Seocho Korean restaurant for grilled hairtail: Naegohyang Jeju

My likelihood of returning was 1000%. When choosing somewhere to take my parents for a meal, the food matters, of course—but I also find myself paying close attention to whether the atmosphere is clean, whether the staff are kind, and whether everyone can eat comfortably. This time, our family of four went to Naegohyang Jeju (내고향 제주), a well-known Korean restaurant in Seocho, for lunch.

Naegohyang Jeju

I made a Naver Reservation in advance, and even at weekday lunchtime there were already plenty of occupied tables. Because we had reserved, we could sit down right away without waiting, which was great. I visited with my parents, and I was satisfied with everything overall—from the food and atmosphere to the staff’s service—so I wanted to share it with anyone looking for a family dining spot in Seocho. They even sent us off with maesil-cha (plum tea) and candy, which made for such a pleasant finish. Let me go over what I ate, as well as the parking and the room-versus-hall atmosphere.

What are the dining hall and private rooms like at Naegohyang Jeju?

It was a clean, relaxed space with a real Jeju feel.

Naegohyang Jeju is in the basement, which initially struck me as a little unusual for a restaurant. But once inside, I found the space much better decorated than expected. The basalt-like interior and Jeju ornaments such as dol hareubang stone-grandfather statues displayed throughout made it feel as though I had arrived on Jeju Island.

The dining hall and private rooms are separate, and I reserved a table in the hall. I enjoyed eating in the open hall, but I would also recommend reserving a room if you want a more private meal. For a family meal or gathering with parents, a room would probably make everyone even more comfortable. There were coat hangers throughout too—a thoughtful touch from the owner for hanging up outerwear in winter or weather like this.

One thing I personally really loved was that, despite being a grilled-fish restaurant, there was almost no smell of fish grilling in the dining hall. Fish can often leave its scent on your clothes, but here everything came out already grilled and there was barely any smoke visible from the kitchen. The dining area therefore felt very clean, and that was an especially welcome detail when I was dining with my parents.

What did we order for four people?

With four of us, we were able to try both the grilled fish and the silver hairtail.

What I ordered was Naegohyang Jeju’s signature lunch menu. Since signature lunch dishes must be ordered for at least two people, our party of four tried both options. We ordered two Jeju grilled fish health-food abalone pot rice sets and two Jeju silver hairtail health-food abalone pot rice sets. Going as four meant we could enjoy two kinds of meals rather than only one, which I loved. While waiting for the food, I looked around at the Jeju-inspired interior and already felt as though I were on a trip.

How was the Jeju silver hairtail, really?

The whole silver hairtail was satisfying even just to look at.

The silver hairtail arrived whole, and a staff member cut it with a knife right in front of us and served it onto our plates. The process itself felt like a little event, so it was fun to watch.

They also provided extra salt for the silver hairtail, so anyone who likes stronger seasoning can add it to taste. But for me, it was plenty delicious as it was.

The mackerel, atka mackerel, and white croaker served alongside it were wonderfully mild too. The mackerel in particular was nice and plump, and although it arrived fully grilled, it had barely any smell and no fishiness. From beginning to end, the meal tasted clean and light.

How generous were the abalone pot rice and side dishes?

It was a full set meal spread across the table, with more than enough for a family meal.

The abalone pot rice was packed with plump abalone and hijiki seaweed. It felt as though they had not held back on the ingredients, almost like a bowlful of the Jeju sea. The pot rice arrived warm, and the rice was fluffy and delicious. Picking the fish meat from the bones and eating it with the rice was such a good combination.

The set also came with a generous selection of accompaniments. Garlic and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) for wraps, gim (roasted seaweed), salted squid, kimchi, and other side dishes suited to a Korean set meal gave us plenty of ways to mix and match.

The table was set so lavishly it felt as though its legs might give way, but they placed a small auxiliary table beside us so it would not feel cramped. I appreciated that thoughtful, guest-minded detail.

Was it a good place for a family meal with parents?

I was genuinely very happy with it as a place to take my parents for a family meal. Above all, the staff served us in such a relaxed, friendly way. When dining with parents, I worry not just about the food but whether anything might be uncomfortable during the meal, and we were comfortable overall.

The owner was very kind too, the atmosphere was lovely, and most of all I liked how clean the whole restaurant was.

Since it was weekday lunchtime, I saw lots of office workers nearby. I think it would be quite satisfying to have such a healthy full-table meal for a work lunch too.

As we were finishing our meal, the owner brought us each a cup of maesil-cha (plum tea). It felt like a clean, refreshing finish for the palate, making the meal pleasant to the very end.

The restroom was clean too, and candy was ready as a final dessert.

What should you know about parking and reservations?

For a lunch visit, I recommend making a Naver Reservation beforehand. Since I reserved in advance, I was able to walk straight in without waiting even though many tables were occupied at weekday lunchtime.

Parking must be valet, and the valet fee was ₩4,000. If you do not have cash, a bank transfer is possible too; I paid by bank transfer. Knowing about both the reservation and parking ahead of time should make your visit much easier.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for a good Korean restaurant in Seocho
• Anyone looking for a restaurant in Seocho to take their parents
• Anyone looking for a Seocho venue for a family meal or gathering
• Anyone who wants grilled hairtail and abalone pot rice together
• Office workers looking for a clean, generous lunch set

Why I keep thinking of this family lunch for four

Our family of four made a Naver Reservation and visited for weekday lunch, ordering two Jeju grilled fish abalone pot rice sets and two Jeju silver hairtail abalone pot rice sets. Being four meant we could try both dishes, which was especially nice. Personally, it is somewhere I would like to revisit for a family meal with my parents in Seocho.

I liked the open feeling of the dining hall, but there is one thing I still have not decided for next time. Will I eat in the hall again, or reserve a more private room? I think I would have to think about it. I sometimes miss the silver hairtail I ate on Jeju Island, and eating at Naegohyang Jeju that day made me feel as if I had briefly taken a trip back to Jeju, which made it even better.

It was a satisfying place for a family meal, where you can enjoy a generous spread of Jeju-style grilled fish and abalone pot rice in a clean space. If you are looking for a family dining spot in Seocho, I recommend Naegohyang Jeju. My likelihood of returning is 1000%.