Jeju soondubu restaurant, two whole abalones: Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi

Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi 1F, 5 Hyeopjae 2-gil, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea Closed Mondays Tue–Sun 08:00–21:00 Break 14:00–17:00 Last order 20:30 Takeout, high chair, parking

Where is Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi, the 8am soup spot near Hyeopjae Beach?

When you're traveling around Jeju, there's always that one morning when you need something to clear your head from last night's drinks — or just plain fatigue. Around Hyeopjae Beach it's surprisingly hard to find a restaurant open early. During this trip I stumbled on 'Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi,' and it turned out to be such a satisfying meal, way beyond my expectations, that I really want to tell you all about it.

Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi is only 3–5 minutes by car from Hyeopjae Beach and Hallim Park, so it's extremely convenient to get to. It's the perfect stop after a drive along Jeju's west coast road or a morning walk.

Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi menu and prices, including kids' haejangguk

Looking at the menu board, it's built almost entirely around warming soups that will heat you right up.

• Sea snail (bomal) haejangguk (8-year sea snail broth): ₩13,000
• Abalone pollock soup (3-year pollock broth): ₩13,000
• Abalone soondubu (bone broth): ₩13,000
• Korean beef tripe soup (bone broth): ₩12,000
• Korean beef haejangguk (bone broth): ₩11,000
• Kids' haejangguk (bone broth, glass noodles, bean sprouts, beef): ₩6,000
• Black pork bulgogi: ₩12,000
• Drinks & extras: soju/beer ₩5,000, makgeolli ₩3,000, soft drinks ₩2,000, rice ₩1,000

One thing that stood out on the menu was a separate 'kids' haejangguk.' It's made with a mild bone broth plus glass noodles, beef, and bean sprouts that kids can eat easily, so families traveling with children can order without worry.

The self-serve banchan corner and side dishes at Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi

I also liked that extra side dishes are set up in a self-serve corner, so you can help yourself without feeling awkward about asking.

The basic side dishes are napa cabbage kimchi, stir-fried seaweed stems, salted squid, ssamjang, fresh cheongyang chili peppers, and dongchimi (watery radish kimchi). The dongchimi broth had thick-cut radish and floating red chili, and the moment I took a sip it was tangy, sweet, and so refreshing.

The salty, savory salted squid and the nutty stir-fried seaweed stems — with no fishy taste at all — paired perfectly with the soup dishes.

Sea snail haejangguk at Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi: clear broth with a spicy kick

We ordered the restaurant's signature dishes: the sea snail haejangguk and the spicy abalone soondubu.

Usually when you think of sea snail (bomal) dishes in Jeju, you picture a thick bomal kalguksu or bomal porridge, but Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi's bomal haejangguk comes in a clear-broth style.

On top of the clear broth base sit heaps of chives and crunchy bean sprouts, with plenty of chewy boiled sea snails piled right in the center.

The moment I took one spoonful of broth, I couldn't help but gasp. Just looking at it, I expected something bland and mild, but the cheongyang chili and chives combined for a refreshing hit followed by a spicy, sharp kick strong enough to make you go, 'Whoa, that really clears you out!' — a total twist.

Scraping the bottom of the ttukbaegi (stone pot) with a spoon, you keep hitting chewy sea snails. The crunchy bean sprouts, tender chives, and savory sea snails combine into a delicious bite every time. The broth never gets tiring, so I ended up mixing rice into it and practically drinking it down until I could see the bottom of the pot.

Spicy abalone soondubu: how tender are the two whole abalones?

This dish is for anyone who likes a spicy, richly seasoned soup. In the ttukbaegi, a deep red broth bubbles away with an intensely spicy aroma. Inside it, two fresh, large whole abalones sit in their shells, alongside mussels, whole shrimp, and a generous amount of soft soondubu (soft tofu).

Abalone can easily turn rubbery if it's overcooked even slightly, but here the doneness was truly 'perfect.' The moment I scooped out the abalone meat with a spoon and put it in my mouth, it was tender and soft with zero toughness — really delicious.

Sea snail haejangguk or abalone soondubu — which should you order?

I stopped by casually for a late breakfast or early lunch and ended up eating a far more polished ttukbaegi meal than I expected at 'Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi.' If you need something clear, refreshing, and hangover-clearing, go for the 'sea snail haejangguk.' If you want a rich, spicy seafood broth combined with tender abalone, choose the 'abalone soondubu.'

If you're near Hyeopjae Beach looking for a proper breakfast or a hearty Korean meal, I really recommend stopping by Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi!