Garlic Lobster and BBQ Pork Wrap at Dongmun Market on Jeju Island

Dongmun Market

Dongmun Market is an expansive and vibrant marketplace filled with an abundance of souvenir boutiques and culinary kiosks scattered throughout. Without a doubt it’s definitely a major attraction for tourists in Jeju City. I always have an entertaining time wandering through these lively markets. Exploring the different kiosks and sampling as much food as possible is always a lot of fun while traveling.

After about 45 minutes, I made my way to the area where all the food vendors were located. I did a lap of the area, making a mental note of the places I wanted to sample. Having a food plan is ALWAYS important to maximize stomach space, lol. A good rule of thumb to live by is the longer the line the better the food. Is it accurate? Who knows! But it makes deciding on what to get slightly easier for an indecisive foodie.

Garlic Lobster and BBQ Pork Wrap Stall

The first stall I stopped at was basically the first place you see as you enter the food court area. It’s impossible to overlook. Music is blaring, strobe lights flashing, and the chefs put on quite the show with their grilling prowess. Large plums of fire shoot up from the grills as they barbeque items like pork and lobster, among other items. It certainly provides entertainment while waiting in line for your food.

Google Translate failed me here, so the name of the stall remains a mystery. Lobster was clearly the dish they were pushing here though. I opted for the half garlic-infused lobster along with the pork wrap. This combination seemed to be a crowd favorite and certainly looked appetizing.

The lobster did seem like it had been prepared a bit in advance and wasn’t fresh off the grill. But nonetheless the lobster was brimming with sweetness. A generous amount of roasted garlic was ladled over the top which complemented the lobster’s natural sweetness . The lobster seemed like it had been sitting for a while and wasn’t right off the grill and was pretty small, but it was still a tasty dish with all the garlic sauce mixing well with the sweetness of the lobster meat. Although it was on the smaller side, the dish was certainly satisfying. I can only imagine what it tastes like right off the grill!

The pork wrap consisted of bbq pork wrapped around cabbage, rice and nori. A thick,sweet and slightly spicy sauce, was superbly drizzled on top. It’s a thicker sauce and really coats and sticks to the rolls very well. The pork had a delightful crispiness to it, coupled with a fantastic barbecue char and flavor. The cabbage provided a nice crunch with every bite. The sauce paired well with this dish and added to the flavor without overwhelming it. The smoky barbecue flavor of the pork still shines through all the other elements of the roll, which says a lot of about the pork. All in all, this was a very solid barbecue pork roll!

Undeniably, roaming around these areas is always a treat. Energy abounds, with skilled chefs showing off their culinary skills. The variety of distinct smells from the many different stalls always gets me excited to eat! One stall down, many more to come!