Jeju Gwanghae Aewol Review: Best Grilled Hairtail

My sibling's coworker highly recommended Jeju Gwanghae Aewol, so we had to check it out during our family trip! While their braised hairtail (beltfish) and grilled mackerel are fantastic, the star of the show is definitely the **grilled hairtail**. Here is my honest, fully self-funded review.

Jeju Gwanghae Aewol Head Office

Location & Parking

Jeju Gwanghae Aewol is located just a 12-minute drive (about 6 miles) from Jeju Airport and 17 minutes from Gwakji Beach. In Jeju, driving this distance to find a great restaurant is very common, so the location is super convenient.

For me, staying at Shilla Stay Iho Tewoo, it was an incredibly quick 5-minute drive.

Even though it's located right by the water, I didn't expect such a breathtaking view! You can see the crystal-clear ocean right from your table. However, since window seats are limited, I highly recommend booking in advance if you want a table with a view.

Parking is hassle-free. There are spots right under the restaurant, as well as a spacious second parking lot right across the street (Address: 2783 Hagwi 2-ri).

Honest Review & Dining Experience

We visited during an off-peak hour, so it wasn't crowded. However, the entrance was lined with countless celebrity signatures and colorful post-it notes from happy customers, proving this place is a certified local favorite.

The menu can look a bit confusing at first since the names sound similar. Essentially, grilled hairtail, braised hairtail stew, braised mackerel, and grilled mackerel are the main stars. The sets simply combine these in various ways.

Some special sets include seafood clay pot soup and grilled abalone, but my family wanted to focus purely on the fish. We ordered the **Abalone Hairtail Stew Set (Large) + Grilled Hairtail (Small)**, which came out to about **~$77** in total.

The traditional banchan (side dishes) weren't overwhelming in number, but each was high quality and delicious. Even the *japchae* (stir-fried glass noodles), which can often be soggy at busy restaurants, was perfectly seasoned and chewy.

I think they keep the side dishes simple because the main courses are absolutely massive. Once everything was served, there was barely any room left on our table!

If you have to choose between the grilled hairtail and the grilled mackerel, I **strongly recommend the grilled hairtail**! While the mackerel was decent, it felt a bit dry for my taste. The hairtail, on the other hand, was perfectly salted, incredibly meaty, and melted in our mouths—exactly what you'd hope for from fresh Jeju seafood.

Because the fish itself was so fresh, the braised hairtail stew (*galchi-jorim*) was also a massive hit. Overall, the seasoning at Jeju Gwanghae Aewol is perfectly balanced and not overly spicy or salty, letting the natural flavors of the seafood shine through.

While braised hairtail and radish are a classic combo, this stew also features fresh abalone and thick, chewy rice cakes (*garaetteok*). The rice cakes absorbed the savory sauce so beautifully that I ended up eating them all!

The raw marinated crabs (both soy-marinated *ganjang-gejang* and spicy *yangnyeom-gejang*) served as side dishes were also highly praised by my family. Though I'm not a big fan of raw crab myself, my family loved that they weren't overly sweet or salty, and the portion was generous—at least two pieces per person.

Since this was the very first meal of our trip celebrating my dad's retirement, I really wanted it to be special. Jeju Gwanghae Aewol completely delivered! While all the dishes are well above average, their hairtail is truly spectacular. If you're looking for a fail-proof, authentic seafood spot in Aewol, this is a must-visit! : )

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