Korean restaurant near Hyeopjae Beach in Jeju: Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi

Is it close enough to walk to from Hyeopjae Beach with children?

After my three- and five-year-old children had played in the water at Hyeopjae Beach to their hearts’ content and washed up, they were hungry. Rather than travel farther for a meal, we went to Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi (협재온뚝배기), about a three-minute walk from the beach.

The restaurant is on the first floor at 5 Hyeopjae 2-gil, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si. The hours listed in the original post are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with regular closure on Mondays. Break time is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and last orders are at 8:30 p.m.

I could see Hyeopjae Beach in the distance from the restaurant side. Being able to go straight for a meal after swimming was the most convenient part.

We parked at Hyeopjae Beach and walked over. The original post says parking is also possible in the alley in front of the restaurant.

The restaurant was compact and tidy. I also liked that the tables were generously sized.

What did we order and how much did it cost?

We ordered bomal haejangguk (Jeju sea snail hangover soup) and naejangtang (offal soup) for the adults, plus kids’ haejangguk for the children. The three dishes came to ₩31,000.

• Jeju bomal haejangguk: ₩13,000
• Premium Korean beef naejangtang: ₩12,000
• Kids’ haejangguk: ₩6,000

What side dishes came with the meal, and could we get more?

The side dishes included refreshing dongchimi, kimchi, spicy chili peppers, seasoned seaweed stems, and salted squid. They were all sides I usually enjoy, so they went well with the haejangguk.

Extra side dishes were available at the self-service bar. I like having salted seafood with gukbap or haejangguk, so I especially liked that salted squid was available there too.

What did the bomal haejangguk taste like?

All three haejangguk dishes arrived hot. From its name alone, I expected the bomal haejangguk to have a spicy, thick broth, so its clear broth was a surprise.

The broth was clear but pleasantly spicy and refreshing. The bomal had a pleasantly chewy bite, and it tasted different from the bomal porridge I had on a previous trip to Jeju.

There were plenty of bean sprouts, which made the broth taste even more refreshing. Rather than immediately mixing in the rice, I wanted to keep tasting the broth itself, and eventually lifted the ttukbaegi to drink it.

How was the premium Korean beef naejangtang different?

Unlike the clear bomal haejangguk, the premium Korean beef naejangtang had a spicy, rich broth. It came with minced garlic, and I could adjust the seasoning paste to my taste. I think it is best to set some paste aside first, then add it while tasting the broth.

When I ate it, neither the offal nor the meat had any unpleasant odor, and the portion was generous. Mixing in a bowl of rice made it very filling.

I preferred tasting the bomal haejangguk broth on its own, while for the naejangtang I preferred mixing rice into the broth after it had blended with the seasoning paste.

Did my child eat the kids’ haejangguk well?

The kids’ haejangguk had bean sprouts in a rich beef-bone broth. There was plenty of meat, and my child quickly finished a bowl after mixing rice into the broth.

The most satisfying part of this meal was not having to travel far after swimming. We could have warm soup and rice nearby with hungry children. If I return to Hyeopjae Beach, I think I will remember this as a place to eat.