Gangneung abalone restaurant with radish salad: Haenyeo Village

When you travel to Gangneung, deciding where to eat is always a dilemma, right? This time I visited Gangneung Jeonbok Haenyeo Village (강릉전복해녀마을), famous as a Gangmun Beach go-to.

If you're staying near St. John's Hotel or hunting for a good breakfast in Gangneung, I think this review will really help. Conclusion first: it deserves its reputation as an abalone porridge spot.

Location and opening hours of Gangneung Jeonbok Haenyeo Village

The address is 286-1 Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon, Building Na, floors 1–2. It sits right in front of St. John's Hotel, so if you're staying nearby it's an easy walk.

Here are the opening hours.

• Wednesday to Monday: 09:30 - 20:30 (last order 19:40)
• Tuesday: closed

It's closed every Tuesday, so do check before you go.

Parking is hugely spacious, so no worries there. (Don't forget to register for parking payment on your way out!) There's also a GS25 convenience store right nearby, which was handy for a quick stop before or after the meal.

Pressure-cooker abalone porridge price and the haenyeo table

We ordered the pressure-cooker abalone porridge for 2 (압력솥전복죽). It's ₩25,000 per person, and it comes with the haenyeo table (해녀한상, a spread of seafood and side dishes).

Here's how the menu works.

• Pressure-cooker abalone porridge (per person) ₩25,000
• Pressure-cooker abalone porridge + haenyeo table
• One pot per person, cooked once you order
• Minimum 2 people to order

The concept is generous live abalone, with each table's pot cooked with care. And it really did arrive as a full, hearty pot!! The haenyeo table that came with it was just as generous.

Cold pork, assorted side dishes, raw abalone, sea cucumber, sea squirt sashimi, steamed scallops and mussels, steamed conch, squid in vinegar sauce, pickled myeongi greens and grilled fish: the table was packed and looked filling just to look at. The radish abalone salad (it felt like mulhoe, cold raw fish soup) had such a well-balanced seasoning that my chopsticks kept going back.

How does the pressure-cooker abalone porridge taste?

The main dish, the pressure-cooker abalone porridge, moved me most. The porridge was so thick and rich, and I think it's the first time I've had abalone porridge with this much abalone in it. haha

Every spoonful tasted so deeply infused that it felt like a health boost.

Swipe right through the photos above to see the haenyeo table in more detail. I especially liked the seed jeotgal (salted, fermented seafood) and the marinated crab too.

2nd-floor window seats with a field view, and the whelk event

You can tell they put effort into the interior. The 2nd-floor seats in particular have big windows looking out on green fields and trees, so the mood is quite pretty and it's great for photos. The staff were kind too, so I felt comfortable throughout the meal.

They were also running an event giving 4 whelks for leaving a receipt review, and the whelks were tasty too. Events like this may change depending on the restaurant, so it's best to check when you visit.

I saw the next table eating the seaweed soup, and it looked really appetizing. Next time I'd like to order it too.

Tips and overall verdict

To sum up, I'd recommend Gangneung Jeonbok Haenyeo Village to these people.

• Anyone looking for a Gangmun Beach restaurant
• Guests staying near St. John's Hotel
• Anyone looking for a good breakfast in Gangneung
• Fans of rich abalone porridge
• Families, or two people wanting a hearty meal

Just remember that it requires a minimum of 2 people to order and that it's closed on Tuesdays.

The abalone porridge alone would have made a satisfying meal, but with the haenyeo table it felt like a proper restorative feast! If you're traveling in Gangneung or planning to stay at St. John's Hotel, I recommend visiting Gangneung Jeonbok Haenyeo Village at least once.