Jeju has three famous black pork specialists: Heukdonga, Donsadon, and Chil Dona. We had been to Heukdonga on a previous Jeju trip, so we wanted to try Donsadon or Chil Dona. We spotted Chil Dona Black Pork in Jungmun and went there. It was packed. At first they seated us indoors, but we did not want the smoke and smell on us, so we asked for outdoors.
Outside felt like camping. It was not hot at all, just cool. In a summer like these days, it might be hot.
The basic side dishes were set.
Looking around, staff in yellow flower shirts walked around grilling for everyone. Oh, at Heukdonga we grilled ourselves, but here they grill for you.
The chimney, where the smoke goes, I guess. We ordered black pork. They said the five-layer pork belly goes straight on the grill, and the pork neck comes pre-grilled. First came the belly. Thick.
They cut the meat to cook it through first.
Quite a skill. We just waited for it to grill. The wait is long, but at the end of the wait is delicious black pork.
The shredded green onion and kimchi were tasty too.
When will it be done… The signature black pork sauce, meljeot, arrived.
Slowly grilling.
After a wait, the pre-grilled pork neck arrived too.
Oh, it started looking delicious.
When it is done, the men in yellow flower shirts serve it.
One piece of cooked meat. So delicious and tender, the best pork I have ever had. My husband and I kept exclaiming. We had almost skipped black pork this trip; we would have regretted it. We also ordered the kimchi jjigae, which they say is good here.
Oh, the kimchi jjigae had chunks of black pork inside, so tender and tasty.
The Chil Dona Black Pork was so good. Beyond the taste, the kindness and service spirit were ingrained, which made it even better. Only Donsadon remains on the list.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in July 2017 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.