Seongsan certified-clean restaurant for braised hairtail: Jejurowoon

I'd been telling myself that a trip to Jeju had to include galchi-jorim (braised hairtail). But then I saw the prices — some of them were so high I had to double-check I was reading them right...

Not every restaurant is like that, though. Today I'm introducing a place with reasonably priced galchi-jorim and seafood hot pot. It's called Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon, and it nails both taste and price. Let me show you.

Where is Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon and what are its hours?

It's located at 101 Sinyang-ro, 1st floor, Seongsan-eup.

Open from 8 AM to 9 PM.

Where do you park in Seongsan?

Looks like you park on the road in front of the restaurant. There's no dedicated lot, but plenty of cars were already parked out front. Since it's a quiet neighborhood, I wouldn't worry too much about getting ticketed.

The yellow sign and the certified-restaurant mark

Punch in the address on Sinyang-ro 101 and drive along, and a bright yellow sign catches your eye right away. There are so many galchi-jorim and seafood hot pot restaurants around Seongsan that competition must be fierce.

Right at the entrance, there's a mark that jumps out — a modelo restaurant (모범음식점) certification. Whether in Seoul or in the countryside, I've found that places with this mark tend to be reliably good. In my experience, I've rarely come across a bad restaurant with this sign. It also says something nice about how much the owner cares about cleanliness.

Inside Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon: seating and mood

The inside was bigger than I expected. Plenty of tables, and everything looked bright and tidy. It was already busy with customers by the time I walked in.

Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon cooks with 100% Jeju-caught hairtail, so you know it's the real thing. They're also running an event where you get a free hallabong (Jeju citrus) jelly for leaving a receipt review.

Menu, ingredient origins and set prices

There are A, B, and C sets. Galchi-jorim alone is ₩24,000 per person, but I'd recommend the A set — it's ₩48,000 for two, though that includes the seafood hot pot and grilled tilefish too, so it doesn't feel overpriced once you consider the seafood hot pot alone is ₩15,000. If you want something simpler, there are a la carte options too.

What we ordered: the A set for two, 48,000 won

Braised hairtail (galchi-jorim)

First, the seasoning on the galchi-jorim was excellent. The hairtail wasn't huge, but there was enough flesh on it to really taste it. Just like in the photo, the fish was meaty and satisfying. Sometimes you get a fish that looks big but has barely any flesh — this one was packed full. If you're in Seongsan, this braised hairtail spot is worth a visit.

Seafood hot pot in doenjang broth

The seafood hot pot had crab in it, along with shrimp, mussels, and other seafood. The broth seemed to be doenjang (soybean paste)-based — refreshing and seasoned just right.

Side dishes, soy-marinated crab and grilled tilefish

The side dishes were mildly seasoned, just the right level. The soy crab (ganjang-gejang) was so packed with meat you could feel it burst out the moment you bit in.

The grilled tilefish looked like it might just be a throwaway addition at first glance, but the fried flesh inside was full and satisfying. We ended up eating it down to the bones.

Pot rice cooked at the table

The pot rice that comes with the set is one of this place's real charms. It was savory and sticky enough that even though I was already full, I kept eating it right to the end.

Is the Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon A set worth it?

I really liked this restaurant. The portions and flavor were fantastic for the price. The braised hairtail paired beautifully with the seafood hot pot, and the soy crab was also packed with meat. Next time I'm in Jeju, I'll be coming back here. Highly recommend.