Grilled tilefish and hairtail stew set in Cheongju: Jeju Badang

Jeju Badang, a Cheongju restaurant that packs all of Jeju Island onto one table — a true best-of-the-best.

Today I've got a post about a Cheongju restaurant that will make anyone who loves fish dishes 10,000% satisfied — Jeju Badang.

Jeju Badang hours and amenities

• Daily 10:30–20:30
• High chairs, separate men's/women's restrooms, kids' play room
• Reservations, Wi-Fi, group-friendly, takeout

Location and parking?

Located near Gagyeong Xi and Gagyeong IPark apartments, Jeju Badang is well known by word of mouth among those who love a generous spread of braised hairtail and grilled fish, and it's convenient since building parking is available.

The kids' room and the mood inside

Jeju Badang has a kids' room, which is great because you can eat comfortably even when visiting with children.

The interior has a wood-tone, stacked-stone-wall look that felt clean and put together overall. Tables are spaced widely, so it's good for group visits, and each seat is nicely set with the basics.

What we ordered: grilled tilefish + hairtail stew set for two

Please refer to the [Jeju Badang menu]. We ordered the grilled tilefish + hairtail stew set for two∨

They brought out the basic side dishes with the order, and let us know we could help ourselves to more at the self-serve bar!

What's at the self-serve bar?

Besides refills of the side dishes, the self-serve bar has all kinds of food like japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) and chicken, so you can eat to your taste — it makes for a satisfying meal out even with kids ^^ You can grab whatever you like alongside the main dish.

All kinds of kimchi at the self-serve bar, plus hot chicken~~ Mmm! Genuinely, every single thing was delicious, no weak links.

Mostly-namul side dishes, right up my alley

I especially love namul (seasoned vegetable side dishes), so the basic side dishes they brought out first were exactly my taste! It's not easy to try so many different namul at once, so Jeju Badang's healthy spread is really great for visiting with your parents.

Pot rice, grilled tilefish, and boneless hairtail stew

The main pot rice, grilled tilefish, and boneless hairtail stew all came out — time to dig in.

That thick grilled tilefish!! They gave us plastic gloves so we could pick at it by hand~~ I liked that it didn't have too many small bones.

Crispy on the outside, moist inside — perfect with rice. We came because our kid loves fish so much, but honestly we couldn't stop reaching for it either! The flesh is noticeably thicker and more generous than other fish, so you could fill up on the grilled fish alone!

Boneless hairtail stew

Boneless hairtail stew!! I like braised dishes but usually avoid them because eating around the bones is a hassle — being boneless made this so easy to eat!! Especially the radish, soaked through with sauce, mixed into rice — so good. The seasoning had just the right kick of spice too. You'd think boneless meant thin fillets, but no!! They're thick, and you get to pile on 2-3 pieces at once — braised-hairtail privilege♥

Finishing with sungnyung

We finished with hot sungnyung (scorched rice tea)! If you love fish dishes and want a clean, easygoing spread, I'd recommend Jeju Badang for a family meal or a visit with your parents.