What to Eat on Jeju: Mom-guk, Dombe-gogi, Gogi-guksu and Abalone

Jeju food is about more than seafood. Pork is boiled and served as dombe-gogi, while the broth is used again with mojaban seaweed to make mom-guk. Add gogi-guksu, gosari yukgaejang, abalone dishes and mil-naengmyeon, and the island offers a much wider range of meals than its seafood reputation suggests.

What to try on Jeju

Mom-guk
A soup made with pork broth, pork and mojaban seaweed, which is called mom in the Jeju dialect.
Dombe-gogi
Boiled pork sliced and served on a wooden board, called a dombe in the Jeju dialect.
Gogi-guksu and gosari yukgaejang
Pork-broth noodles and a thick bracken soup show a side of Jeju food that has little to do with seafood.
Abalone
Choose the preparation first: stone-pot rice, grilled abalone or porridge.

Mom-guk and dombe-gogi

Visit Jeju explains that islanders traditionally slaughtered a pig for family occasions such as weddings and funerals, then shared the meat with the community.

The boiled pork was sliced and served on a wooden board as dombe-gogi. The cooking broth was used again with pork and mojaban seaweed to make mom-guk. In the Jeju dialect, dombe means a wooden board and mom means mojaban.

At Sinseoloreum, you can order mom-guk and dombe-gogi together. The soup is rich and thick with softened seaweed, while the pork is served separately in slices. Ordering both is a practical way to try two foods that came from the same cooking tradition.

The flavour and texture of mojaban may be unfamiliar. Try the soup slowly with rice if it is your first bowl. Dombe-gogi works well as a shared side dish, but check the current portion and ordering rules before visiting.

Gogi-guksu and gosari yukgaejang

Woojin Haejangguk is known for gosari yukgaejang and mom-guk. Gosari yukgaejang is cooked until the bracken and shredded meat give the broth a thick texture. It may look and taste different from the bright-red, spicy yukgaejang served elsewhere in Korea.

Jeju’s gogi-guksu places noodles and sliced pork in a pork broth. It shares part of its flavour base with mom-guk, but the noodles take the place of seaweed as the centre of the bowl. Travellers who are unsure about seaweed soup may find gogi-guksu an easier introduction to Jeju’s pork dishes.

Woojin Haejangguk fits easily into a central Jeju City itinerary. Sinseoloreum is also in Jeju City, so choose between them according to your accommodation and the rest of the day’s route.

Mom-guk at Sinseoloreum, thickened with mojaban seaweed in pork broth.

공석배 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

A general example of gogi-guksu. This photograph was not taken at a specific restaurant in this article.

신동혁 (Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0)

Choose how you want your abalone

Abalone on Jeju is served in several forms rather than as a single signature dish. Stone-pot rice, grilled abalone, porridge, mulhoe and seafood hot pot all make a different kind of meal.

At Myeongjin Jeonbok, you can choose abalone stone-pot rice, grilled abalone or abalone porridge. Pick the stone-pot rice for a warm and filling meal, grilled abalone when texture matters most, or porridge when you want something soft and mild.

Abalone mulhoe is cold and refreshing, while an abalone seafood hot pot is served bubbling hot. Deciding between a cold dish and a hot one will narrow the choice quickly. Seafood menus and prices can change with the season and availability, so check before visiting.

Choose between Jeju City and Seogwipo

Travel time can shape a food day on Jeju more than the menu itself. In Jeju City, choose between Sinseoloreum, Woojin Haejangguk and Myeongjin Jeonbok according to your accommodation and sightseeing route. Even within the city, allow time to travel between restaurants.

Sanbang Sikdang is in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo. It serves mil-naengmyeon with boiled pork and fits best into a day around Sanbangsan or the south-western side of the island. Rather than making a separate round trip from Jeju City, combine it with Sanbangsan or another stop in south-west Jeju.

Trying to combine Jeju City and Seogwipo restaurants in one day can leave you spending more time on the road than at the table. Check the rental-car or bus route first and choose a restaurant in the same part of the island as the rest of your plans.

Restaurants in this article

Check before you visit

Prices and opening information can change. The Visit Jeju source used in this article was published on 18 March 2025, so check each restaurant’s latest information on the day of your visit.

Seafood prices may change with the season and availability. If a menu lists a market price or does not show a price, ask before ordering.

The gogi-guksu image is a general reference photograph and was not taken at any of the restaurants in this article.

If you only have time for one meal

For a first taste of Jeju’s traditional soup, order mom-guk with dombe-gogi at Sinseoloreum. Choose Woojin Haejangguk if you prefer thick gosari yukgaejang, or Myeongjin Jeonbok when abalone is the priority.

On a south-west Jeju day, Sanbang Sikdang is a practical choice for mil-naengmyeon and boiled pork. Choosing by route rather than fame will usually save more time.

Frequently asked questions

What is mom-guk?

Mom-guk is a Jeju soup made with pork broth, pork and mojaban seaweed. Mom means mojaban in the Jeju dialect, and the softened seaweed gives the broth a thick texture.

How is dombe-gogi served?

It is boiled pork sliced and served on a wooden board. Ordering it with mom-guk lets you try the pork and the soup that developed from the same cooking tradition.

Where should I go for abalone on Jeju?

Myeongjin Jeonbok serves abalone stone-pot rice, grilled abalone and abalone porridge. Choose between a filling rice dish, the firmer texture of grilled abalone and a softer porridge.

Can I combine Jeju City and Seogwipo restaurants in one day?

You can, but the travel time is rarely worthwhile for meals alone. Keep Jeju City restaurants with a Jeju City itinerary and visit Sanbang Sikdang in Daejeong when travelling around south-west Jeju.

Where should I check prices and opening hours?

The Visit Jeju source used here was published on 18 March 2025, so check the restaurant’s latest information on the day. Seafood prices may also change with the season and availability.