Samseonghyeol Haemultang — Restaurant in Jeju

In hindsight, the meal we had at Samseonghyeol Haemultang was the best of our 2023 visit. . But we didn't know this at the time, as we'd just arrived famished from the overnight flight and this was our 1st meal in Jeju. We'd heard that tourists frequent this place in droves, but because we'd arrived past-lunch, we were the only customers. . Ambience at Samseonghyeol Haemultang is clean, homely, and functional. The brightly lit place is neatly lined with wide and sturdy wooden furnishings, some of regular height, some of ankle height (for kneeling). As you approach, you'll see several water tanks housing their live seafood. . Service at Samseonghyeol Haemultang is excellent, with staff engaging us in Mandarin and Korean, demonstrating how best to cook and eat the dishes. They checked on us regularly to ensure our meal was going smoothly, and offered recommendations for other dishes. . The menu requires translation, but is pretty easy to figure out, with the focus being their signature seafood stew hot pot. . Food at Samseonghyeol Haemultang is Korean cuisine, focused on a medley of fresh seafood, thrown together with spices into a bubbling stew hot pot, which cooks tableside, directly in front of diners. Served along with other side dishes as a set meal, portions are large. . Prices represent great value for money despite the premium seafood ingredients, budget about KRW ₩25,000 / SGD...

Had some delay for the planned arrival in Jeju, and thus, only managed to do late lunch. We reached the restaurant at 230pm and although they were pretty close to their mid-day break, we were still welcomed to dine in if we could be done in 40 mins.

Ordered a seafood pot and abalone porridge. Side dishes were brought out immediately. One of the staff spoke Mandarin, so she helped us with the order.

The seafood pot had one live small octopus, one abalone, per pax, some fresh clams, mussels, 1 small crab and plenty of beansprouts. Staff offered to cook the seafood in the kitchen and will bring it out when it is ready to be eaten.

The soup was light and a tad bland at the start. Then gradually grows stronger (and saltier) as the seafood stews in it longer. The lovely staff attended to our table and advised us to eat the octopus before it got overcooked. She also helped to remove the clam meat from it's shelll.

Abalone porridge portion was plenty and tasted mild. The restaurant gave us a complimentary grilled small fish as one of the side dish. The fish was nicely grilled with firm flavourful flesh.

Overall, a satisfying meal. Thank you to the staff who attended to us in a friendly and efficient manner, and to the kind shop owner who allowed us to dine in comfort even if it is close to disrupting the shop's mid day break.

Free parking is available behind...

After reading multiple reviews of this restaurant on the quality of the food and the multilingual abilities of its staff, I had high hopes on the experience. But it came as a shock upon arrival, that there was no real process in which the employees made note on the people waiting in line. The man at the front looked to be the manager, so I approached him hoping to get a number or a note for the group I was planning to dine with. To my surprise, the manager proceeded to absolutely ignore my presence and literally moved me aside and gestured for our group to wait outside. So we waited and waited AND waited. After about 15 minutes we noticed that this man was acknowledging other people waiting who had come after we had and seating people who had arrived after us. So we left.

This level of customer service is unacceptable. I understand that your business is booming, but it does not excuse you for being bluntly rude to one or two customers and thinking it won’t matter because you have so many other customers. I will be sure to never come back here even though there were such...