Seocho Korean restaurant for abalone hot pot: Naegohyang Jeju

I had the Halla-san Set, which came with grilled hairtail, seafood hot pot, abalone pot rice, seasonal sashimi and seafood, fried items, and more—there was practically nothing missing. Everything was so fresh and there were lots of nourishing dishes, so I left feeling properly restored, haha.

Naegohyang Jeju location and parking

Naegohyang Jeju is about a 10-minute walk from Exit 7 of Naebang Station on Line 7, so it is fairly easy to reach by public transport. If it feels a little far from the station, take a bus and it is only about a five-minute walk. Paid parking is available if you drive: ₩4,000 for the first 60 minutes, ₩1,000 for each additional 10 minutes, up to ₩6,000.

Terrace Building B1 exterior

Naegohyang Jeju is on B1 of the Terrace Building. The building sits on a slope, so its layout is a little unusual; although it is technically basement level one, it feels like a regular ground floor. Enter on the first floor, take the elevator down to B1, and Naegohyang Jeju is right there.

An interior with stone walls and dol hareubang statues

The restaurant's concept was unmistakable. Stone walls and dol hareubang (Jeju stone grandfather) statues welcomed us into this distinctive space with a strong Jeju Island feel. The interior stands apart from a typical restaurant, making it fun to look around and great for photos! The seating is roomy, with several private rooms as well, so it would be ideal for dates with friends or a partner, family meals, and group gatherings.

Halla-san Special Set menu and price

The menu included Naegohyang Jeju signature sets, special sets, individual dishes, sides, and drinks. We ordered the Halla-san Special Set (₩48,000 per person). It includes five kinds of seasonal sashimi, three kinds of seafood, fried items, Jeju grilled silver hairtail, aged-kimchi braised mackerel, nourishing abalone pot rice, six side dishes, and seafood hot pot, haha.

As the priciest special set here, it felt like it included every signature dish, so I was excited. One unusual detail was that the menu introduced the owner's career. Born in Jeju, the owner has an impressive work history at five-star hotels in Korea and Tokyo! And they also run Halla-san Cheongdam, where I had a very satisfying meal not long ago, so my expectations rose even more, haha.

A full spread, from seasonal sashimi to whole grilled hairtail

At last, our order arrived, and the table was so packed it practically looked ready to collapse, haha. The seasonal sashimi and seafood were incredibly fresh with no fishy taste at all, making them easy to enjoy whether you love raw fish or not.

The seafood hot pot had as many as six abalones inside, so it definitely felt as though they did not hold back on ingredients. The broth was spicy and refreshing, great with rice and alongside the side dishes too.

They filleted one whole silver hairtail right at the table, which was fun to watch. The fish was plump and even had large roe; as someone who loves roe, I got my fill of quality protein! Every pot-rice dish and side dish was tasty too, so my chopsticks never got a break.

How was it for a restorative meal with parents?

Overall, it was a great place to visit when you want a proper, generous spread of Jeju food in Seorae Village. From seasonal sashimi and seafood to Jeju grilled silver hairtail, aged-kimchi braised mackerel, abalone pot rice, and seafood hot pot, the table was filled with a truly substantial selection, haha.

In particular, watching them fillet a whole plump silver hairtail was a highlight, and the seafood hot pot had a whopping six abalones, which made it feel like the ingredients were used generously. The food was clean-tasting and delicious overall, so I thought it would be a good spot to come for a restorative meal with parents.

Above all, the Jeju-inspired space, decorated with stone walls and dol hareubang statues, also has private rooms, so it seems well suited to family meals, meals with parents, and gatherings. If you are looking for a generous Jeju-style spread in Seorae Village or Bangbae-dong, I think Naegohyang Jeju is worth a visit! I ate so well that day, filling up on all sorts of dishes as if I had come back to Jeju Island for the first time in ages, haha.