Family horse meat lunch in Seogwipo, Jeju: Marijoa

On the third day of our Jeju trip, I was searching for something unusual to eat and came across this place. The three of us—my husband, child, and I—went for horse meat at lunch. Since it was described as something hard to find on the mainland and available locally, we headed to Marijoa Seogwipo Jungmun Branch feeling half excited and half nervous.

Private room-style seating that was easy with a child

After parking and going inside, we were shown to private room-style seating, so we could sit comfortably with our child. We had our baby with us, and they set up a high chair for us.

What comes with the JOA Course and its price

The menu had two options, the Mari Course and the JOA Course, and we chose the JOA Course. It brought out everything in order—extract, sashimi, yukhoe, sushi, makasseu, braised short ribs, grilled meat, and shabu-shabu—so it was nice not having to wonder what else to order.

• Course: JOA Course ₩39,000
• Guests: 2 adults

I did a little reading before we ate, and apparently most horse meat fat is attached near the skin rather than marbled through the muscle, so the meat itself tends to be lean. That is why it is considered a diet-friendly meat with less concern over calories and cholesterol. I also read that it is high in protein, has a good essential-amino-acid profile, and contains a higher proportion of unsaturated fats said to lower blood cholesterol than other meats. It is also known for its high iron content and benefits for anemia. Old texts even mention it as helping with neuralgia, arthritis, and restoring energy, so it seemed like an appealing ingredient nutritionally as well as taste-wise.

Horse meat dishes we tried in the JOA Course

JOA Course order

We started the course with horse extract. Its deep color made me a little nervous, but because it was a flavor I had never tried before, it was actually fascinating. They said it was good for you, so only my husband and I drank it, not our child.

The horse sashimi was plated beautifully with flower decorations. Sliced thinly, it was tender and clean, without any distinctive gaminess. A light dip in soy sauce made its nutty flavor even better.

The horse meat sushi topped with sauce looked pretty from the start. With the rice, it went down even more smoothly, and even our child, who likes raw fish, ate it well.

Horse yukhoe and makasseu, our family favorites

Our family’s best dish that day was definitely the horse yukhoe (seasoned raw horse meat). It was tender and nutty with a subtle sesame-oil aroma, and the three of us cleared it in no time. Its texture was even softer than beef yukhoe, so our child ate it without any hesitation.

The makasseu, coated in cornflake breading, had an impressive crunch. Maybe because it was fried, it was exactly to our child’s taste and disappeared first.

Grilled horse meat, starting with the fat

The method was to grill the fatty portion first to render the fat, then grill the lean meat. Grilling garlic alongside it added more flavor, and dipping it in salt or sauce brought out a nutty taste the more we chewed.

Horse meat shabu-shabu with a clean broth

This was shabu-shabu, with thinly sliced horse meat briefly cooked in a vegetable-filled broth. The broth was mild and clean, so I kept reaching for another spoonful. The cooked meat had a different but equally light appeal from eating it raw.

Being able to try horse meat in so many forms as a course made this a special meal during our trip. The private room-style seating also made it easy to visit with a child, and the course was satisfyingly substantial. I would happily come back next time we are in Jeju.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) / Atmosphere: A great local spot for flavors you can only try here