Aewol black pork restaurant with melt jeot and kelp rice: Nopo Dwaeji

Nopo Dwaeji Aewol 1-dong 202-ho, 5-1 Gwakji 9-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea Mon – Sun 11:00 - 23:00 Last order 22:00 Group seating available, reservations, high chairs, pet-friendly

Why we picked Nopo Dwaeji Aewol for black pork near Gwakji Beach

I came to 'Nopo Dwaeji Aewol,' located near Gwakji Beach in Aewol, to eat black pork. These days there are so many black pork restaurants that I really agonized over where to go for a genuinely delicious, no-fail meal. Then I heard about Nopo Dwaeji near the famous Gwakji Beach drive course, well-known for its 168-hour aged black pork, and decided to visit.

Being right next to Gwakji Beach was a huge plus — after enjoying the ocean view as much as I wanted, I could walk or drive over quickly once I got hungry. Walking into the restaurant, my first impression was how clean and pleasant it felt. No grease film or lingering smell typical of BBQ places — everything was tidy and well-maintained, which put me in a good mood before I'd even eaten.

Nopo Dwaeji Aewol menu, prices and lunch sets

Looking at the menu, you can feel Nopo Dwaeji's expertise and pride. From the main pork dishes to the meal options, everything is thoughtfully put together. Using the lunch special hours (11:00–14:00) lets you enjoy an even better-value meal.

• [Meat] Black pork geungogi 600g ₩72,000 (Jeju black pork neck and belly aged over 168 hours)
• Extra neck 400g ₩48,000 / Extra belly 400g ₩48,000
• Jeju galmaegisal 200g ₩24,000 / Hangjeongsal (pork jowl) 200g ₩26,000
• [Lunch special 11:00–14:00] Set for 2: 400g pork + choice of jjigae + 2 kelp rice ₩55,000
• Set for 3: 600g pork + choice of jjigae + 3 kelp rice ₩79,000
• Set for 4: 800g pork + choice of jjigae + 4 kelp rice ₩103,000 (jjigae choice: Jeju yellow crab doenjang jjigae or 24-hour aged kimchi jjigae)
• [Meals] Jeju yellow crab doenjang jjigae ₩9,000 / 24-hour aged kimchi jjigae ₩8,000 / Bibim naengmyeon (cold noodles with raw fish) or mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) ₩8,000 / Kelp rice ₩1,000
• [Drinks] A wide selection including Hallasan, Cass, Terra, Kelly, non-alcoholic beer, Jeju Beer, highballs, and more

Black pork geungogi 600g, charcoal-grilled by the staff

We ordered Nopo Dwaeji's signature dish, the 'black pork geungogi (600g).' Not long after ordering, glowing charcoal and a special grill grate arrived, and thick slices of aged black pork neck and belly were placed on the grill.

And having the staff grill it for us was really convenient.

I tried a piece of the golden-browned pork plain first, with nothing on it, and wow... 'melts in your mouth' was exactly right. Not chewy at all — juicy, with rich meat juice spreading through my whole mouth. The outside had a faint charcoal aroma and was crisp, while the inside was tender — a textbook crispy-outside, juicy-inside bite.

Melt jeot: anchovy dipping sauce simmered on the grill

The essential thing you absolutely cannot skip with black pork BBQ — the melt jeot (fermented anchovy sauce) bubbling away right on the grill pan! Dipping well-cooked belly or neck slices into the salty, umami-packed melt jeot completely erased any fishy edge, blending with the savory pork into an explosive umami combo that was seriously no joke.

What's on the self-serve bar at Nopo Dwaeji Aewol

There's also a 'self-serve bar' set up on one side of the restaurant. Fresh lettuce, spicy peppers, garlic, and basic side dishes were all stocked hygienically, so we could freely help ourselves to as much as we wanted.

Jeju yellow crab doenjang jjigae (9,000 won) and kelp rice

By the time we'd nearly finished the pork, we ordered the 'Jeju yellow crab doenjang jjigae (₩9,000)' as a meal course. I would have really regretted skipping this dish! The moment the stone pot arrived, I couldn't help but marvel at how it looked — not just small crab pieces, but one whole large Jeju yellow crab packed right in the center of the pot.

This wasn't the seasoning-heavy doenjang jjigae flavor you get at typical BBQ places — the refreshing natural seafood broth drawn deeply from the crab blended with the hearty doenjang and completely cleansed my palate, which had gotten a bit heavy from all the meat. Mixing the broth and tofu into a bowl of rice or the kelp rice, the whole bowl disappeared in seconds. The kelp rice was already seasoned and genuinely delicious. You have to try it!

If you're looking for great black pork near Gwakji Beach in Aewol, Jeju, make sure to stop by 'Nopo Dwaeji Aewol'~!