Korean restaurant in Seogwipo, Jeju for boneless braised cutlassfish

Near Sanbangsan in Jeju, the two of us had boneless braised cutlassfish at Sikgwa Hamkke Jeju Sanbangsan Branch. It was a set that spared us much of the trouble of removing bones, with a spicy sauce and several side dishes to enjoy alongside it.

Where is Sikgwa Hamkke Jeju Sanbangsan Branch?

The address is 11-9 Hwasun-ro 142beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju, South Korea. The original post listed its hours as 09:00–22:00, with a break time from 16:00–17:00 and last orders at 21:00.

The restaurant had a white exterior. Its outside wall listed items including boneless braised cutlassfish, grilled cutlassfish, seafood ramen, and abalone rice.

Is it suitable for families or larger groups?

The interior was more spacious than I expected, with relatively generous spacing between tables. Wooden tables and chairs gave it a comfortable feel, and there were bright seats by the windows. There seemed to be quite a few tables, so it looked suitable for families or larger groups.

What does boneless braised cutlassfish cost and include?

Boneless braised cutlassfish was listed at ₩45,000 for two people, ₩65,000 for three, and ₩80,000 for four. The set included individual bowls of rice, sea urchin seaweed soup, and course side dishes.

There were course menus centered on braised cutlassfish and whole rockfish braise, as well as à la carte items. The boneless braised cutlassfish course was listed with grilled cutlassfish, fried whole rockfish, pickled sweet shrimp, and abalone dishes. There were also seafood ramen, abalone-and-turban-shellfish geu-bap (rice with abalone innards), bomal and hijiki noodle kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), and several fried items.

Do you need to prepare anything when bringing a dog?

The restaurant was listed as allowing dogs. A carrier or pet stroller was required, and the notice also said to prepare a “pet lid.”

What came with the two-person set we received?

Our two-person boneless braised cutlassfish set came with sea urchin seaweed soup, geu-bap (rice with abalone innards), soy-marinated crab, seasoned vegetables, scallion salad, pickles, and other dishes. When the table was set, there were more varieties of side dishes than I expected.

Rather than being elaborate, the side dishes felt like easy, home-style food. They were not overly seasoned overall, so they went well with the braised cutlassfish, and it was enjoyable to taste them one by one while waiting for the main dish.

How were the texture and sauce of the boneless braised cutlassfish?

What I liked most was how easy it was to eat because it was boneless. Removing bones can be a hassle when eating cutlassfish, but here I could pick up large pieces and eat them right away.

The cutlassfish was so tender and moist that it could be cut easily with a spoon. The sauce had noticeable large flakes of red pepper powder, and it was spicy and rich rather than mainly sweet. Its heat and savory flavor went well with the fish and rice, and I ended up mixing rice into the sauce, too.

The portion was enough for two. With spicy braised cutlassfish and side dishes that were not overly seasoned, it made for a satisfying meal during our Jeju trip.