Korean BBQ in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju with straw-smoked udae galbi: Jeju Udae

On this trip to Jeju I also stopped by Jeju Udae (제주 우대) in Nohyeong-dong. That day we tried the udae galbi (thick-cut beef short rib) and the ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly). There's space to park right in front of the restaurant, so it was convenient to come by car.

Jeju Udae Nohyeong Main Branch: location and parking

It's on the 1st floor at 39 Noyeon-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju, and the hours are 12:00–23:00. There are parking spaces in front of the restaurant, and they say you can also use the Nohyeong paid parking lot in front of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Once we stepped inside, the interior was more spacious than I expected.

Banchan and doenjang jjigae

As soon as we sat down, the basic banchan (side dishes) came out first. There were sauces you don't often see at a typical Korean BBQ place, like perilla leaf pesto and cheongyang chili sauce.

They set out tortillas too.

A radish soup comes standard as well, and there was more meat in it than I expected.

We also ordered the doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and personally, of everything we ate that day, I think the doenjang jjigae was the best. It had more meat in it than I expected and went great with rice. A whole bowl of rice, gone~

Straw-fire smoking and the grilling

On one side of the restaurant there's also a space where the meat is displayed.

We could watch the meat being smoked, too. It seems that during the smoking, the meat takes on a distinctive aroma, like straw fire.

After that we could also watch the meat being grilled over the flame. They told us that anyone visiting as part of the review program should make sure to film this part.

So we stood behind and watched the meat cook for a good while.

Ordering udae galbi and ogyeopsal

A little later the pre-seared meat came out. That day we ordered 2 servings of udae galbi and 1 serving of ogyeopsal.

We also ordered one naengmyeon (cold noodles), and it had lots of slushy ice in it, so it was nice and refreshing.

With the broth poured in, it was fine to have in between bites of meat.

A staff member grilled the meat for us, and I was so hungry I think I just kept staring at the meat as it cooked hahaha

Udae galbi is on the pricier side, so personally it was a menu item I had some expectations for. The udae galbi is ₩66,400 for 2 servings! And the minimum order is 2 servings.

Looks good, right? Once the meat was fully cooked, I tried dipping it in salt.

I also dipped it in the perilla leaf pesto and the cheongyang chili sauce. And I tried wrapping the meat in a tortilla too. The sauces that come with it were tasty.

Of all the sauces, the cheongyang chili sauce was my favorite.

The smoky aroma may not be for everyone

After that they grilled the ogyeopsal for us as well. Overall, the meat's aroma felt a bit different from meat I've had at other Korean BBQ places. Maybe because of the distinctive aroma absorbed during smoking, it might feel a little unfamiliar the first time you eat it. Personally, I felt it's an aroma that some people will love and others won't.

At the end they even served dessert, and that wrapped up the meal.

We tried the udae galbi and the ogyeopsal, and personally some parts were a bit different from what I expected, and I think the overall taste and service will feel different from person to person. Still, if you're looking for a place that serves udae galbi in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju, or want to experience that distinctive smoked-style meat aroma, feel free to use this visit review as a reference for the menu.