00 to 21:30, with last orders at 21:00.

Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon has a large sign by the road, so it is relatively easy to find even on a first visit.

Its yellow exterior, with “Cheonghaewon” written in blue, stands out even from a distance, so it is hard to miss.

There was also a Seogwipo exemplary restaurant sign by the entrance. It felt like a restaurant that has been steadily serving not only tourists but locals, too. It is conveniently placed for people traveling around Seongsan Ilchulbong or Seopjikoji and looking for braised cutlassfish.

A spacious interior for a family meal

Once we went inside, the restaurant was much more spacious than it had looked from outside. The tables were nicely spaced, and the bright lighting and overall tidy atmosphere made it a good place for a family meal.

Best of all, high chairs were available, which was lovely for anyone visiting with a child. We were traveling with our child too, and it was nice to be able to seat them comfortably while we ate.

Choosing the D Set instead of braised cutlassfish

Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon is originally famous for braised cutlassfish, so of course that was what I planned to try at first. But we had already eaten braised cutlassfish elsewhere the day before. Rather than have the same thing two days in a row just because we were in Jeju, we decided to try different Jeju food this time and ordered the D Set with black pork duruchigi. Based on the menu in the photo, the D Set was ₩18,000 per person with a minimum order of two. It came with black pork duruchigi, sticky pot rice, soy-marinated raw crab, and either seafood soup or sea urchin seaweed soup.

Once the table was set, it was much more generous than I expected. It was not just duruchigi; we could also enjoy grilled tilefish, a range of side dishes, and soup, making it a filling meal during a Jeju trip.

Black pork duruchigi wrapped in lettuce

The dish I remember most from that day was, of course, the black pork duruchigi. A bubbling earthenware pot arrived full of red-seasoned black pork, and it looked appetizing right away. There were onions and vegetables in it too, so they were nice to eat with the meat. The seasoning was not overly hot or harsh; it had a pleasant spicy kick with a slight sweetness. The meat had absorbed the seasoning properly, the kind of flavor that naturally makes you want rice.

It was delicious over rice, but my favorite way was to pile plenty of black pork duruchigi onto lettuce and make a wrap. The crisp lettuce, tender black pork, and sweet-spicy seasoning worked so well together. Once I had one wrap, I kept reaching for more lettuce. We had come looking for braised cutlassfish, but ended up completely falling for the black pork duruchigi instead.

The grilled tilefish and sea urchin seaweed soup combination

The black pork duruchigi was not the only delicious thing. The grilled tilefish that came with it was nicely browned outside and tender inside. It was savory and nutty, and a piece of tilefish over warm rice was so good. After the spicy duruchigi, a bite of the mild grilled tilefish reset the palate nicely, so the combination worked well.

Personally, I also really liked the sea urchin seaweed soup. It came bubbling in an earthenware pot with plenty of seaweed, and the broth was rich yet clean-tasting. It was not intense, so it was easy for my child to eat too. In fact, my child ate the grilled tilefish and sea urchin seaweed soup so well. I picked the tilefish meat off the bone and gave it with rice and the soup, and they finished a whole bowl of rice in no time. When your child eats that well while traveling, it really raises your satisfaction with a restaurant as a parent, doesn’t it?

Sticky pot rice and assorted side dishes

I also liked that the rice was not simply served in a bowl but as sticky pot rice. When I opened the lid, the grains looked glossy and moist. It was delicious with a little duruchigi sauce on top, and it also paired beautifully with a piece of grilled tilefish.

There were side dishes too, including soy-marinated raw crab, kimchi, sweet potato stems, and pickled onions, so it was fun to taste a little of everything. When traveling, I think a place where you can sample several Jeju dishes on one table is much more convenient for a family trip with parents or children than having just one dish.

A place where I want to try braised cutlassfish next time

The funny thing is that even though we did not eat braised cutlassfish that day, I became even more curious about it after the meal. Once I tasted the black pork duruchigi seasoning, I thought this restaurant was really good with seasoning. It was not simply sweet and spicy; it had a savory depth that kept making me want rice, so I thought, “With seasoning skills like this, the braised cutlassfish must be really good too.” If I return on my next Jeju trip, I definitely want to try their signature braised cutlassfish.

If we had simply passed by Cheonghaewon because we ate braised cutlassfish the day before, I think we would have missed out a little. On a day when you want something different, as we did, the D Set with black pork duruchigi is more than satisfying.

Final thoughts

If I had to name a restaurant from our Jeju trip that I want to revisit, Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon would be on the list. The black pork duruchigi was especially delicious wrapped in lettuce, and together with the mild grilled tilefish and warm sea urchin seaweed soup, it felt like a properly complete meal. Above all, my child enjoyed the grilled tilefish and sea urchin seaweed soup so much that the whole family could eat happily.

We had the D Set this time, but on our next Jeju trip I definitely want to try the braised cutlassfish. After trying the black pork duruchigi, I became even more curious why this place is famous for it. If you are looking for a properly Jeju-style meal near Seongsan Ilchulbong or Seopjikoji, stop by. Rather than a place to simply get a meal near a tourist attraction, this became a truly good restaurant that my family wants to deliberately seek out again on our next Jeju trip.