Kkot Bab 꽃밥 “Flower Food” (Gwakji-ri, Jeju City)

Off the main road leading to Gwakji Beach, there’s a quaint, family owned and operated restaurant named Kkot Bab (“Flower Food”), and they serve some delicious, home-style meals in a cozy, down-to-earth atmosphere. They only have three dishes to choose from, making the decision to pick one a little easier (or not?)–yachae bibimbap (vegetarian rice bowl), samsaek deulkkae sujebi (three-colored hand-torn pasta in perilla seed broth), and gangdwenjang ssam jeongsik (set meal). The first two items are 7,000 won and the set meal goes for 10,000 won, both respectable prices in my opinion.

We tried out the bibimbap and jeongsik during lunchtime, which we were lucky to get their early (11am) because customers were coming in left and right after we arrived. The food came out and it was another vast spread of Korean dishes–perfect for food photographers like me but a pain for my friends who have to wait a few minutes. To name a few of the items, our two “appetizers” came out first, which included danhobak jeon (kabocha squash pancake) and salad, then there was the colorful and vibrant vegetarian bibimbap with a few added nut varieties, stir fried pork (cross between bulgogi/jeyuk bokkeum), dwenjang jjigae (soybean paste soup), gangdwenjang (thick soybean sauce), roasted duck, lettuce varieties for wraps, and plenty of banchan (side dishes). As you might imagine, it was a delightful feast with everything being made with loving care. It was made even better when the owner said most of the ingredients are local and no artificial “enhancers” are used in the dishes. These are the places that make Jeju a special place to live and eat.

Disclaimer: The jeongsik set meal includes stir-fried pork that had a slightly off-smell, meaning it didn’t smell fresh nor like the sauce (think bulgogi/jeyuk bokkeum) that it was cooked in. The owner was kind enough to make another batch but to no avail, the same odor remained. Was this a case of me being a foodie snob and being too picky with food? It’s possible. Could all the customers and my dining friend (who all seemed to be enjoying the dish) be wrong? Probably not. So, I’ll err on the side of caution and let you decide.

Non-disclaimer: Kkot Bap offers a range of traditional teas and drinks for dinersto enjoy indoors or outdoor, where a beautiful and pristine flower garden is maintained. Last but not least, the bathroom is–unlike most other bathrooms in Jeju–a welcome addition to the restaurant. 🙂