Jungmun horse meat restaurant serving mak-kkas and galbijjim: Marijoa

Jeju-certified horse meat, a Seogwipo Jungmun favorite

Marijoa, a Seogwipo Jungmun horse meat course specialist! A great lunch spot to take your parents

If you're visiting Jeju, horse meat is one of those unique local delicacies you absolutely have to try haha! For lunch in Seogwipo Jungmun, I went to Marijoa Jungmun Branch, an edible horse meat specialty vendor officially designated by the Jeju Provincial Government's Livestock Policy Division. 💛

Since it was my first time eating horse meat, I was worried about a gamey smell or the texture... but honestly, I found myself wishing I'd tried it sooner. Here's my write-up on properly enjoying the Joa Course (₩39,000 per person / ₩78,000 total for two). ✨

What kind of place is Marijoa Seogwipo Jungmun Branch?

Marijoa Seogwipo Jungmun Branch is a horse meat specialty restaurant near the Jungmun tourist complex in Seogwipo, Jeju. It's a horse meat restaurant designated by the Jeju Provincial Government's Livestock Policy Division! Unlike the mainland, Jeju manages edible horses separately, so I went looking for one of these officially designated restaurants.

Parking, private rooms and group dining at Marijoa

There's a large private parking lot, so vans, rental cars, and even beginner drivers can park with plenty of space. Private rooms are also available, making it a good spot for family meals with parents, large family gatherings, or lunch after a round of golf.

It's also just a 5-minute drive from major Seogwipo attractions like Jungmun Saekdal Beach, Cheonjeyeon Falls, and Yeomiji Botanical Garden, so it's great for planning your route. It's also close to golf courses like Lotte CC, Pinx GC, and Jungmun CC, making it a popular lunch spot before or after a round.

What comes with the 39,000-won Joa Course?

What I pre-booked today was Marijoa's signature Joa Course. 💛 (₩39,000 per person, ₩78,000 for two) Ordering just a single dish felt like it wouldn't be enough, so I reserved their signature course menu.

From the extract broth to the shabu-shabu, the full course flowed perfectly, and the abundance and flavor were genuinely impressive. Who knew horse meat could taste this good? It's lighter than Korean beef, so my satisfaction was at its peak.

Horse meat extract broth, sashimi and yukhoe

You start with a warm horse meat extract broth served before the meal to soothe your stomach, and then the raw meat course kicks off properly. The sashimi and yukhoe feel like they were caught that same day — genuinely zero gamey smell. It was much more tender than beef yukhoe and melted cleanly in my mouth with an incredible, top-tier nuttiness.

Wow, this is seriously delicious.

Horse meat sushi

The chewy texture came together neatly — perfect as a lunchtime specialty. It's similar to the yukhoe, but the lightness of the flavor really stood out.

Mak-kkas and galbijjim

Mak-kkas is tender horse meat wrapped in a crispy fried coating — a flavor kids would genuinely love. Fried horse meat, and it's a dish that kids ate up happily.

Horse meat galbijjim is included in the course too — isn't that amazing?? The sweet, savory, salty sauce was deeply infused throughout, a dish made with such care that I'd love to treat my parents to it. The meat separated smoothly from the bone and was genuinely delicious.

Grilled horse meat on the table

Grilled horse meat, with its appealing marbling and clean juiciness! This is truly a rare treat. Horse meat has less fat than beef, so grilling it lightly brings out rich flavor while keeping your palate clean.

They showed me how to eat it properly, and eating the nutty fat together with the lean, light meat was absolutely delicious 💖 It wasn't greasy or heavy at all, which made it even better.

To finish: horse meat shabu-shabu and kalguksu

The finale is horse meat shabu-shabu, where you briefly blanch vegetables and horse meat in a warm, richly simmered broth. 💛 Thanks to the deep broth flavor, I felt full and satisfied, wrapping up the meal cleanly. The tender meat was really something I loved. 👏🏻

Is Marijoa worth it for horse meat in Jungmun, Seogwipo?

Marijoa Seogwipo Jungmun Branch is a horse meat specialty restaurant that lives up to its status as a provincially designated vendor, with strict hygiene management and top-tier freshness. With fully equipped private rooms, it's a great place to bring your parents. To make sure you get the freshest meat and secure a room, booking ahead via Naver Reservation or by phone will make the experience even better!

If you're looking for a great restaurant in Seogwipo Jungmun, or want to try a refined, special health food while traveling in Jeju?? Definitely try the Joa Course at Marijoa Jungmun Branch! I highly recommend visiting this Jeju horse meat specialty restaurant.