Yukgogitjib in Hallim: Jeju Pork Worth a Short Wait

2023-02-05 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

My friend stayed at my house with his daughter for two weeks, and then came back in the summer with his wife for a month-long stay in Jeju. They were staying near Hallim Beach rather than Seogwipo, so we couldn't see each other often, but we finally managed to meet up. After playing with the baby at the beach for a bit, we dropped her off at home, and it was finally time for just the two of us to drink heavily. The place we decided on was Yukgogitjib, a restaurant that's currently very famous on blogs.

People playing in the water or relaxing on the sandy beach at sunset.

Exterior view of a meat restaurant on the first floor of a red brick building.

Notice on the restaurant's glass door regarding wait times and party size limits.

Restaurant notice with an honest statement saying the food is not amazing enough to wait over two hours for.

It's a unique place with a plain, unassuming sign. Instead of descriptions about how delicious the food is, the owner has posted a notice on the door explaining the estimated wait time for each ticket number, adding that the food is "not as special as you might think." Luckily, there was no one there when we arrived, so we walked right in and sat down. I couldn't help but wonder just how incredible this meat was to warrant such an unusual disclaimer.

Meat menu hanging on the restaurant wall and a notice stating additional pork orders are not allowed.

We started our order with the deungsim deotsal (special pork loin), which had a star next to it on the menu. They laid out a spread of ordinary-looking side dishes and placed the meat on the grill. Then, they shared a grilling method you don't often see at other restaurants:
"Grill for 2 minutes, flip, and grill for another 2 minutes."
My memory is a bit fuzzy on whether it was exactly two minutes, but they said timing it perfectly yields the best flavor, so naturally, I pulled out my phone's timer and grilled it with the utmost care. After tasting the properly cooked meat, I understood why people wait two hours for pork the owner claims is "nothing special." The rib meat was incredibly chewy—so good it made me want to clap with every bite. Meat is delicious anywhere, but since they taught us the absolute best way to cook it, this was the next best thing to a restaurant that grills it for you.

Three thick pieces of raw pork placed on a copper grill over a charcoal fire.

Thick raw meat on the grill, surrounded by side dishes, sauces, and a smartphone with a timer running.

Grilling thick pork with tongs as it turns golden brown on the grill.

Grilling meat with tongs while flames rise above the grill.

A thick, golden-brown piece of grilled meat held with chopsticks.

A large, well-grilled piece of meat with a bone attached, held with tongs.

Next up was the galmaegisal (pork skirt steak). I had high expectations for it, but the rib meat was so outstanding that the skirt steak just felt ordinary in comparison. This place is all about the rib meat. There's a reason it has three stars next to it on the menu.

Thinly sliced red raw meat sprinkled with pepper on a round plate.

Two pieces of thin raw meat placed on a grill over glowing red charcoal.

A glossy piece of grilled meat held with chopsticks.

Boiling red jjigae (stew) with tofu and meat in a black earthenware pot.

After eating until I was about to burst, I have to agree with the owner's sign: it's not a flavor worth waiting two whole hours for. To justify a two-hour wait, the meat would have to completely blow your mind, and it's pretty hard for pork to reach that level. However, waiting 10 or 20 minutes would be perfectly fine. Or, putting your name down for an hour wait and taking a walk around the neighborhood might be the maximum compromise.
If you don't want to play the waiting game, you're better off going to another restaurant. But if you can drop by to check the line first, it's definitely worth a visit while in Hallim. There aren't that many famous restaurants in the Hallim area, which might be part of why it gets so crowded, but trust me and give it a try.

People sitting at tables and eating inside a meat restaurant equipped with ventilation hoods.