With so many delicious options in Jeju, you can't miss out on a food tour from the first day to the last. The area around the airport is home to a variety of eateries, offering everything from local specialties to fresh seafood. Here’s a guide to the best spots to visit when you’re arriving or departing from Jeju.

· Popular spots can have long wait times - up to an hour or more. Be sure to plan accordingly so you don’t miss your flight. For domestic flights, check-in should be completed at least an hour before departure. · If you need to return a rental car, allow extra time. Shuttle buses run from the rental locations to the airport, taking about 10 to 15 minutes.

Local spot near Jeju International Airport. Open from 08:00 AM, this local eatery is perfect for a hearty breakfast. The menu includes braised mackerel, grilled red tilefish, and seafood stew, served with 12 side dishes and fresh wrap vegetables. Located close to Jeju International Airport, it’s a favorite spot for travelers looking to enjoy traditional Jeju cuisine at a reasonable price.

This restaurant, known for its panoramic sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows, is a top choice for enjoying Jeju’s freshest seafood. Try delicacies like snow crab, king crab, and saw-edged perch. The side dishes include dishes like sweet and sour red tilefish and octopus skewers, with a generous variety of options. It's a popular spot, so making a reservation is recommended.

Featured on TV, this place specializes exclusively in Gogi-guksu (meat noodles). The walls are adorned with autographs from celebrities who have dined here. As it’s a well-known spot, expect to wait for at least 30 minutes. The noodles are praised for their clean, savory taste and lack of gamey scent. Be prepared for shared seating if tables are full.

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This homey place is famous for its fern-leaf soup, which is more akin to a porridge than a soup, with a tender texture and spicy flavor unique to Jeju. It’s even better with the squid Jeotgal that comes as a side. It’s a renowned spot, so be prepared to wait for over an hour.

There’s no dedicated parking, but a public parking lot is conveniently located right in front of the restaurant. You get 1 hour of free parking if you dine at Ujin Haejangguk.

Known for its mild flavors and local ingredients, this place features the signature dish of Gimbap filled with abalone innards. With seven locations across Jeju and a branch in Seoul, it’s a popular spot. The main store near the airport is always busy but efficient, minimizing wait times. Besides Gimbap, they also offer desserts made with Jeju tangerines. Orders are placed via a kiosk.

Specializing in grilled and braised cutlassfish and mackerel, this local place is a favorite among locals and has garnered attention from celebrities and YouTubers. The spacious and clean interior includes private dining rooms. They are known for a wide variety of delicious side dishes, and if you order whole cutlassfish, they debone it for you in advance.

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Ideal for those arriving late in the evening, this restaurant serves fresh sashimi until 10 PM. It’s a great stop after visiting Yongduam, located just a 9-minute walk away. The restaurant’s proximity to the sea offers beautiful ocean views while dining. Along with sashimi, you get rice to make your own sushi.

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Featured on TV shows such as “Baek Jong-won's Top 3 Chef King”, this restaurant’s Gogi-guksu is renowned for its clean, meat-forward flavors. Recently expanded, it offers a comfortable and spacious environment with ample parking. Despite regular waits, the quick turnover means you’ll wait about 15 minutes on average.

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Located a 6-minute drive from Dongmun Traditional Market, this spot is famous for its fresh mackerel sashimi. Known for its clean, non-fishy taste, the restaurant also serves grilled tilefish, mussel soup, and mung bean pancakes. Ordering a sashimi platter includes a spicy, flavorful fish stew.

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With its name on the restaurant and a wall full of celebrity signatures, this place stands out for its straightforward menu, consisting of only four items. Famous for its chewy Momguk, made with pork bone broth simmered for 20 hours and seaweed, it features handmade dough pieces. Open from 7 AM, it’s an excellent choice for breakfast.

As a unique souvenir resembling Jeju’s volcanic rocks, these colorful, Insta-famous macarons come in mango, Hallabong, and strawberry flavors. They are available only at the Jeju International Airport branch and the store near Saryeoni Forest Trail. The gift packaging is exclusive to the airport store. You can only buy them as a set, and the store doesn’t have any seating, but they are a must-buy before heading home.

The store will be closed when they are sold out. They are usually sold out before 5 PM, it is recommended you visit early when the store opens.