Seogwipo fish restaurant with free whole grilled cutlassfish

One thing I really wanted to eat at least once on our Jeju trip was cutlassfish. On the day we were exploring the Seongsan area, we visited Seongsan Bada Punggyeong Jeju Seongsan Ilchulbong Branch (성산바다풍경 제주성산일출봉점), where you can have a generous meal of cutlassfish and braised mackerel right in front of the sea. In particular, when you order the mixed braise, a huge whole grilled cutlassfish comes as a complimentary service, and the price was not too burdensome either—so I wanted to introduce it to anyone looking for a good lunch spot in Seongsan.

Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun 10:00–21:00 Last order 20:00 Closed Wednesdays Free parking available in front of the restaurant

Seongsan Bada Punggyeong right in front of the Seongsan sea

True to its name, Seongsan Bada Punggyeong sits right in front of the Seongsan sea. It is in a convenient spot to stop by while traveling around Seongsan, and you can have the fish dishes that come to mind when you think of Jeju—like cutlassfish and mackerel—at relatively reasonable prices. Being able to take in the surrounding sea before or after eating also made it easy to add to our itinerary.

Order the mixed braise and get whole grilled cutlassfish

What stood out most here was that ordering the mixed braise comes with whole grilled cutlassfish as a complimentary service. It was not just a piece of cutlassfish—a large whole fish arrived, and I was surprised because it was much bigger than I expected at first sight. On days when the haenyeo grandmothers are out in front of the restaurant, you can also buy horned turban shells they caught themselves, and apparently you can eat the shells you purchase right at the restaurant.

An interior that shows the traces of time

The interior had a slightly different feel from a spotless new restaurant. You could see traces of time here and there, but that actually gave it the real-deal vibe of a long-running neighborhood restaurant. Rather than a flashy tourist-area restaurant, it felt like an easy, comfortable place to walk into for a meal.

Tables right next to the sea

Further inside, there are tables with a direct view of the sea. We happened to find one open, so we grabbed it right away! I loved being able to eat while looking out at the Seongsan sea through the window. On a nice day, you can enjoy the ocean scenery along with your meal, and it really makes you feel like you are on a Jeju trip.

A simple menu, from cutlassfish to seafood ttukbaegi

The menu is more concise than I expected, with grilled cutlassfish, mixed braise, seafood ttukbaegi (earthenware pot stew), and obunjagi ttukbaegi. There were not too many choices, and it focused on the seafood dishes you want to eat in Jeju, so choosing was easy. We went for the mixed braise so we could try both grilled and braised fish.

Side dishes and seaweed soup at the self-serve bar

You can take as many extra side dishes and bowls of seaweed soup as you need from the self-serve bar. Every side dish was decent, but I especially loved the seaweed soup. It was warm and not overly seasoned, so I had a proper bowl before the main dish even came out. It was also nice to be able to get more side dishes without feeling self-conscious.

A varied spread of basic side dishes

The basic sides included kimchi, seaweed, stir-fried fish cake, bean sprouts, pickled cabbage, and seasoned eggplant. They were mainly sides that went well with fish dishes, and the seaweed in particular was exactly to my taste, so I kept reaching for it. We were able to have a filling meal with not only the mains but the basic sides as well.

Mixed braise with complimentary whole grilled cutlassfish

There were two of us, but we ordered the medium mixed braise. The medium was ₩59,000, and considering that the mixed braise came with whole grilled cutlassfish too, the spread itself was very generous. If you are looking for a Seongsan lunch spot where you can have both grilled and braised cutlassfish in Jeju, it is a combination worth noting.

A giant whole cutlassfish as a complimentary service

And then the whole grilled cutlassfish appeared! This enormous cutlassfish comes as a service item when you order the mixed braise, and its size alone had quite a presence. Even better, they do not simply bring it out whole—the staff prepare it themselves, removing the bones so it is easy to eat.

Prepared for you, so it is easy to eat

They prepared the whole cutlassfish completely at the table so it was easy to eat, and we could start picking up just the flesh right away. Since we ordered the medium, the overall amount was really a lot for two people; for two, I think the small size at ₩39,000 would be enough too.

Mildly seasoned grilled cutlassfish

The grilled cutlassfish was not as strongly seasoned as I expected. Rather than a style you eat for a salty sauce flavor, it let you enjoy the fish itself simply, so it seemed suitable for everyone from adults to children. I think it would also be a good fit for anyone looking for a place to eat cutlassfish with children during a family trip.

Mixed braise with both cutlassfish and mackerel

The mixed braise comes with both cutlassfish and mackerel. Since the grilled fish was already so large, I thought the braise might be a small portion, but this too filled the pot generously. I also liked being able to alternate between cutlassfish and mackerel rather than eating only one kind of fish.

Two bowls of rice with the rich sauce

Inside, there were potatoes, radish, cutlassfish, and mackerel distributed evenly. The thick sauce had soaked into the fish and ingredients, but despite how it looked, it was not extremely spicy or aggressively seasoned. It was perfect with rice when I coated the tender radish and potatoes generously in the sauce, and once you add a piece of fish, one bowl of rice disappears in no time.

A good-value restaurant we found in Seongsan

As we were leaving after our meal, I noticed that one side was covered with so many celebrity autographs. After trying it myself, the biggest advantage was being able to taste both cutlassfish and mackerel in one mixed braise, along with the large whole grilled cutlassfish. Especially since you can order from the ₩39,000 small size, I do not think it would be easy to find fish dishes with this kind of spread in Seongsan.