Don't Waste Your Time And Money
TLDR: Jeju Noodle Bar doesn’t live up to the Michelin hype. It’s an experience you can find for less money and with less effort elsewhere in the city. I wouldn’t regret skipping this one.
Oh hi there. I know it’s been a while, but never fear – The Amateur Eater is back and ready to start things off spicy.
I was eager to try Jeju Noodle Bar. With a bold neon sign reading “coffee no noodles yes” and hard-to-score reservations, my expectations for this Korean ramyun spot were high. But it’s not the hype (or at least, not just the hype) that makes this restaurant a Don’t Waste Your Time and Money.
The first thing you will notice as you sit down at Jeju is the prices. I’m not known for my immense price sensitivity, but even I balk at $55 appetizers and $7,800 bottles of wine (no, that’s not a typo). Some “new age Korean” establishments warrant (kinda) their elite prices — a Jungsik perhaps. But not Jeju.
First there's the vibe. I would call it welcoming but distinctly not “special occasion”. The tiling evokes a French bistro, the hard wood chairs and tables a casual Vietnamese spot. You’re not donning heels to dine in this room, to be sure. I’m not saying I want to dress up, but you expect a little more pomp in this price range for a reason. I found myself asking, where does the money go?
The answer could be caviar, but caviar is a distraction. I did actually order the $55 toro ssam bap, which comes with a hefty spoonful of caviar, as it was highly recommended by the server. It was great, and yet didn’t feel worth it. Not memorable enough. The rest of my order was more hit or miss – I really hated the fluke because the flavors reminded me of ketchup on raw fish but the family ramyun was a hearty and delicious soup I would happily eat again. At the end of the day though, it feels like yummy stuff you can get for 30% less for the same experience in Ktown.
Lastly, I have to call out the service on this one. It was achingly slow. I had to flag the waiter a few times to get the order moving.
Unfortunately, Jeju just doesn’t deliver on a Michelin star experience. Factoring in the hard to get reservation, I know I won’t be going back.
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