Braised cutlassfish set in Seogwipo: Tamra Hansang restaurant

Braised cutlassfish beyond my expectations in Seogwipo

I recently took a trip to Jeju, and braised cutlassfish is always one of those menus that makes you hesitate when you visit. Honestly, I had tried several supposedly famous braised cutlassfish places in Jeju before, but I was always disappointed—either the portions were skimpy for the high price, or the seasoning just sat on top... sob.

So I had really lowered my expectations for this trip, but at Tamra Hansang (탐라한상), a Seogwipo restaurant I happened to visit, I finally found my lifetime-best braised cutlassfish! This is my honest story after trying the 2-person set and seeing for myself why it has become known as a local Korean restaurant in Seogwipo. Plus, it is a dog-friendly restaurant in Seogwipo, which made it even better!

Parking, dogs welcome, and spacious seating

You can park in front of Tamra Hansang, a Seogwipo local favorite, and there is also a public parking lot right next door, so you can park there too!

On the mainland, I had only ever seen dead cutlassfish and mackerel, but in Jeju they are swimming around fresh and alive... 😲

The restaurant is really spacious, with room for more than 40 people on the first floor. Anyone who has traveled around Jeju with a dog will relate: finding somewhere you can eat comfortably without feeling self-conscious is no easy task. Tamra Hansang allows dogs, so it feels like a real godsend for pet parents. Being able to enjoy a relaxed meal with your dog is reason enough to seek this place out when you want good local food in Seogwipo.

There is group seating on the second floor, and group reservations are available too. It is more than suitable for group dining in Seogwipo!

What comes with the braised cutlassfish set for two

Braised cutlassfish set (for 2): ₩75,000

Isn't the basic spread so impressive..? Along with individual dipping sauces, there was grilled pork belly, fried cutlassfish, salad, soy-marinated shrimp, and all kinds of side dishes. What a dazzling lineup.

The grilled pork belly came out hot and was enough to get my appetite going, while the soy-marinated shrimp was sweet and delicious—as good as at a specialty restaurant.

There was sashimi too... ❤️ It included sweet shrimp, cutlassfish sashimi, mackerel sashimi, and sea bream. It was so fresh that I could understand why people come here for sashimi in Seogwipo too, haha.

The cutlassfish and mackerel sashimi had absolutely no fishiness—just the flavor you would get at a great sashimi restaurant in Seogwipo!

While I was eating the side dishes, the braised cutlassfish arrived too. The table was set so completely that the saying about table legs breaking under all the food felt perfectly fitting.

At first I thought it was a little expensive, but with a spread this substantial, shouldn't the owner be charging more..?

Each person gets an individual pot of rice, with gingko nuts and potato inside. Scoop out the rice from the pot, pour in hot water, and let it sit~

Moist cutlassfish and deeply flavored seasoning

Honestly, no matter how good the other dishes are, it means nothing if the braised cutlassfish—the main event—is not good, right? But Tamra Hansang was different. The red, richly seasoned broth bubbled away, and its pleasantly spicy, gently sweet aroma brushed past my nose.

Once I moved a big piece of cutlassfish onto my small plate, the white, tender flesh slipped away easily with just the lightest touch of my chopsticks! It was not dry or crumbly like frozen cutlassfish; it retained all the moist, clean flavor unique to fresh fish.

The moment I took a bite, I thought, “So the braised cutlassfish I had been eating in Jeju all this time was not really braised cutlassfish.” There was not even a trace of fishiness or odor—only the fish's naturally nutty flavor filled my mouth.

The real secret weapon here, especially, is the sauce. It was not just aggressively hot; it had an outstanding deep savory flavor that lingered on the tongue! The spicy, rich seasoning had soaked perfectly into the cutlassfish, and the tender radish braised alongside it was the ultimate rice thief.

I mixed white rice into the sauce, then mashed in a thick piece of cutlassfish and a piece of soft-cooked radish. Before I knew it, I had polished off a whole bowl of rice.... My boyfriend raved that it was the best food he had eaten since coming to Jeju too, hahaha.

Jeju-style braised cutlassfish also comes with potato, so I loved alternating between the potato and radish. Wrapped in gim (roasted seaweed) with the plump cutlassfish, it felt like the best braised cutlassfish I had eaten in Jeju.

Finish by cleansing your palate with sungnyung, the toasted-rice infusion made by pouring hot water into the rice pot, and you will see why this deserves its reputation as a Seogwipo local favorite!

Why I want to come back

• A combination of plump fish and deep, richly savory seasoning that overturned my prejudice against the overpriced, skimpy braised cutlassfish at tourist spots.
• An unbelievably generous set for two, with sashimi, grilled pork belly, fried cutlassfish, soy-marinated shrimp, and side dishes in addition to the main braised cutlassfish.
• A restaurant where you can comfortably bring your beloved dog along.
• The focus on fresh ingredients and hearty, practiced cooking made it easy to understand why it is considered a local Korean restaurant in Seogwipo.