Sanbangsan Jeju restaurant, fried cutlassfish belly: Sikgwa Hamkke

I love cutlassfish, but picking out the bones is such a hassle, isn't it? So when I heard there was a place near Sanbangsan serving boneless braised cutlassfish that you could eat without any fuss, I skipped my hotel breakfast entirely and rushed over early in the morning! Since they serve from 9am, it was perfect timing for a breakfast stop during a Jeju trip. For anyone looking for a good cutlassfish stew restaurant near Sanbangsan, here's my honest review!

Sikgwa Hamkke opens at 9am — where do you park?

Sikgwa Hamkke Jeju Sanbangsan Branch opens at 9am, and since we timed our visit to that opening, the area around the restaurant was quiet and relaxed — really nice. There's no dedicated parking lot, but since it's not a no-parking zone, we could comfortably park on the street right in front and walk in.

The exterior is a clean, no-frills white tone, with a phrase on the wall reading 'good taste is, in the end, kindness' along with the signature menu items, giving it a tidy feel. Thanks to the blue Sikgwa Hamkke projecting sign, it was easy to find even on a first visit.

Inside Sikgwa Hamkke: interior and seating

The inside of Sikgwa Hamkke was much cozier and warmer than I expected, with a wood-tone interior perfect for a comfortable meal. Tables ranged from 4-person up to large group seating, neatly arranged, which looked great for family visits too.

Enjoying a famous cutlassfish stew near Sanbangsan in such a warm atmosphere already had me looking forward to it before the food even arrived.

Seeing autographs from famous visitors on the wall only confirmed my confidence in this Jeju cutlassfish stew spot... 🤭

Sikgwa Hamkke menu and prices

The menu ranges from full course meals, but right now only the boneless braised cutlassfish set and à la carte items are available to order.

Sikgwa Hamkke menu

• Set menu · Boneless braised cutlassfish set (rice, sea urchin seaweed soup, side dishes included) — 2 people ₩45,000 / 3 people ₩65,000 / 4 people ₩80,000
• Grilled cutlassfish (4pc) ₩18,000
• Seafood ramyeon ₩13,900
• Abalone & turban shell gut rice ₩15,000
• Top shell & hijiki noodle soup ₩11,900
• Jumbo seafood ramyeon ₩35,000
• Whole fried octopus ₩35,000
• Whole fried rockfish ₩35,000
• Fried cuttlefish ₩30,000
• Soy-marinated spot shrimp 7pc ₩15,000 / 15pc ₩25,000

Boneless braised cutlassfish set for two: what side dishes come with it?

Milk Couple's order — boneless braised cutlassfish set for two, ₩45,000

Looking at the neatly arranged set of side dishes, I could really feel the owner's care in each one. They apparently use natural seasonings, which is probably why the flavors weren't harsh at all and sat easy on the stomach — perfect for breakfast.

The mild acorn jelly salad and the tangy-sweet jellyfish salad with its chewy texture were great. It had been ages since I'd had jellyfish salad, and it really woke up my appetite.

Stir-fried fish cake, perfect with rice, along with nutty bracken fern that had a real Jeju feel, and refreshing chive salad to go with it 👍

Not-too-spicy, savory braised kimchi with a nice light sauce, and soft, nutty potato salad...

Tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty), and a white-seasoned shredded squid stir-fry I was trying for the first time — salty and delicious.

Soft, tasty stir-fried eggplant and the ultimate rice thief, soy-braised quail eggs.

The chewy top shell salad with its tangy-sweet seasoning, and the crisp lotus root salad with a bright citron aroma also kept me coming back for more.

Crab lovers, this will make you so happy 😍 Not too salty, packed with meat — a total rice thief!

Sea urchin seaweed soup and abalone and turban shell gut rice

Along with the basic side dishes came sea urchin seaweed soup and abalone & turban shell gut rice — and this combo was way better than I expected! The sea urchin seaweed soup had a deep, refreshing broth flavor that was amazing.

The gut rice, stir-fried with abalone and turban shell innards, was something I was trying for the first time — rich and nutty, topped with seaweed flakes and popping flying fish roe. It immediately made sense why everyone looks for gut rice when they visit Jeju 👍👍👍👍

Fried cutlassfish belly when the whole table orders the same set

This is the fried cutlassfish belly given as a free service, only when everyone in the group orders the boneless braised cutlassfish set.

At first I thought fried food might be a bit greasy or heavy, but once I tasted it, the naturally mild flavor of the cutlassfish flesh paired so well with the crispy, nutty batter. It's a totally different taste from grilled cutlassfish.

The main dish: braised cutlassfish with no bones to pick

Finally, the main dish — boneless braised cutlassfish! It's cooked and simmered in a rich, spicy sauce right at the table, and the visual alone made my mouth water. Is that not tempting???

With regular braised cutlassfish, you end up breaking apart the flesh while picking out bones, and barely get anything in your mouth — so frustrating. Here, the plump boneless meat means no bone worries at all, and you can scoop up a full bite every time. That was honestly the best part.

Piling the spicy cutlassfish flesh on top of warm white rice for a big bite... this really is a certified cutlassfish stew spot near Sanbangsan 👍

Even the sweet radish that soaked up all the sauce paired perfectly with the rice and seasoning — it was a total rice thief. Excuse me, boss 🙋‍♀️ one more bowl of rice, please!!!

Freshly squeezed hallabong juice to finish

Sikgwa Hamkke was running a Naver receipt review event! If you take part, you get freshly squeezed hallabong (Jeju citrus) juice, made by the owner personally — I'd definitely recommend grabbing this. After eating fish, your mouth can feel a bit fishy, but one sip of the hallabong juice was the perfect cleanser. Cool, refreshing, and sweet-tart — a great way to finish 👍

Is Sikgwa Hamkke worth it for breakfast near Sanbangsan?

Sikgwa Hamkke, a cutlassfish stew specialist in Jeju where you can scoop it up freely with a spoon without any bone hassle, exceeded my expectations. From the tidy side dishes made with natural seasonings, to the incredibly nutty gut rice, to the spicy and savory boneless braised cutlassfish — every part of the meal was complete. Since they open at 9am, it's a great spot to fill up before your day's itinerary; highly recommend if you want a proper cutlassfish dish near Sanbangsan 👍