Jeju Airport solo diner set at 12,000 won with mackerel: Naneun Jigeum

Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda (나는 지금 생선이 먹고싶다, "I want fish right now") Open 9:30 – 21:00

How far is Naneun Jigeum from Jeju Airport? A 10-minute walk

On a recent trip to Jeju! The very first place I went the moment I landed was "Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda." It's about a 10-minute walk from the airport, and there it is. Parking is available too, so it's great if you're driving! One of the dishes you absolutely have to eat in Jeju — grilled fish — and this is the place for it!

Can you eat alone? The 12,000-won solo set explained

I was traveling solo, and even so they welcomed me so warmly! Turns out they already have a set menu for solo diners like me!

The solo set! Priced at such a nice 12,000 won!!! You can choose between grilled fish and stew — I agonized over what to get and ended up ordering grilled mackerel + cheonggukjang :)

The banchan at Naneun Jigeum: enough for a bowl of rice on their own

Such neat little side dishes (banchan)! Something about them felt like meals my mom used to make growing up, and I loved that, but honestly these tasted even better haha!! You could easily finish a whole bowl of rice on the banchan alone.

Cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) served in its own earthenware pot

Didn't have to wait long before the cheonggukjang showed up! As I get older, I find myself reaching for hot, savory cheonggukjang more than anything else on the menu! Served boiling hot in a stone pot — visually, it already passed with flying colors.

So much bean and tofu packed inside, I wondered how I'd finish it alone! So savory and rich — one spoonful in and out came an involuntary "ahh, so good~" It's not a dish I normally eat much, so I was extra excited for it!!!

Arm-sized grilled mackerel with soy sauce and wasabi

And then the grilled mackerel arrived! No exaggeration, it was the size of my forearm! The size was truly wild,,, And it wasn't overcooked at all, grilled just right, which made it even better!

They said it's even better dipped in the sauce that came alongside — what even is this sauce..! It really had that deep, addictive flavor!!!! Soy sauce and wasabi sauce? It was delicious plain too, no fishy taste at all, but once you dip it in the sauce you just keep going back for more without ever getting tired of it!!!

What the full solo table at Naneun Jigeum looks like

And here's the full solo spread! Cheonggukjang + grilled mackerel + rice!!!! A spread like this at this price — hard to believe.

The grilled mackerel had zero fishy taste — if anything it was nutty and crispy, with plump, tender flesh,, I don't usually go for fish because picking out bones is a hassle, but even the small bones were soft enough that it just went down easily with rice.

The flesh came off in such big chunks I barely had to think about bones — I think I ate without breathing haha. Can you see it, the traces of how thoroughly I cleaned this plate,,

Me, who barely eats proper rice meals back on the mainland, polished off an entire bowl just like that — and honestly, the combo of savory cheonggukjang and thick grilled mackerel is a must for any Korean, right? Whether I seriously considered ordering another bowl of rice... that's a secret…

Is Naneun Jigeum worth it as your first meal in Jeju?

Such a perfect first meal after arriving in Jeju, and one that gave me real energy to go. Belly completely full — honestly, it's not an exaggeration to say this one meal already made the trip a success!

I really cleaned my plate,,, ate so well solo it was almost a bit embarrassing — that's how good this meal was! If I come back, I want to try other menu items too (the pork stir-fry looked really good too..) and since it feels like a waste to eat something this good alone, I'd love to bring someone special next time!

There's a baby chair and some cute little decor items too, so it's worth a look around, and it'd be great to visit with family as well! Certified must-visit grilled fish spot near Jeju Airport ~~~ I'd come back 200%! A grilled fish restaurant that can be with you from the start to the end of your Jeju trip — "Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda"!!!