▲ Chamaru in Jeju City Hall. Photo by Kim Jinmi

There are many small and cozy vegetarian restaurants located in beautiful corners of the island, but they are often hard to find for those not in the know. Below is a selection of some of the best veggie ‘shikdang’ for your culinary delight. (For detailed location maps, go to www.jejuweekly.com.)

“Nangteore Shimpang” (낭뜨레쉼팡)

This is a busy restaurant with a traditional interior. ‘Nang’ means ‘tree’ in Jeju dialect and ‘shimpang’ means ‘resting place’

Where: 125 Waheul-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City

Hours: 09:30-19:30

Menu: Ssamchae/vegetables with boiled barley and side dishes (5,000 won), fried mackerel (7,000 won), seafood and mushroom pancake (5,000 won), soy paste noodles (4,000 won), traditional teas (4,000 won).

Contact: 064-784-9292 or visit, http://xn--v20bn7j5rkmkdbzv.com/

“Jageun Bueok”(작은부엌)

This ‘small’ restaurant has only one table, so please call in advance to book. Only cash payment accepted.

Where:1123 Seonheul-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City

Hours: 11:00- 14:00 and 18:00-20:00 (Mondays off.)

Menu: Soybean course meal (15,000 won): bean soup, salad pizza, vinegar gonyak and rice, wild vegetable salad, brown rice and vegetable ddeokbokki. Dessert is oven-grilled croquette, and coffee or tea. Fried bean cutlet (10,000won); wild plant bibimbap (7,000won); coffee and oven-grilled croquette, or loofah extract drink and brown rice cake (both 5,000 won)

Contact: 010-4699-3179

▲ Rice wrapped in lotus leaf at Mulmegol. Photo courtesy Mulmegol

“Mulmegol” (물메골)

This restaurant, selling temple foods, has the charm of a local traditional house.

Where: 795-1 Susan-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju City

Hours: 11:00-20:00

Menu: Rice wraped by lotus leaf and side dishes(10,000won), Soup with dough flakes and medicinal herbs (7,000won) and traditional teas

Contact: 064-713-5486

“Jayeonneuro” (자연으로)

This restaurant’s name means “by nature” and is situated in an area popular with nature lovers.

Where: 1079-5 Samdal-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo City

Hours: 10:00-20:00 (closing at 15:00 on Fridays. Saturdays off. )

Menu: Shinseon rice (7,000 won), rice topped with burdock (8,000 won), buckwheat noodle with tomato and spicy sauce (7,000 won), wild grass tea (5,000 won), deodeok tea (5,000 won), carrot juice (5,000 won), citron tea (4,000 won).

Contact: 010-9452-2841

▲ Jayeoneuro restaurant, meaning "by nature". Photo by Kim Jinmi

“Gallery Challa”(갤러리찰나)

This gallery holds exhibitions and has a small restaurant attached. No contact no.

Where: 2934-1 Saekdang-dong, Seogwipo city (within the Jungmun tourist complex)

“Loving Hut”

Loving Hut is an international vegan chain created for world peace, according to its website. It has two branches on Jeju.

Website: http://www.lovinghut.kr

- Jungang branch

Where: 1387-3, Ido 1-dong, Jeju City

Hours: 11:30- 21:00

Menu: Tofu cutlet with ginger sauce (7,000 won), tofu steak (7,000 won), ginger vegetable rice soup, (4,000 won), sweet and sour vegetables and fruit side dishes (10-15,000 won), Vietnamese rice paper wraps (12-18,000 won), various burgers.

Contact: 064-759-6113

- Nohyeong branch

Where: 1291-18, Nohyeong-dong, Jeju City

Hours: 11:30- 21:00

Menu: Grilled tofu (8,000won), tofu soup (lunch menu), grilled tofu burger (the only burger menu)

Contact: 064-751-3335

“Cha Maru”(차마루)

This is a tea house and restaurant with a traditional wooden interior in the Jeju City Hall area.

Where: 1179-7 Ido 2-dong, Jeju City

Hours: 12:00-19:30 (Reservations are necessary for dinner. Sundays are off.)

Menu: Bibimbap (6,000 won), rice porridge with perilla seeds (5,000 won), black beans and mung beans (6-8,000 won), clear soup with dumplings and barley (6,000 won), various traditional teas and fruit juices (4-5,000 won) and more.

Contact: 064-726-0466