Gagyeong-dong Korean set for two with puffed rice dessert: Jeju Badang

On a day I was craving Jeju-style food, I visited Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju — a place known for letting you feel that Jeju vibe without traveling far. From the savory grilled tilefish to the plump boneless braised hairtail, let me tell you honestly how it tasted!

Where is Jeju Badang, and is there parking?

Jeju Badang is a Jeju-style Korean restaurant on the 2nd floor at 28 Seohyeonnam-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju. It's near Gagyeong Xi Apartments and Gagyeong iPark, so it was easy to find.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat in the area, this is a good Gagyeong-dong Korean restaurant to check out. 🅿️ Parking is available at the building's ground-level lot, so it was convenient to visit by car too.

Inside Jeju Badang: dining room and kids' playroom

Jeju Badang has plenty of tables inside, so it's comfortable for a relaxed meal and looks fine for group gatherings too. The spacing between tables is generous, which made me think it's really a great spot for a family meal.

There's also a kids' playroom set up, which should be convenient for families visiting with children!

Jeju Badang's self-serve bar even has chicken

Jeju Badang's self-serve bar was run neatly too, so it was easy to grab whatever side dishes or food I needed. In particular, chicken — a favorite among kids — was also on offer, which made it great for a family visit. (I actually saw a lot of kids piling their plates with chicken, haha.) There was also chicken seasoning sauce ready to go, so you could enjoy both fried and seasoned chicken, which was a real plus.

After the meal, iced tea and plum tea were on hand along with puffed rice snacks, so we got to enjoy a full dessert spread too.

Jeju Badang menu and lunch specials

Jeju Badang's signature menu is a set that lets you enjoy braised hairtail (galchi, a Korean cutlassfish) alongside grilled tilefish together. During lunch hours, they also offer affordable lunch specials like mackerel table sets and Atka mackerel table sets, so you can taste carefully prepared Korean food at a good value. With a range of grilled and braised fish dishes to choose from depending on taste, the menu options were pretty wide.

We ordered the two-person tilefish set (boneless braised hairtail x1 + grilled black tilefish + 2 pot rice bowls + salad bar access) 🧾

What side dishes come with the set?

The basic side dishes included seaweed soup, seasoned bean sprouts, stir-fried anchovies, stir-fried pork, stir-fried mushrooms, and more! The seasoning overall wasn't too heavy and felt clean, so they paired well with the main dishes.

Grilled black tilefish

Jeju Badang's grilled black tilefish was big to begin with, and the flesh was really generous, so there was a lot to eat. It had a clean yet savory flavor, and the thickness of the meat made it satisfying.

Boneless braised hairtail

The Jeju boneless braised hairtail (galchi jorim) was totally boneless, so I could scoop up big, soft chunks of hairtail without worrying about bones — really easy to eat. The sauce was spicy with deep savory flavor soaked in well, and eating it with rice kept me reaching back for more.

The rich sauce soaked moistly into the hairtail, giving it a salty flavor that went perfectly with rice!

Pot rice and nurungji (scorched rice tea)

The pot rice (sotbap) was freshly made, warm, and chewy, pairing well with the main dishes. After scooping out the rice and pouring in water, you can make a savory scorched-rice tea (nurungji), which let us enjoy a satisfying finish right to the end.

Who should visit Jeju Badang?

Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju was a satisfying place to enjoy hearty grilled tilefish and boneless braised hairtail. With parking, a kids' playroom, a self-serve bar, and dessert all well set up, it's a Gagyeong-dong restaurant I'd recommend for family meals or group gatherings 🫶