Jeju Galchi Guide: Where to Get Grilled Hairtail (Chunsimne) and Braised Hairtail (Hanggu Sikdang)

A Korean food guide for travelers who want the real thing, not the tourist trap.

Ask a local where to eat hairtail fish in Jeju, and you'll get one name. Ask me, and you get two.

Grill goes here. Braise goes here. That's it. That's the whole system.

Jeju's hairtail is good enough that you could eat it almost anywhere on the island and walk away happy. But if you want the best version of each style, only two addresses matter. Grilled hairtail: Chunsimne. Braised hairtail: Hanggu Sikdang. Here's why.

Quick Answer: Where to Eat Hairtail Fish in Jeju

For grilled hairtail — what Koreans call galchi-gui — head to Chunsimne Main Branch in Andeok-myeon, in southern Jeju. For braised hairtail, or galchi-jorim, go to Hanggu Sikdang at Hamo Port in Daejeong-eup, also in the south. Chunsimne's whole grilled hairtail starts at ₩83,000 for two people (about $60 USD). Hanggu Sikdang's braised hairtail runs ₩30,000 (about $22 USD), making it the easier one on your wallet. Both places get busy during peak season, so call ahead.

Grilled Hairtail: Chunsimne Main Branch

This is the benchmark. Chunsimne has been featured on Korean food TV more than once, and it's earned that spot.

Order the whole grilled hairtail — Korean silver hairtail (galchi), the long, ribbon-shaped fish that flashes silver when it's fresh — and you get thick cuts of meat, skin still gleaming. The cooking method is simple on purpose: coarse sea salt, nothing else. No sauce to hide behind. If the fish is good, you'll know immediately. If it's not, you'll know that too. At Chunsimne, it's good.

Address: 16 Changcheon-jungang-ro 24-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju (in southern Jeju, near Sanbangsan)
Hours: Daily, 10:30 AM–9:00 PM (last order 8:20–8:30 PM; may close early if the fish sells out)
What it costs: Whole grilled hairtail, ₩83,000 for 2 people (about $60 USD) / ₩115,000 for 3 (about $84 USD) / ₩147,000 for 4 (about $107 USD). They also serve boneless braised hairtail, ₩70,000 for 2 (about $51 USD).
Phone: +82 64-794-4010
Insider tip: Lines get long. Show up at opening if you don't want to wait. Parking is generous, so at least you won't circle the block first.

Braised Hairtail: Hanggu Sikdang

Right on Hamo Port in Daejeong-eup, this is a working fish-market kind of restaurant — the kind where the smell of the ocean walks in with you.

The braised hairtail here is where the flavor lives. Simmered with radish, potato, and a red pepper sauce that's spicy without punishing you, it's the dish that makes you order a second bowl of rice without really deciding to. And the price makes it an easy yes: braised hairtail at Hanggu Sikdang costs less than a third of what you'd pay for the grilled version elsewhere.

Address: 64 Hamohanggu-ro, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju (southern Jeju, right on Hamo Port — the departure point for ferries to Marado and Gapdo islands)
Hours: 10:00 AM–9:50 PM, closed Mondays
What it costs: Braised hairtail, ₩30,000 (about $22 USD). Mackerel sashimi set, ₩60,000 (about $44 USD). Large amberjack set, ₩50,000 (about $36 USD).
Phone: +82 64-794-2254
Insider tip: They also do mackerel and amberjack sashimi, so if your group can't agree on one dish, split the order.

What to Know Before You Go

Hairtail is a market-price fish — its price fluctuates based on the day's catch, so treat every number above as a reference point, not a guarantee. Call ahead if you want certainty.

Season matters too. Peak hairtail season runs from fall through early winter, roughly September to December. Visit then, and you'll likely get a bigger, fattier fish for the same price.

One more thing: hairtail has a lot of small bones. If you're eating with kids, ask whether the staff will debone it for you — most places will, but it helps to ask upfront rather than assume.

FAQ

Can I visit both restaurants in one day?
Yes. Chunsimne (Andeok-myeon) and Hanggu Sikdang (Daejeong-eup) sit about 20–30 minutes apart by car, with Sanbangsan mountain roughly between them. Hanggu Sikdang is also where ferries leave for Marado and Gapdo islands, so a natural day plan looks like: grilled hairtail for lunch, island hopping in the afternoon, braised hairtail for dinner.

Do I need a reservation?
Chunsimne gets a real line during peak lunch and dinner hours in high season — call ahead. Hanggu Sikdang is generally more relaxed, but weekends are worth confirming too.

How do I keep the cost down?
Hanggu Sikdang's braised hairtail at ₩30,000 (about $22 USD) is the more budget-friendly of the two. At Chunsimne, ordering the size that matches your headcount keeps the per-person cost reasonable.

Bottom Line

Craving grilled hairtail? Chunsimne. Craving braised hairtail? Hanggu Sikdang. Build a southern Jeju itinerary around Andeok-myeon and Daejeong-eup, and you'll experience both sides of Korean food's best-kept seafood secret in a single trip.

Three-Line Summary

1. For grilled hairtail, go to Chunsimne Main Branch in Andeok-myeon. For braised hairtail, go to Hanggu Sikdang in Daejeong-eup.
2. Chunsimne's whole grilled hairtail starts at ₩83,000 (about $60 USD) for two; Hanggu Sikdang's braised hairtail is ₩30,000 (about $22 USD).
3. Prices move with the daily catch, and hairtail is best from September to December — call ahead either way.