A Taste of North Korea in Jeju: Eating at Daedonggang Chogyetang
Last Updated on January 4, 2026
You might not expect to find authentic North Korean cuisine all the way south on Jeju Island in South Korea, but there is a very authentic restaurant here and my husband is pretty happy that it’s just up the road because he is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon fiend.
Daedonggang Chogyetang (대동강초계탕) in Pyoseon is run by a North Korean defector. We went looking for Pyeongyang naengmyeon and ended up devouring the chogyetang and more. This unexpected foodie find should definitely make your list of where to eat in Jeju.
From cold soups to hearty meals, here’s what to eat at Daedong Chogyetang in Pyoseon:
- Basic Info
- The North Korean Dishes To Try
- Chogyetang Set (초계탕 정식)
- Buckwheat Pancakes (메밀전병)
- Chicken Muchim (닭무침)
- Chicken Wing and Chicken Leg (닭날개)
- Chogyetang (초계탕막국수)
- Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (평양냉면)
- Pork Belly Radish Soup (삼겹살무시래기국)
- Dumplings aka Mandu (만두)
- Chogyetang Set (초계탕 정식)
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Basic Info
Address: 6246-1 Iljudong-ro, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 표선면 일주동로 6246-1)
Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 8:00pm (Closed the first and third Wednesday of the month.)
Parking: They’re on a main road with no parking really available, though we just pull up and park right in front a bit on the side walk area. If there is already a car there though, pull off on the road just before to park while you eat.
The North Korean Dishes To Try
This isn’t a flashy restaurant. You could easily drive by without noticing it. It’s small, unpretentious, a place where the focus is the food and the only people that will stop are the people that have heard about it or have been before. Be one of those people.
Every dish is made to order by the owner herself, who was once on the popular Korean TV show Now On My Way to Meet You (이제 만나러 갑니다), a show that featured North Korean defectors sharing their stories and talents. She’s not only talented, but also friendly and hopes everyone who eats here walks away satisfied. With that, here’s what to eat…
Chogyetang Set (초계탕 정식)
Though we went for Pyeongyang naengmyeon, we decided to go for their namesake and order the chogyetang set the first time we visited and we were happy we did. If you’re only going to order one thing, make it this… though you do need to have at least two people to get this (or be able to eat for two).
The set begins with buckwheat pancakes (메밀전병), soft, savory, and easily the best I’ve had on the island. They’re served with a lightly spicy chicken muchim (닭무침), a salad-style mix that, when eaten together with the pancakes, creates a perfect harmony of tang and spice. I could have just eaten this and felt complete to be honest.
But still more came. Next comes a simple yet deeply satisfying chicken wing and chicken leg (닭날개). The tender meat with chewy golden-brown skin didn’t even need the salt that was provided. It was perfectly cooked and the definition of home cooking.
Finally, the star of the show, chogyetang (초계탕막국수), a chilled chicken soup with vinegar and mustard that hails from Pyeongan-do in present day North Korea. The broth is tangy, light, and refreshing, so good that you can’t stop at one sip.
When it’s first served, you might wonder why there are no noodles, actually they’re served separately. It might sound unappetizing, but it’s a bit like a salad in a cold broth: cucumbers, lettuce, red and yellow pepper, and jellyfish, along with chicken float in the broth and then the buckwheat noodles are served. It is very delicious.
What is chogyetang?
If you’ve never heard of chogyetang (초계탕), you’re not alone. While dishes like samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) or naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) often steal the spotlight, chogyetang is one of those quietly brilliant dishes that deserves more attention.
Originating in Pyeongan province, now part of North Korea, this dish was once a local specialty enjoyed in noble households and even served at royal banquets during the Joseon Dynasty. The name itself tells you a lot: cho means “vinegar”, and gye, a Northern dialect, means “mustard”. Together, they describe the dish’s defining flavors, light and tangy.
Traditionally, shredded chicken is served in a chilled, clear broth made from chicken stock seasoned with vinegar, mustard, and occasionally sesame or perilla seeds for depth. In some recipes, as many as 25 herbs and vegetables are used to flavor the broth, giving it a delicate complexity that feels nourishing rather than heavy.
Unlike samgyetang, which warms you up, chogyetang is a cooling dish, meant to restore your energy during Korea’s humid summers. It’s refreshing but substantial, thanks to the protein-rich chicken, and it doesn’t leave you feeling sluggish after eating.
Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (평양냉면)
Their Pyeongyang naengmyeon is as authentic as it gets, a pure, clean broth that’s comforting and light. Another cold soup, served with ice in fact, each bowl is topped with delicate egg strips, home made cabbage water kimchi, and tender slices of boiled pork. The result is understated but deeply satisfying, the kind of flavor that quietly grows on you with each bite.
If you’ve never had Pyeongyang naengmyeon, I have to tell you that it’s a dish that can be confusing the first time you try it. It’s not so strong in flavor to bowl you over, so you might wonder why people so adore it. Understated flavor is the key though. It’s a soup that you walk away from and a block down the road you think, just one more sip of that broth would be satisfying… that’s how you know you like it. It stays with you.
Tip: Wrap the pork around the noodles and take a bite all together. It’s a texture and flavor match made in heaven.
Pork Belly Radish Greens Soup (삼겹살무시래기국)
If you want something that will warm you up, this is the dish for you. Not as spicy as it may look due to the red color of the broth, it’s peppery and cozy a local favorite. As I looked around, I noticed that the tourists that come here just once go for the chogyetang, but a lot of the locals who can come anytime opt for this. The soup is filling and the side dishes so good, it’s a great option if you’re not interested in a cold soup.
Dumplings aka Mandu (만두)
Handmade and filled with minced meat, garlic chives, and vegetables, the mandu here tastes rustic and made with love in the best way. A number of people stopped in just to pick up these Korean dumplings to go while we visited. If you’re eating with kids, this is a great option to get for them. Not spicy, packed with real flavor rather than filler, they’ll be just as satisfied as you are with the meal.
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