Soft tofu stew vs cheonggukjang at a Yongdam, Jeju fish grill: Naneun

Whenever I think of Jeju, black pork or braised cutlassfish usually come to mind first. But on this trip I suddenly craved crispy grilled fish with a bowl of warm rice. I happened to be looking for somewhere to eat near Jeju Airport, and heard there was a charcoal-grilled fish specialist in Yongdam-dong, so I went to check it out.

The name of the place is pretty funny too — Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda, which literally means "I want to eat fish right now." It matched exactly how I was feeling that day, so the name stuck with me right away, haha.

Where is Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Branch?

Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Branch is at 168 Yongmun-ro, Jeju City. It's fairly close to Jeju Airport, so it's a good option when you're looking for a meal on the way in or out of the airport.

A fish-shaped wooden sign hangs on the red brick building, so it wasn't hard to spot from a distance. Stepping inside, the interior was cleaner and more organized than I expected.

Stainless steel tables were neatly arranged, and sea-themed decor on the walls naturally gave off the feel of a grilled fish specialist. Baby chairs were also set aside for families visiting with young kids.

What's on the menu, and what did we order?

Looking at the menu at Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Branch, you can choose your fish — tilefish, cutlassfish, mackerel, flounder, croaker and more — alongside stew or braised dishes. The set options ranged from solo-diner sets to sets for two.

That day we ordered two Mom's Set for two. We chose flounder and mackerel for the fish, with pork stir-fry included, and picked soft tofu stew and cheonggukjang for the stews respectively. Being able to taste several things instead of just one made it great for sharing as a family.

The side dishes

After ordering, the side dishes arrived first — white kimchi, diced radish kimchi, stir-fried fish cake, seasoned bean sprouts, and salted seafood, all neatly plated. Overall the banchan (side dishes) were tidy and seasoned just right for our taste. They were clean flavors that didn't compete with the grilled fish, making them easy to pair with rice.

How was the charcoal-grilled flounder and mackerel?

The flounder and mackerel from the Mom's Set came out golden brown, with crispy skin and moist flesh. And finally — the star of the show arrives.

I picked apart the flounder first. The surface was grilled golden, and the edges were nicely crisp. Lifting the flesh with chopsticks, the inside was still moist.

When I eat grilled fish, I love the crispy skin just as much as the flesh — and both the flounder and mackerel had their skin grilled to a perfect golden brown, so my chopsticks kept drifting that way, haha. The mackerel came out split in half, and the flesh was thick enough to pull off generous chunks at a time.

Piling a big piece of fish flesh onto warm rice and eating it like that — that combo really needs no explanation, haha. The seasoning on the fish itself wasn't overdone, so it went well with rice without feeling heavy. The crispy skin and moist flesh gave a nice contrast in texture too.

Is the pork stir-fry in the hot pot spicy?

The pork stir-fry that came with the Mom's Set wasn't extremely spicy, and it stayed warm all the way through since it was served in a hot stone pot. Surprisingly, this dish got just as much attention from us that day as the grilled fish.

What caught my eye was that the pork stir-fry came served in a stone pot rather than a regular plate. The seasoning was well soaked into the meat, and sesame seeds were sprinkled on top.

That said, if you're not great with spicy food, you might find it a bit hot — for us, it was just right with rice. What we appreciated most, though, was that it stayed warm to the end thanks to the pot. Between the grilled fish and the stews, we tended to get to the pork stir-fry later on, and it was great that even the last bite was still warm.

Putting a piece of pork stir-fry on top of rice worked pretty well too. A bite of grilled fish, then a shift toward the pork stir-fry, then back for a spoonful of stew…

Soft tofu stew or cheonggukjang — which one's better?

The soft tofu stew had a spicy but clean broth, while the cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) was mellow and savory — switching between the two was fun. And of course, the stews deserve their own mention. Let's start with the soft tofu stew.

It arrived bubbling with red broth, looking pretty fiery. Tasting it, though, it wasn't just spicy — it was spicy yet clean.

It had soft, fluffy tofu, egg, and green onion, and the broth wasn't heavy at all, which I liked. This soft tofu stew was actually one of my favorites among everything we ate that day. A bite of grilled fish, then a spoonful of soft tofu stew broth…

It also went well spooned lightly over rice, and paired with seasoned dishes like the pork stir-fry without feeling heavy, since the broth was clean. And then there's the other stew — cheonggukjang.

Cheonggukjang had a distinctly different vibe from the soft tofu stew. The broth was savory, and to us it tasted like it had been simmered with a rich, mellow stock.

Eating it with the grilled fish gave it a different kind of appeal from the spicy soft tofu stew. In the end, switching between the two stews that day was fun in itself, comparing their distinct flavors.

The pre-grilled fish showcase and the solo-diner set

Near the kitchen at Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Branch, there's a showcase displaying various pre-grilled fish. It caught my eye during the meal — the cleaned fish, already lightly grilled once, were neatly lined up.

From flounder and croaker to cutlassfish and mackerel, everything was sorted by type. It looked exactly like what you'd expect from a grilled fish specialist with a wide range of options prepared, and it drew a second glance.

There's also a solo-diner set for people traveling alone. It comes with grilled fish and stew together, so solo travelers in Jeju could still get a hearty, satisfying meal.

Is grilled fish near Jeju Airport worth a visit?

If you're looking for a grilled fish set meal near Jeju Airport, Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Branch in Yongdam-dong is worth checking out. When traveling around Jeju, special dishes are great, but sometimes what you really want is a comforting meal — warm rice, a piece of grilled fish, and a spoonful of stew.

If you're looking for a place to eat near Jeju Airport and searching for grilled fish near Jeju Airport, this spot in Yongdam-dong is worth a look.

With a wide variety of grilled fish and the option to share pork stir-fry and stews together, it was also a solid choice for visiting as a family and sharing a bit of everything.

If you're in Jeju craving grilled fish and thinking "I want to eat fish right now," it's worth stopping by Yongdam-dong for a warm meal. We finished our meal feeling full and headed off to the rest of our Jeju itinerary.

Store information

• Name: Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Branch
• Address: 168 Yongmun-ro, 1st floor, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 09:30–21:00
• Last order: 20:30