Gla Gla Hawaii in Jeju: Unique Hawaiian Seafood Boil
Yesterday, I had mackerel sashimi, sweat it all out in the seawater bath at my accommodation, and slept until it was already time for lunch. I came here to read, but I brought the wrong book and just have a headache. The wind is howling outside, so I don't really feel like doing anything, and my mood is just so-so despite being on a trip. I figured I should at least eat a proper lunch to cheer myself up, so I stopped by Gla Gla Hawaii, a place recommended to me yesterday.
It's a spot in Jeju that sells the kind of spicy Hawaiian-style seafood boil you often see if you go to Itaewon (a popular international district in Seoul). I heard "Gla" means "let's go" in the Jeju dialect. I think it's a fun, catchy name that combines a local dialect with a foreign destination.
Looking at other blogs, people apparently line up to eat here during peak season, but it's completely empty right now since it's winter and amidst COVID. The only other people are some cyclists who look like they came from Europe, taking up a table to rest. Seeing them made me wish I had brought my bike for a ride around the island. Sitting here alone just reminds me of how bored I am.
The main dish here is the Hawaiian seafood boil. It's meant for two people, so I hesitated a bit. But I just went ahead and ordered it, figuring I could pack up the leftovers or just leave them. I've been gaining a lot of weight lately, and stuffing myself with two-person meals like this definitely isn't helping.
True to its Hawaiian concept, they also sell Big Wave beer. The price is even higher than in Seoul, but I ordered one anyway to set the mood.
The food came out while I was enviously watching the cyclists. You put plastic gloves on both hands, tap the body of the ttakshaeu (Jeju red banded lobster) with a wooden mallet, pull off the head, and peel the shell to get to the meat. The sauce is sweet and spicy, which is absolutely perfect for someone with a mild palate like me. The shrimp tasted a little fishy on its own, but it was fine once I mixed it thoroughly with the sauce. I recommend scooping a few spoonfuls of sauce onto your plate and squeezing some lemon over it.
They say the shrimp head is the best part, but to my taste buds, it was just chalky and bitter. It made me wonder, "Why do people think this is delicious?"
Using the mallet makes the sauce splatter everywhere. If you wear white, you will 100% end up wearing your meal for everyone to see, so I highly recommend wearing yesterday's clothes. I'm not sure what time they close, but this is a flavor that practically demands a beer or soda. It pairs exceptionally well with beer, so if you aren't driving, you absolutely have to drink one with it.
The only slight disappointment was the portion size. A larger guy could easily finish this by himself. When it first came out, I was thrilled and thought, "Wow, that's a lot!" But once you remove the conch shells and tackle the shrimp one by one, the actual amount of food you eat shrinks drastically. It feels a bit awkward for two people to share just this; you'd probably need to order a small side dish. But doing that makes the meal feel a bit too expensive.
For people living in Seoul, you can easily find places like Boiling Crab in Itaewon, so it might not be worth visiting just for the novelty. The real advantage here is that it offers a fresh new flavor when you're tired of eating sashimi and noodles on your trip, and you get to enjoy local Jeju red banded lobster cooked in a different style instead of imported seafood. For that reason alone, I think I'll stop by for lunch at least once whenever I visit Seogwipo (the southern half of Jeju).
Jeju is full of restaurants and cafes that claim to be unique but end up feeling all the same. However, I think I've found a place with a genuinely fun and distinct concept.
Visited again 9 months later.
I ordered the seafood boil again this time. However, the price went up by 5,000 KRW, making it 43,000 KRW. Did the price of red banded lobster go up?
The weather was nice today, so we ate outside. There are only two outdoor tables, but we got lucky and one opened up right when it was our turn. If an outdoor seat is available, I highly recommend eating there. Cars do drive by, but you can enjoy a delicious seafood boil with a sense of openness and relaxation that's hard to find in Seoul.
Visited again and tried the fried rice and fish and chips. Conclusion: the seafood boil is the best!
