Braised hairtail with radish-mixed rice in Cheongju: Jeju Badang

Here I am again, stumbling into another spot — this time it's Jeju Badang, a Korean restaurant in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju, known for its braised hairtail.

📍 Location: 28 Seohyeonnam-ro, 2F, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea 📍 Hours: Daily 10:30–22:00 * Break time 15:00–17:00 *

What is Jeju Badang, the braised fish restaurant in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju?

I came back from Jeju Badang, a Cheongju spot for braised fish where you could easily polish off two bowls of rice, having eaten some seriously spicy braised hairtail 🐟 Jeju Badang has a big parking lot for easy, comfortable parking, so it's popular with families too. On a day when spicy braised hairtail is calling your name, head on over to Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong 💨

The owner was really kind and welcoming, and Jeju Badang's dining room is spacious and pleasant — a comfortable atmosphere to eat in! They even have a fully set-up play room for guests with kids.

How to order at Jeju Badang: a kiosk on every table

Ordering at Jeju Badang was easy, done right at the table through the kiosk set up at each seat. My friend and I were both in the mood for braised fish rather than grilled, so without hesitation we ordered Jeju Badang's signature dish — braised hairtail 🫶

We ordered braised hairtail because we wanted something spicy and rich, but there's a wide range of grilled and braised fish on the menu beyond that, so take your time choosing.

The neat little side dishes that arrived right after we ordered got the first bite 😉

Jeju Badang's self-serve bar: refillable side dishes and chicken

(So good~~) All of Jeju Badang's side dishes can be refilled as much as you like at the self-serve bar, and even the stir-fried pork that's not out at the bar will be brought over if you ask — so there's no way you'll go hungry 💓

Besides the standard side dishes brought to your table, the self-serve bar also has chicken and dessert, so anyone visiting Jeju Badang should definitely check it out ✔️

Not going to hide the fact that I, a certified meat lover, went back for refills of chicken and stir-fried pork 🍖

Jeju Badang's braised hairtail, served as one full set per person

And now, the main event I'd been most looking forward to — the spicy braised hairtail makes its entrance~

We ordered 2 portions, and they brought each one out separately as its own set — such a nice touch. Even just from the look of it, the braised hairtail seemed spicy; we turned the pot rice into scorched-rice tea first and then dug right in 🐟

The hairtail flesh was so soft and delicious it just melted the moment it hit my mouth ✨ What really stood out about Jeju Badang's braised hairtail is that there's zero fishy taste — it's spicy and savory, with the sauce soaked all the way into the fish.

Mash the soft braised radish into the rice and the bowl vanishes

And of course, the true star of any braised dish has to be the well-cooked radish, right?! Mash the radish, soaked through with that spicy-sweet, punchy sauce, and mix it into the white rice — before you know it, a whole bowl of rice is gone, no other side dishes needed.

(Who ate all my rice?!) It's also secretly convenient that the hairtail comes boneless, so you can just scoop the fish straight onto your rice without having to pick out any bones 🤫

I think I'll be coming back to Jeju Badang, the Gagyeong-dong Korean restaurant for braised hairtail in Cheongju, every time that spicy craving hits 🌊 If you're looking for a great braised hairtail spot in Cheongju or a family-gathering restaurant in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju, I'd recommend Jeju Badang.

While writing this post I checked Jeju Badang's place listing and it says they'll be open as usual throughout the Chuseok holiday. Bring the family and try Jeju Badang for a Chuseok gathering meal 😉