A True Jeju Local Favorite Worth Revisiting
Neongkul Hanul Garden
#JejuWinterTravel #JejuLocalRestaurant #JejuDuckSoup #JejuFoodGuide #JejuCityLunch #JejuHiddenEats
Hello, this is Hidori 😊
Today, I’m sharing a story about Neongkul Hanul Garden in Jeju City—
a place I revisited after more than two years, and the moment I walked in, I found myself saying:
“Yep… this place is still absolutely it.”
Whenever I travel to Jeju, the hardest part is always the same:
finding a real good restaurant.
Not the kind packed with tourists, but the kind that locals keep coming back to.
And this place fits that standard perfectly.
Honestly, when you’re in Jeju, this is the kind of spot where you must start your trip with a hot bowl of food.
How good is it?
I even came here in the middle of a snowstorm 😂
First Impressions: “Is This Really a Restaurant?”
If it’s your first time, you might wonder:
“Am I at the right place?”
The restaurant is a renovated house:
- A wide-open gate
- A neatly kept little garden
- The warm feeling of visiting a big relative’s home
Inside, you’ll find:
- An open-style kitchen
- Two rooms with 4–5 tables each
- An annex with floor seating
- Shoes off before entering
I arrived around 10:30 AM, and by the time I finished eating,
there was already a line forming.
👉 If you’re planning to visit for lunch, go early.
Neongkul Hanul Garden – Information 📌
- Hours: 10:00 – 15:30 (Last order 15:00)
- Closed: Every Sunday
- Takeout only: 15:30 – 17:00
- Phone: +82-64-744-7555
- Address: 21 Daewonbuk-gil, Jeju-si
- Parking: Inside the yard (marked spaces) or roadside 🚘
✔️ Busy during lunch all year round
✔️ Mostly locals, not tourists
Important Tip: Go to This Location
Last year, I visited a related spot called Neongkul Hanul Yeondong.
Same name, same roots—but honestly?
👉 The taste is different.
If you’re choosing just one:
Skip Yeondong and come straight to Neongkul Hanul Garden.
No hesitation.
The Signature Dish: Duck Soup (Ori-tang) 🦆
The undisputed star here is duck soup.
The guys at the next table ordered the extra-large size,
but we went with the regular portion, since we don’t eat huge amounts.
Other dishes like hot pot or ginseng chicken soup are good too,
but if it’s your first visit?
👉 Duck soup, no question.
- Duck Soup (per person): 12,000 KRW
It might look modest at first, but trust me—it’s filling 😉
Simple Sides, Perfect Focus
Nothing flashy, just exactly what you need:
- Radish kimchi
- Napa kimchi
- Pickled vegetables
- Chili peppers & onions
- Soybean paste dipping sauce
Every side dish is solid,
letting the duck soup remain the clear main character.
Served bubbling hot in a stone pot,
it stays warm from start to finish 👍
Why This Duck Soup Is Special
Inside the pot:
- Bite-sized duck meat
- Generous amounts of water parsley, chives, and napa cabbage
Unlike Jeolla-style duck soup (which is creamy with lots of perilla seed powder),
Jeju-style duck soup uses toasted sesame, making it:
- Cleaner
- Lighter
- Nutty and deeply comforting
The water parsley is cut short, so the aroma isn’t overpowering.
The cabbage adds a subtle natural sweetness.
👉 Zero gamey smell—very beginner-friendly.
Dip the duck meat in the sauce,
and the brightness cuts through perfectly, so you never get tired of it.
How We Finished the Meal
Usually, I pour rice straight into the soup.
But this time, there was so much meat that
we just dipped spoonfuls of rice into the broth instead.
The result?
Pure, concentrated flavor—even more satisfying.
Why Locals Love It (And Why I Do Too)
- Not Instagram-focused—this is real local food
- You instantly understand why locals keep coming back
- Comfortable even for solo diners
- Reasonable prices
- Taste hasn’t changed, even after two years
Final Thoughts
If you’re in Jeju and want:
- A warm, comforting meal
- A place locals genuinely love
- Something beyond touristy “famous spots”
Then Neongkul Hanul Garden is absolutely worth saving in your navigation app.
No regrets. Just a very good bowl of duck soup.
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