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Yeondon Jeju Island: Honest Review of the Famous Donkatsu Restaurant – Is the Wait Worth It?

Hello! I recently visited Yeondon (연돈), the famous Donkatsu restaurant in Jeju Island. If you’re curious about the waiting experience and the food, keep reading! For those who just want to see the food, you can skip to 4 minutes 40 seconds in the video (if there was one, as implied in the original text, though we are just working with text here).

Location and Accessibility

Yeondon is located in Jeju Island, specifically in the Jungmun area. While Jeju Island has public transportation, most tourists tend to drive, so accessibility by public transport might not be a primary concern for many visitors. It had been quite a while since my last visit to Jeju – about 5 years ago. Back then, Yeondon wasn’t around, and I mostly explored places serving mackerel, cutlassfish sashimi, and black pork.

Jeju Island Vibes and Dining Scene

Jeju Island doesn’t strike me as particularly cheap. However, being within Korea, it’s undeniably easier compared to traveling abroad. A short one-hour flight with palm trees gives a slight overseas vacation vibe, without the language barrier. Plus, with Korean cuisine readily available, it’s a comforting and familiar experience.

The Infamous Yeondon Wait – Is it Easier Now?

In my mind, Yeondon was legendary for requiring overnight camping to even have a chance to eat there. This made me initially hesitant to visit. However, upon checking again, I learned that reservations are not as intensely competitive as they once were. Yeondon initially used an online reservation system, but due to issues with resale of reservations, they switched back to a queueing system. So, now, you just need to invest time and queue in person.

There are pros and cons to this, but from my recent visit in early March 2023, it didn’t seem as daunting as the stories suggested. “Not daunting” is relative, of course, compared to the era of overnight queues. It’s still challenging by regular restaurant standards. As of my visit, here’s how it works:

Yeondon Waiting/Reservation System (March 2023 Experience)

1. Get a Reservation Number: You need to arrive at 10:00 AM to get a reservation number.
2. Waiting Time: After receiving your number, expect to wait around 2 hours.
3. Dining Time: They start serving from 12:00 PM. You might get in right at 12 PM if your number is early, or you might have to wait longer depending on the queue.
4. Cheese Donkatsu Limit: The Cheese Donkatsu is limited to 60 servings per day. Arrive early to increase your chances of ordering it. Only one Cheese Donkatsu can be ordered per table.

For just the regular Donkatsu, arriving around 10 AM to get a number, and then returning later to eat is the most time-efficient way. However, wanting to try the Cheese Donkatsu, I arrived a bit earlier at 8:30 AM. I aimed for a 1.5-hour wait, thinking 2 hours was too long, but 1 hour might be too risky. Arriving at 8:30 AM, the queue was shorter than expected, suggesting I could have come even later. Thankfully, I received a number in the teens (10-19), securing my chance for Cheese Donkatsu!

By 10 AM, the queue grew longer, but it still seemed possible to get Cheese Donkatsu at that time. After getting my number, I spent about 2 hours exploring Jeju. Returning to Yeondon at 12 PM, the parking area was much busier. Parking wasn’t easy. However, considering the legendary Yeondon waiting times, this felt manageable.

Inside Yeondon and the Menu

Yeondon’s operating hours are 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with no break time listed. The reason for changing the waiting system was mainly due to reservation reselling. While I dislike waiting, this system allowed me to finally try Yeondon. It’s a trade-off – more waiting time for consumers, but fairer access. During my visit, the owner wasn’t at Yeondon but next door at Volkatsu.

The restaurant was, unsurprisingly, full. Tables are not very large. The menu prices have increased. While I heard it used to be around 9,000 KRW, the Loin Donkatsu is now 11,000 KRW, and Cheese Donkatsu is 13,000 KRW. I ordered one Loin Donkatsu, one Cheese Donkatsu, and Handmade Curry. Each person must order one dish, so I couldn’t try the Tenderloin Donkatsu. The kitchen is semi-open. Water and salt are provided on the tables.

Food Review: Cheese Donkatsu and Loin Donkatsu

Cheese Donkatsu

The Cheese Donkatsu is amazing! It’s filled with mozzarella cheese beneath a thin layer of pork and crispy breading. The cheese is plentiful, stretchy, and flavorful, with a rich milky taste. It’s delicious with the pork and crispy exterior. Definitely a must-try and worth revisiting. It has a milder flavor, so a little salt can enhance it. Personally, I preferred the Cheese Donkatsu over the Loin Donkatsu.

Loin Donkatsu

The Loin Donkatsu is a classic style, not the modern pinkish, fatty type seen at places like Katz Baikonban or Jeongdon. It’s more of a first-generation Japanese Donkatsu, now almost classic. It comes with rice, soup, kimchi, pickled radish, and Donkatsu sauce. While the meat is thick and good quality (using black pork), and the flavor is nice, the breading was surprisingly hard and very crispy – almost too hard. It might be a matter of preference, or perhaps it was just slightly overcooked that day. The juiciness was less than expected, but it’s a different style focused on crispiness. The black pork quality was good.

The handmade curry was also excellent, with a rich caramelized onion sweetness and depth. It pairs well with both rice and Donkatsu, especially for dipping the crispy breading to soften it a bit. Mixing leftover breadcrumbs with the curry is also highly recommended.

Overall Impression

Yeondon uses high-quality ingredients, even using lard oil for frying, which enhances flavor despite being harder to manage. My only minor complaint was the slightly too-crispy breading on the Loin Donkatsu, which might have been a one-off issue. The Cheese Donkatsu, however, was outstanding and worth the price. If I could eat it without the wait, I’d have it for lunch often!

Visiting Yeondon is more than just a meal; it’s a bit of an experience. Queuing with people from all over the country, waiting for 1.5 hours felt almost fun, especially compared to the stories of day-long waits. Thinking of it as visiting the most famous Donkatsu place in Korea makes it feel like a tourist attraction. If the wait isn’t too long, like my recent experience, I’d definitely return for the Cheese Donkatsu.

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Restaurant Information:

• Restaurant Name: Yeondon (연돈)
• Location: Jeju Island, Jungmun Area (Specific address not provided in text, but easily searchable online as it’s famous)
• General Rating: Very Positive (especially for Cheese Donkatsu)
• Price: Loin Donkatsu 11,000 KRW, Cheese Donkatsu 13,000 KRW (as of March 2023)
• Waiting System: In-person queue from 10:00 AM daily.
• Operating Hours: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (No break time mentioned)