Jeju Airport fish restaurant, fish cutlet with kids: Naneun Jigeum

We landed at Jeju Airport, picked up our rental car, and it was already lunchtime. Looking for somewhere to eat with the kids that wasn't too heavy or spicy but still filling with rice — grilled fish it is!! We headed to Naneun Jigeum Saengseoni Meokgo Sipda Yongdam Airport Branch, close to the airport.

Naneun Jigeum Yongdam Airport Branch: address, hours and parking

📍 Address: 168 Yongmun-ro, 1st floor, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

⏰ Hours: Daily 09:30–21:00 / Last order: 20:30

🚗 Parking available ✔️ Reservations, takeout, and delivery available

Being close to Jeju Airport made it easy to get to right after picking up the rental car. It's a convenient spot for a first meal right after arriving in Jeju, or for a stop before heading to the airport on the last day of a trip.

How busy is the restaurant at 1pm on a weekday?

We got there around 1pm on a weekday, and there were already quite a few people eating. By the time we finished our meal, the place was full. I expected it to be quiet since it was a weekday and lunch hour was almost over, so I was a bit surprised by how many customers there were.

There were families with kids too, so it didn't feel like an awkward place to bring children.

The menu and what the family ordered

The menu at Naneun Jigeum Yongdam Airport Branch wasn't just grilled fish — there were braised dishes and stews too, plus a variety of set combinations you could order together. Take a look at the menu 👇

We ordered two things: the Big Son's Set for two and a fish cutlet. The Big Son's Set comes with assorted grilled fish plus one stew. The assorted grilled fish is mackerel, cutlassfish, flounder, and yellow croaker, and you can choose one stew from cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), soft tofu stew, or kimchi jjigae. We went with the savory cheonggukjang. It was nice getting several kinds of fish together so we could try a bit of everything.

They gave us side dishes and two kinds of dipping sauce for the fish!

The cheonggukjang came out bubbling and savory, and it paired really well with the grilled fish. Spooning up the warm, hearty broth between bites made the whole meal feel much more filling.

How the assorted grilled fish tasted

Here comes the assorted grilled fish!!!! The fish were grilled to a golden brown with a subtle char aroma, crisp on the outside and moist inside. It wasn't just salty grilled fish — it went really well with warm rice.

The mackerel was thick-fleshed and rich, while the cutlassfish and yellow croaker were mild, so even the kids had no trouble eating them. Each fish had a slightly different taste and texture, so it was fun trying a bit of each one.

The fish cutlet the kids finished first

I ordered the fish cutlet for the kids to share, and it exceeded my expectations. It wasn't a cutlet with thick batter and barely any fish inside — the fish fillet inside was plump, crisp on the outside and soft within. Dipped in the tangy, smooth tartar sauce, the savory cutlet went down easily with the kids. They ate the fish so well I spent the whole meal busy deboning it for them. Every time I picked out a piece and put it on their rice, they'd finish it and ask for more. Mom was a little busy, but seeing the kids eat so well made me glad we chose a grilled fish place.

Especially since we'd just landed in Jeju and the kids were already pretty hungry, it was great that the fish had been pre-grilled beforehand, so the food didn't take long to come out. We were able to have a comfortable, filling Korean meal with the kids right from day one of the trip.

Is Naneun Jigeum worth it as a first meal in Jeju?

• Close to Jeju Airport, so it was convenient to visit for a first meal right after picking up our rental car.
• Being able to try mackerel, cutlassfish, flounder, and yellow croaker all at once made it fun to pick and choose.
• The fish was golden and crisp outside, moist inside, and paired well with rice.
• The fish cutlet with its plump fillet was a particular hit with the kids.
• A mild, unfussy spread of grilled fish that was satisfying to eat with the kids.

We stopped by after landing at Jeju Airport, looking for somewhere nearby to eat with the kids, and ended up starting our trip with a hearty meal of warm rice, grilled fish, and cheonggukjang. If you're looking for a Jeju Airport grilled fish restaurant to visit with kids, or a Jeju grilled fish spot where you can try several kinds at once, this one's worth a look.