Samdaon Jeju Review 2026: Braised Cutlassfish Near Eco Land

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On a day graced by a cool autumn breeze,

I embarked on a wonderful trip to Jeju with my friends.

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We took an early morning flight to Jeju Island, and before hunger or fatigue could set in,

we made it our mission to find a hearty spot for brunch!

I'm excited to share my review of a restaurant near Eco Land (에코랜드) and Snoopy Garden (스누피가든),

located in Gyorae-ri (교래리), which came highly recommended for its delicious

*tonggalchi jorim* (whole braised hairtail).

How to Get There

Location	1st Floor, 2190 Namjo-ro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, Jeju
Operating Hours	Daily 10:00 - 15:00
Phone Number	064-722-9823
Other	Group Seating Available / Takeout / Reservations / High Chairs

It's conveniently located after departing from the airport,

right before you reach Eco Land, Snoopy Garden, Saryeoni Forest Path (사려니숲길),

and the recently trending Jeju Songdang Fairytale Village (제주 송당 동화마을).

This made it an absolutely perfect spot for our first meal right after arriving in Jeju!

What's more, they open their doors at 10 AM!

The area near Eco Land in Gyorae-ri, Jeju,

is actually quite famous for its abundance of

authentic local eateries.

We could truly trust this place because their *galchi jorim* (braised hairtail)

is packed with hairtail and abalone directly sourced

from their contracted fishing grounds.

Plus, the spacious parking lot was a huge bonus, allowing even

novice drivers with rental cars to park with ease.

The restaurant itself is quite large, offering plenty of room for family group trips or gatherings.

From here, it's just a 10-minute drive to key attractions like

Eco Land, Saryeoni Forest Path, Snoopy Garden,

Jeju Stone Park (제주 돌문화공원), Sangumburi (산굼부리), and even

the super-popular Songdang Starbucks (송당 스타벅스), making it incredibly convenient for our travel itinerary.

Being located on the route from areas like Jocheon or Hamdeok (함덕)

towards Seongsan (성산) also made it a fantastic base for planning our entire travel itinerary.

Neat & Delightful Jeju Local Side Dishes

Four of us visited,

and we ordered the Tonggalchi Jorim Set (for 3-4 people).

As soon as we ordered, a beautiful array of side dishes was neatly laid out before us,

Among them were a few intriguing side dishes that instantly made us wonder,

"What could this be?"

This rapeseed leaf salad had a fresh, vibrant taste, somewhat similar to *geotjeori* (fresh kimchi)

you'd find at mainland restaurants, but it's uniquely made with local rapeseed leaves.

Its subtly bitter texture was an exquisite match for grilled mackerel,

I even had the urge to mix some rice and sesame oil into the rapeseed salad

and stir it all up for a delicious *bibimbap*!

And how about this artistic yellow dressing?

It's a dressing made with Jeju tangerines, a local specialty of Jeju!

The owner personally grew and ground the tangerines to create this special sauce.

Its refreshing, sweet, and savory *umami* flavor was so delightful,

it made me want to try recreating it at home myself!

And this, served alongside seaweed?

It was *galchi-sokjeot* (fermented hairtail innards)!

A spoonful of rice on seaweed with a dollop of *galchi sokjeot* (fermented hairtail guts) is absolutely heavenly!

Whole Braised Hairtail (Tong Galchi Jorim) Set

The main dish, the incredible Whole Braised Hairtail (통갈치조림), arrived on a long, dedicated hot plate,

And what an entrance it made!

It was listed as a set for 3-4 people, but let me tell you,

with whole octopus, abalone, tteok (rice cakes), and more included alongside the hairtail,

the portion size was far more generous than we expected!

What’s more, the impressively long hairtail was included whole,

and the owner kindly cut it into manageable pieces for us before we dug in.

Considering the sheer amount of food, the price felt surprisingly affordable.

With the braised hairtail (갈치조림), whole octopus, abalone, and even

grilled mackerel (고등어구이) and seaweed soup with sea urchin (성게미역국),

enough for four people to eat without feeling short-changed,

How could the price be so reasonable?

Well, it's because they source ingredients directly from the origin, bypassing intermediaries.

That's what I was told, and it makes perfect sense!

Considering today's prices, I really felt it was an excellent value.

Housewives like me already know how much a single whole octopus costs,

you know! Yet here was a generously sized octopus

included entirely in the dish.

And the live abalone? It was so big it nearly filled the ladle!

When I scooped a piece of hairtail onto my plate, I saw how wonderfully thick the flesh was,

making it easy for anyone to enjoy, even those who usually find deboning fish a chore.

I'm usually not the biggest fan of braised fish.

And the main reason? That lingering fishy smell.

But let me tell you, **Samdaon (삼다온) had absolutely no fishy smell!**

Truly amazing!

When I asked the owner's wife about the secret to eliminating that fishy smell,

she revealed it was all thanks to their special sauce, which they developed themselves. That's the secret!

Of course!

Dipping a tender piece of hairtail into the savory braised hairtail sauce,

then adding a succulent piece of octopus and taking a big bite,

it was a taste that made all my fatigue simply melt away!

Crispy Outside, Juicy Inside Grilled Mackerel and Sea Urchin Seaweed Soup

The Grilled Mackerel (고등어구이) and Sea Urchin Seaweed Soup (성게미역국) included in the set!

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Usually, at other places, you'd have to order these separately, right?

But here, they come together as part of the set – what a deal!

Crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside! The rich juices oozed out,

I felt like I could instantly devour a whole bowl of rice with it!

And the seaweed soup with sea urchin roe was

so clean and incredibly refreshing!

After enjoying the spicy braised hairtail, taking a spoonful of the sea urchin seaweed soup

brought an instant wave of clean freshness.

At home, I almost exclusively have beef seaweed soup, so trying this

exceptionally refreshing sea urchin seaweed soup was a delightful change!

My stomach feels wonderfully settled.

Overall Thoughts

🔸 If you've arrived early at the airport and are craving a truly hearty and satisfying meal!

🔸 If you're eager to mix rice with delicious braised hairtail and kick off a fulfilling day!

🔸 If you want to discover a fantastic restaurant that's conveniently close to your destination!

🔸 If you're planning a group get-together and prefer the ease of a set menu over the hassle of individual orders!

Then this place is likely to be a highly satisfying choice for you.

The only potential downside is that they close at 3 PM, so unfortunately, dinner plans might be tricky here.

We visited around 10 AM, practically an "open run"!

They even have high chairs, so it's a great spot to visit with your little ones.

Oh! Before you head out, make sure to leave a review!

And instead of heading to a separate cafe, make sure to grab a refreshing glass of Cheonhyehyang juice here!