Pot rice fish dinner at Jeju Badang, a Cheongju Korean restaurant

I visited Jeju Badang (제주바당) in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju~

Jeju Badang information and menu

• Address: 28 Seohyeonnam-ro, 2F, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea (충북 청주시 흥덕구 서현남로 28 2층)
• Hours: 10:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
• Break time: None
• Closed: Open daily
• Parking: Available

Jeju Badang menu

A weekend dinner visit to Jeju Badang

On a weekend evening, craving a neat Korean meal and fish dishes, I headed to Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju. Along with grilled and braised fish, it has a salad bar where you can comfortably enjoy a variety of side dishes, so it is often mentioned nearby as a place for family meals or dinner gatherings.

Three parties ahead at 7 p.m. on Sunday

I arrived around 7 p.m. on Sunday. Since it was dinner time, the restaurant was already full of diners, with about three parties waiting ahead of me.

After putting my name down, I took a quick stroll in front of the restaurant. The tables turned over more smoothly than expected, and before long I got a message that a table was available. I did not have to wait long, so I could head in calmly without losing the flow of the evening.

A pleasant interior and the basic table setting

When I walked in, I was impressed that there was none of the fishy or stuffy smell often associated with restaurants centered on fish dishes; the space was kept pleasantly clean. The tables were also spaced well apart, making it easy to talk comfortably with my companion without being bothered by surrounding noise.

Once seated, I ordered boneless braised hairtail and grilled mackerel at the kiosk.

After ordering, the basic table setting arrived. Seasonal side dishes, lightly and neatly seasoned—bracken fern, stir-fried zucchini, seasoned mushrooms, and spicy shredded radish—were laid out with refreshing seaweed soup. The stir-fried spicy pork included in the basic spread was also cleanly cooked with no meat odor, making it a nice light bite before the mains arrived.

How was the salad bar's boneless fried chicken?

One distinctive strength here is the salad bar in the center. You can freely help yourself to fresh wrap greens and side dishes, and the standout item was the boneless fried chicken, replenished fresh.

Since this is a fish restaurant, I did not expect much from the salad-bar chicken, but it came out freshly fried: very crisp outside and moist inside, with no off smell. It was good enough to rival many dedicated chicken places, so I kept reaching for it throughout the meal. If you visit, it is a specialty worth trying at least one plate of.

Grilled mackerel and boneless braised hairtail

Before long, the main dishes arrived at the table with freshly cooked sotbap (pot-cooked rice).

Grilled mackerel: crisp outside, moist inside

The generously sized mackerel was grilled to a lovely golden color and had a nice sheen. The skin was crisp, while the flesh remained moist rather than dry, holding onto its savory oils beautifully. It was mildly seasoned rather than overly salty, so the fish tasted clean even on its own; placing a large piece over the chewy pot rice brought out its natural flavor best.

Boneless braised hairtail, easy to enjoy without worrying about bones

The boneless braised hairtail was thoroughly infused with the dish's characteristically spicy yet gently sweet sauce, along with the radish. Most of all, the fish had been cleanly deboned, so I could simply scoop it up with a spoon and mix it into the rice without the hassle of picking out bones.

The sauce did not have an artificial sweetness that jumped out; it was rich but finished cleanly, so I could comfortably enjoy it without getting tired of it while finishing a bowl of rice. To end the meal, I poured water into the pot rice to make nurungji sungnyung (scorched-rice tea), then topped it with radish from the braised hairtail and mackerel flesh. It left me feeling wonderfully full and refreshed.

Overall

Jeju Badang in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju served a thoroughly satisfying spread, from the freshness of its main fish dishes to the neat basic sides and even the salad bar's chicken.

Despite the busy dinner rush, the staff were calm and kind, making the whole meal pleasant. With boneless braised hairtail, lightly seasoned grilled fish, and a comfortable layout, this is an easy restaurant to recommend for a family meal or a tidy Korean-food date.