VISIT JEJU

Horsemeat is rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins and low in calories, fat, and cholesterol. This makes it an ideal option for weight loss. What’s more, horsemeat is safe from mad cow disease(bovine spongiform encephalopathy) and hand, foot, and mouth disease, so Jeju horsemeat is considered a healthy ingredient raised in the clean nature of Jeju. Generally speaking, horsemeat is dark red in color, tender in texture, and has a unique flavor. It is high in unsaturated fatty acids and contains the cholesterol-lowering linolenic acid, which helps prevent obesity and lower blood cholesterol.

Horsemeat is rather rare, so the restaurant pays a lot of attention to both the meat and the side dishes. The ingredients are grown by the owner in the restaurant’s fields. You can really feel the amount of care and attention given to each side dish. There aren't many places that sell horsemeat even on the island, and the price is a bit on the expensive side, so I was admittedly a little hesitant to visit the restaurant. However, the restaurant overcame that apprehension around with the care and attention given to each side dish and ingredient.

You can find a variety of horsemeat dishes on offer. Some of the dishes include the horsemeat bulgogi, which is horsemeat sirloin or tenderloin grilled lightly to perfection; sliced raw horsemeat and horsemeat tartare; braised horsemeat galbi; horsemeat soup; and horsemeat tartare bibimbap. The restaurant also uses horse heart, liver, and spleen for their nutrients and health benefits.

Young-ju Garden’s signature dishes are its course menus. Course A is priced at KRW 35,000, Special Course A at KRW 50,000, and Course B at KRW 30,000. Considering that even a pot of kimchi jjigae can cost KRW 10,000 in price these days, KRW 30,000 for a horsemeat course meal is quite affordable. Course A gets you the restaurant’s signature medicinal herb concentrate, sliced raw horsemeat, horsemeat tartare, rice balls, and shabu-shabu. Since you can get all these dishes for KRW 35,000, it’s a good idea to opt for the course menu rather than the a la carte menu.

The restaurant also offers special cuts (large intestine), stir-fried horse intestine, horsemeat soup (lunch menu), and horsemeat tartare bibimbap. These dishes are all prepared with the freshest ingredients, so there is hardly gamey flavor in the meat, and even those who are trying horsemeat for the first time can enjoy these dishes. The highest rated menu item by customers is the sliced raw horsemeat, which is meltingly tender and even better in flavor than Korean beef. Another interesting menu item is the unforgettable horsemeat mandu, made with minced horsemeat.

The restaurant is popular with both locals and tourists. Jeju’s image has taken a beating in recent days with scandals like rip-offs and the like, but customers who visit this restaurant know that they will find sincerity here. If you haven’t tried horsemeat yet, Young-ju Garden is a great place to try it out for the first time.