숙성도 중문점 中文店

🥩 Aged to (Chinese Store) 숙성도 중문
🕰 12:00–22:00
📍 1101 Iljuseoro, Seogwipo City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

This black pork barbecue restaurant, extremely popular in Jeju Island, is basically a go-to recommendation for both tourists and locals. The black pork features a unique aging process of at least 720 hours and up to 30 days, with four branches across the island. The Chinese Store has its own dedicated parking, but honestly speaking, arriving on a Saturday night at 7 PM, finding a parking spot is almost legendary; reservations are highly recommended.

📱 The tablet ordering system has a Chinese interface, making it beginner-friendly. This time I ordered the 960 aged spare ribs 350g for ₩39,000. After grilling, the meat was tender, with a noticeable fatty aroma, good juiciness, and a slightly chewy texture; the 720 aged pork belly 200g for ₩23,000 underwent 30 days of fermentation, delivering a very direct fatty sensation with a hint of fermented milk aroma, catering to those who prefer bold flavors. The grilling was handled by a staff member, who controlled the pace very well, which is a significant plus.

🥣 The differences in side dishes were quite apparent. Honestly, the jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) was rather ordinary, you could take it or leave it; the kimchi soup was genuinely excellent, spicy enough and perfect with rice, it's the kind of soup you’d want to finish; the doenjang (soybean paste) soup was the opposite, it had plenty of ingredients but the flavor was a bit weak, which was disappointing. The unlimited lettuce, side dishes, and bottled mineral water were a lifesaver, especially appreciated by those who haven’t had enough vegetables after a few days abroad.

🥤 Personally, I found the pear juice to be average, not impressive but not something I would want to order again. The sesame oil in the dipping sauce was very fragrant, and just relying on it could elevate the meat's aroma by another level. Overall, the meat does have solid quality, but a rational view makes it more enjoyable; it’s a one-time experience that's good enough.