Donsadon (돈사돈): Home of Jeju Black Pig
A visit to Jeju is incomplete without trying the black pig. It’s native to the island and is considered premium over the other mainland breeds. For our trip, we decided to go to Donsadon, which is one of the most popular spots for grilled black pork.
Despite being referred to as a black pig, this is only because of the animal’s hair color. The meat is actually bright red instead of the usual light pink, which makes the meat appear more steak-like.
At first glance, the cut appears to have a larger ratio of fat to lean meat. However, after a few minutes on the grill, the fat softens and shrinks into a more manageable proportion. The result is an unassumingly juicy experience.
One of the meat’s most unique features is its texture. When you bite into it, you’ll notice that it has a firm and bouncy quality. It’s not tough at all and it’s actually very satisfying to eat.
For a full experience, enjoy the pork with the banchan (Korean side dishes), the ssam (vegetable wraps), and the hot, pungent kimchi-jjigae stew. My favorite way to eat the pork is with the raw garlic and a generous scoop of ssamjang (fermented soybean paste).
This was me and Annie’s first real meal in Jeju after taking engagement photos the whole afternoon. Actually, this was also our celebration meal since we got engaged on the same day! There’s no better way to celebrate than with some incredible grilled pork, spicy stews, and a few shots of soju.
Cuisine: Korean (Pork BBQ)
Average Price per Person: $28 USD / 38,000 WON (Food Only)
Address:
15 Gwangpyeongdong-ro, Nohyeong-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
제주특별자치도 제주시 노형동 광평동로 15
Recommended:
Black Pork 2 Servings (흑돼지 2인분)
Kimchi Jjigae (김치찌개)
Welcome to Donsadon! As you can see, the restaurant has a casual and spacious vibe. These stools and stainless steel tables are characteristic of authentic Korean BBQ restaurants. In the summertime, the streetside doors and windows retract to allow for a nearly open air dining situation.
Salt, Garlic, and Ssamjang - a necessary trio for grilled pork.
Ssamjang is a pungent, spicy paste made with fermented soybeans. It’s one of my favorite condiments!
This is a two serving portion of Black Pork (흑돼지 2인분). As you can see in the picture above, it comes with a mix of fatty and lean cuts.
In Jeju, there is usually a small tin can of myeolchi-jeot, or salted and fermented anchovies, that is used as a dipping sauce for the grilled pork. It’s salty, funky, and fishy.
Like with any authentic Korean BBQ restaurant, the meat comes with a variety of ssam ingredients. Ssam is a process of using leafy vegetables (usually lettuce) to wrap a piece of meat.
[66,000 WON]
Cass Beer (맥주) and Hallasan Soju (소주). There is no better duo to pair with the grilled pork. Hallasan Soju is from Jeju! You can choose between Hallasan 17 or 21, where the number represents the ABV (alcohol by volume). Both options are surprisingly smooth compared to the other top soju brands.
[4,500 each]
To round out your meal, definitely order the Kimchi Jjigae (김치찌개), or the Kimchi Stew. This is mandatory every time you get Samgyupsal (삼겹살) - Grilled Pork.
[8,000 WON + 2,000 WON Ramen Add-on]