Seogwipo sushi bento for two with extra tempura: Jejju Donghong

A Seogwipo lunchbox spot with premium sushi and tempura, a favorite among Jeju locals — Jejju.

I'd bookmarked this place after hearing there was a great lunchbox restaurant in Seogwipo, and when I happened to be nearby, I picked up takeout from Jejju. I thought it was just a sushi place, but the menu actually ranges from lunchboxes to tempura to rice bowls — really varied. We added tempura and a sushi side to the lunchbox and shared it between two of us, and it turned out more filling than expected, haha. The price wasn't a burden either, so it made for a great meal.

Where is Jejju Donghong Branch and when is it open?

• Name: Jejju Donghong Branch
• Address: 58-8 Donghong-jungang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju, South Korea
• Hours: 10:30 - 23:00 (last order 21:30)
• Parking: Behind the store

Inside Jejju Donghong Branch: atmosphere and menu

The store was spacious and comfortable, and overall it was kept extremely clean. The dining area was well organized, so the first impression was already good.

Jejju has been certified as a fair-price establishment. The prices are reasonable, which took the pressure off, and seeing that mark made me trust the place more.

The menu covered everything from lunchboxes to sushi, tempura, rice bowls, bibimbap, pork cutlet, udon and noodles, and there were set menus too, so it was easy to pick something affordable.

What two people ordered: Jejju bento box plus tempura and sushi

What I ordered: the Jejju lunchbox for ₩15,800, raw shrimp sushi (3 pieces) for ₩3,900, fish-and-shrimp tempura for ₩6,800, and shrimp tempura for ₩5,800.

The Jejju lunchbox came with 3 pieces of raw salmon sushi, 2 pieces of raw shrimp sushi, fish-and-shrimp tempura, stir-fried baby octopus, side dishes and fried-tofu udon broth — quite a substantial spread. They gave fresh wasabi on the side, which was a nice touch, and since it wasn't already on the sushi, I could add as much as I liked. The sushi was fresh, the tempura was crisp, and alternating with the spicy stir-fried octopus made for a great combination. The two of us finished every bite without leaving anything behind.

Salmon sushi and raw shrimp sushi

The salmon sushi had a thick slice of salmon on top, and the first bite gave a properly soft, tender chew. It was moist and fresh with no fishy smell at all. Adding a bit of onion sauce made it even better.

The raw shrimp sushi had firm, plump shrimp with a great springy texture when chewed. The shrimp meat stayed bouncy rather than mushy in the mouth, and there was no fishy taste at all — very fresh.

Jjukkumi bokkeum (spicy stir-fried baby octopus)

The stir-fried baby octopus had a sauce that was slightly spicy and a touch sweet, which went really well with the rice. The cabbage stayed crunchy and the octopus was tender rather than chewy. Mixed into the rice, the spicy-sweet sauce soaked in nicely — it was tasty enough to eat on its own too.

Fish tempura and shrimp tempura

The fish tempura had a crisp exterior with a fairly thick piece of fish meat inside. The outside was crunchy while the inside was soft, and dipping it into the sweet-and-tangy sauce kept me reaching for more.

The shrimp tempura also had a crisp batter with plump shrimp inside. Biting through the crunchy coating revealed a firm, springy shrimp — the kind of taste that instantly makes you crave a beer.

Side dishes and the fried tofu udon broth

The side dishes included pickled radish, pickled ginger and yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi), which were great to pair between bites of tempura and sushi. Whenever things felt a bit heavy, having one of these cleared my palate, and the whole spread made me feel like I was being properly taken care of. The warm fried-tofu udon broth was nice to sip alongside everything too.

With the fish-and-shrimp tempura, shrimp tempura and the 3-piece raw shrimp sushi added on, the two of us ate a genuinely filling meal. We had beer alongside it, and the crisp tempura made a great pairing for that too.

Who should order from Jejju Donghong Branch?

For anyone who wants to try a variety of sushi and tempura at once, or is looking for a premium lunchbox in Seogwipo, I'd recommend this place. If you want a hearty meal that doesn't feel like a burden on your wallet, I think Jejju, a favorite among Jeju locals, will satisfy you :) Definitely worth a visit!