And we continue on our special coverage of our recent trip to South Korea! We were extremely honoured to be invited by the Jeju Tourism Organization to go on a trip to South Korea and explore not just the interesting spots to visit but also the interesting places to makan!
We’ve covered the bits in Busan and now we’re onto the island of Jeju 제주도! 😀
(BTW – head down to our Instagram profile page and watch all the IG Stories from the trip!) 
And that, my friends, was the view as we enjoyed our first meal in Jeju ?
We boarded a domestic flight from Busan to Jeju and as soon as we touched down, it was makan time! Super hungry by then and luckily for us, the restaurant was really near to the airport. A feast of delicious food an a great ocean-front view too was truly an awesome treat!
The name to remember – Badapunggyeong 바다풍경횟집 which literally translates to ‘Seaview’! A very apt name for the restaurant as well because you overlook the nearby coastline as you indulge in a super hearty seafood spread including one of their signature dishes – Sea Urchin Soup! But first, some Starters 😀
You’ve got your usual spread of Banchan (side dishes) to enjoy with/before your big meal. Assorted Kimchi is always welcome at our tables I’m very sure. But there was one item I was not familiar with…
In the end, it was such a treat to be able to enjoy some Ganjang-gejang (간장게장)! What are these? They are crabs that have been fermented in soy sauce! There are other things that go into the soy sauce ‘marinade’ like chillies, sugar, garlic and ginger etc. The end result is a very bold-tasting side dish!
The flesh of the crab kind of breaks down during the cooking/fermentation process so it can be quite soft and mushy. But I assure you that the flavour is simply amazing! You get a bit of sweetness along with the saltiness of the soy sauce and just a hint of the chillies. POWER LAH! If you’re lucky, you might even get some Tomalley (crab roe) too! But no luck for me this time LOL You might see another variation – Yangnyeom-gejang – which is coated with spicy sauce. If come across any Gejang (게장), don’t be afraid to try it okay!
Jeju Island is famous for their seafood! In particular, Sea Urchin is a very special delicacy. Surely you have heard of the Jeju Haenyeo (해녀) – the fearless and amazing women divers who have been gathering the bounty of the oceans for decades! Well, one of their treasures is the Sea Urchin.
Sea Urchins are a real delicacy and soup is a common way these spiny sea delicacy is enjoyed and it’s easy to see why. A light broth with generous amounts of seaweed for slurping. You’ll get a treat as you get bits of sea urchin here and there.
Okay I’m not sure if this is officially a Tempura or not… but it’s got seafood and vegetables coated in batter and deep-fried. So I’m calling it a Tempura and I’m sticking to that 😛
I have a feeling that this was also meant to be a side dish I think but the serving was so generous that it ended up being quite filling LOL! Well, it’s good fresh seafood and crisp vegetables so definitely no complaints! It was nice accompaniment to the mains of the meal.
Another example of where simple is better. Pretty much all the food at Badapunggyeong 바다풍경횟집 was simple enough to showcase the pure flavours of the ingredients. From the sides to the mains, what you were enjoying was the essence of the food itself.
Case in point – the Grilled Mackerel! Simply seasoned and grilled to perfection. From the crisp exterior to the sweet and firm flesh, this fish was a winner. Served whole (perfect for your Instagram flatlays!) but cut into more manageable bits by the thoughtful staff.
I thought this was the best fish at the table… until some competition showed up 😛
WAH we were all pretty much stuffed at this point thanks to all the food (plus rice on the side some more!). But would you believe me if I told you this fish was nothing but a pile of bones at the end of the meal? 😀
Super fresh Red Snapper given the #DeepFriedGoodness treatment after a light batter treatment. That means a nice crisp but the flesh was SEDAP GILER! Natural sweetness of the fresh fish was amplified even more thanks to the soy sauce that was sparingly drizzling along the sides.
As I type this, my mouth is literally watering while thinking of this meal we enjoyed. And what a first meal in Jeju it has been at Badapunggyeong 바다풍경횟집 ZOMG.
Highly recommended because of the (obviously) amazing food, great staff, breathtaking view while you makan and of course, it’s close to the airport! 놀라운 장소!
A Quick Word About Halal Food In South Korea
So in case you’re wondering, it’s (thankfully) getting easier to find Halal food in Korea these days. It may be particularly easier to find it in big cities like Seoul but cities like Busan and Jeju are doing their best as well.
You may see some of these labels when you visit restaurants that are suitable for Muslims to visit. They have 4 main categories that determine the ‘Halal-ness’ of an eatery. This is to be expected lah I guess especially where the Halal food scene is still developing.
The 4 categories are;
- Halal-certified (safest as the eatery is certified Halal by the Korea Muslim Federation)
- Self-certified (basically means eatery is Muslim-owned)
- Muslim-Friendly (serves Halal food but may serve alcoholic beverages) *most common*
- Pork Free (eatery does not have Pork but may serve non-Halal meat and/or alcoholic beverages)
It may seem complicated with 4 categories but as always, we can simplify it. Do your due diligence and do not be afraid to #AskTheQuestion especially since you’re travelling. Halal is an individual responsibility so get the info and make an informed decision. Look for these labels at the door. If there is any doubt at all, best to give it a miss 
You can get useful information by clicking HERE and HERE!
Thank you Jeju Tourism Organization for taking the initiative to spread more information about Halal / Muslim-travel in South Korea!
Badapunggyeong 바다풍경횟집
513-2 Yongdamsam-dong,
Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
Tel: +82-64-743-7992
Website: CLICK HERE!
Facebook: CLICK HERE!
Operating Hours:
8.00am til 6.00pm DAILY
This meal was part of a trip organized by the Jeju Tourism Organization. We visited all kinds of cool places and plenty of Halal makan places including this one! All information (including prices, availability of item on menu and Halal status of establishment) are accurate at the time of posting. All photos used in this site are property of The Halal Food Blog unless stated otherwise.
