Seocho Korean restaurant with mero stew and squid fritters: Naegohyang

A warm space serving a table filled with the heart of a haenyeo (female sea diver) mother — vegetables grown in Jeju and fish dishes from Jeju. - from Naegohyang Jeju's introduction -

Naegohyang Jeju hours and parking

• Hours: Daily 11:30 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 16:00
• Last order: 14:00, 20:00
• Parking: Paid parking available, valet ₩4,000
• Notes: Baby chair available, group dining possible

Where Naegohyang Jeju is: 10 minutes from Naebang Station Exit 7

Naegohyang Jeju is a Jeju hanjeongsik place a 10-minute walk from Naebang Station Exit 7. It's a spot where you can properly enjoy menus you'd normally only find on Jeju Island, right in the middle of Seoul. Bring your parents here and you'll get major brownie points, haha :p Weekday lunch specials are available too, so make sure to take advantage of them~

What we ordered at Naegohyang Jeju and what it cost

• Grilled fish set for two: ₩44,000
• Mero fish stew: ₩23,000
• In-season squid fritters: ₩28,000

The table setting: six side dishes plus stir-fried pork

When you order, the food comes out as a proper full table setting. From wrap ingredients to a 6-dish spread with stir-fried pork included~ You can order extra stir-fried pork for an added cost, so keep that in mind! And dessert comes in the form of a refreshing cold plum tea :p

Abalone pot rice

For an extra fee I upgraded from the regular hot pot rice to the abalone version, which comes with tot (seaweed fusiforme) and abalone mixed in. It's served with sesame oil to drizzle on top, and honestly that combo alone had me drooling~

Mero stew: spicy or clear broth, your choice

The mero fish stew comes in either spicy (maeuntang) or clear (jiritang) broth, and I went spicy. The fish inside was so tasty — plump and tender flesh that made me gasp out loud~ I was debating other menu items but ended up going with this, and I recommend the spicy version to anyone! You won't regret it~

It's loaded with bean sprouts, so the broth has a deep flavor, and since no MSG is used it has a clean finish — the kind of dish that makes you finish a whole bowl of rice in no time~

Grilled fish set: white croaker, Atka mackerel and mackerel

The grilled fish set can be enjoyed at a lower price if you order it as the weekday lunch special. It comes with three fish — we got yellow croaker, Atka mackerel, and mackerel. The fish is served over a flame so it stays warm, meaning you can eat it hot from start to finish.

In-season fried squid

The in-season squid fritters come with squid, perilla leaves, and sweet potato all fried together. It's the kind of fried dish you'd expect at a high-end restaurant~ adds a nice touch of class :p There are also 3 kinds of dipping sauce, so you end up dipping one after another and finishing it in no time~

Final verdict on Naegohyang Jeju, an upscale Korean restaurant in Seocho

You could really feel the owner's sincerity about Jeju food, probably because he's from Jeju — made me think I don't even need to go to Jeju Island, I can just come to Seocho-dong instead~ Jeju Island has plenty of pricier dishes, but Naegohyang Jeju doesn't charge too much, which is nice. A great place to visit when you want to take your parents out for a proper, tidy Korean meal.