I agree with the detailed review below this. The service was excellent, the food was below average. I am surprised by the hype as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Josh Sherman
My family and I had a delicious Korean dinner at JEJU! We were a big party and ordered the whole menu. In particular, the kanpachi collars, crudo, steak, and chicken wings were phenomenal! The staff were so kind, going out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed in a friendly manner. The cocktails were also excellent. I loved the Soju - the smoothest I have ever had. Overall, it was very special meal and we will not forget it. I highly recommend for your taste buds and for a fun experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Olivia H
The tofu appetizer and cabbage side were the best! We also tried a few other dishes, and everything was pretty good. Everything was beautifully plated, and the service was really great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T Toivonen
Absolutely love this place!! Awesome food and great service. Really nice atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Morgan Rumble
Absolutely fabulous food and experience. My friend and I got the chef's tasting menu and wine flight. Their wine expert who curated our flight was delightful and so knowledgeable and the wines were new to us and delicious. The food was OUTSTANDING, and a highlight was dessert. All the service was great. Atmosphere comfortable and non-pretentious. Will absolutely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gary Piazza
Like others have mentioned, the staff, atmosphere, overall experience was great, but the food was a bit uninspiring from a flavor standpoint. Expected bolder flavors from this fusion forward experience. Engaged in the tasting menu and perhaps that was where we made the mistake. Should have ordered more items outside the tasting menu and perhaps we would have had a different experience. As it is, we did try the shishito peppers and they turned out to be the best option. Cocktails were top notch and we did indulge multiple times. With so many options out there, first impressions are super important and we're not sure we'd return unless we hear about a bolder approach to the flavor profiles.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
David Kilpatrick-White
Came for the fries that had been advertised as the best Portland...they are, especially with the sauce. The Chicken wings were also incredible & the burger is fantastic, don't skip the green beans either. Service was kind & very responsive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matthew Rusnac
Overall, a lovely establishment. The space is warm and comfortable with an elevated feel. The food was good and well-executed, though the flavors stray quite a bit from traditional Korean cuisine; so be prepared for some surprises if you’re expecting the usual. The service was the one area that felt lacking. The menu isn’t exactly straightforward, and for those unfamiliar with Korean food, a brief intro or some guidance would go a long way. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that by default and had to draw it out of our server. Maybe they were a newer hire 🤷♂️
TL;DR: Great spot overall. Food was tasty but not your typical Korean, and the service could be better, especially for a restaurant of this caliber.
Oh! I want to highlight that they were very accommodating to allergies. So if you're gluten free, dairy free, etc, this is a great place for you.
Adrian Lopez
Fantastic restaurant, unique flavors and Very chill atmosphere. one of my fabs places in Oregon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jack
Good food, terrible service. Our server was either oblivious or indifferent. We communicated that our ribeye was overcooked and received barely an acknowledgment, let alone an apology or any form of compensation. Very disappointing.
We came to JEJU for a private Chef’s Tasting Menu on June 25, 2025 with RSVP ($75/person, party of 11), and while the service was truly exceptional, the food didn’t match the hype for my personal taste.
That said, I want to applaud JEJU’s commitment to whole animal butchery, sustainable sourcing, and zero-waste practices. Their whole animal program is commendable, and it’s no surprise they have a strong support base in Portland.
The banchan was underwhelming (radish-heavy kimchi, overcooked egg drop soup, flavorless green beans), though the soft tofu stood out. The pan-fried mandu was chewy but saved by the broth. Kampachi crudo lacked seasoning, and the Ssam meats were tough. Highlight of the night? The JeJu Sundae was easily the best dish.
The space is gorgeous with high ceilings, cool plants, and a private room with karaoke (limited song choices). Restrooms need TLC, no seat covers, and the decor feels like an afterthought.
Limited lot parking (~12 spaces), but free street and Kitty App parking nearby.
All in all: Excellent service, admirable values, but uneven execution on the plate. I’ll give them another shot down the line.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Travis Woodall
Managed to score a last minute reservation on my anniversary at the kitchen bar and don't regret it. Korean is my absolute favorite, but this place managed to make it even better. Great environment and amazing food; they made a roast squash lover out of me!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Noah Goffena
The staff was rude to my fiancé and told her to move, the food was vastly overpriced. I’ve had much better Korean food in many other places in the Portland area and they took forever to bring the check. We won’t return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Kevin
Bibigo mandu out of the freezer with soy sauce is a better option than going to this restaurant. The 'somaek tower' costs $100🤣.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ansley Chambers
The food is simply amazing. Don't sit at the Chefs Counter in the summer though. It's hot 🥵Food is prepared freshly in front of you, portion sizes are satisfying but not oversized. We chose a la carte vs prix fixe since I'm particular, and I'm glad we did even though I had some combos I've never tried nothing was adventurous and bad. It was all good. Fried chicken and any of the steak was so delicious. Highly recommend. Kids maybe ok on the patio, I wouldn't have them at the counter or bar or most of the busy indoor tables though.
I agree with the detailed review below this. The service was excellent, the food was below average. I am surprised by the hype as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
My family and I had a delicious Korean dinner at JEJU! We were a big party and ordered the whole menu. In particular, the kanpachi collars, crudo, steak, and chicken wings were phenomenal! The staff were so kind, going out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed in a friendly manner. The cocktails were also excellent. I loved the Soju - the smoothest I have ever had. Overall, it was very special meal and we will not forget it. I highly recommend for your taste buds and for a fun experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The tofu appetizer and cabbage side were the best! We also tried a few other dishes, and everything was pretty good. Everything was beautifully plated, and the service was really great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely love this place!! Awesome food and great service. Really nice atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely fabulous food and experience. My friend and I got the chef's tasting menu and wine flight. Their wine expert who curated our flight was delightful and so knowledgeable and the wines were new to us and delicious. The food was OUTSTANDING, and a highlight was dessert. All the service was great. Atmosphere comfortable and non-pretentious. Will absolutely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Like others have mentioned, the staff, atmosphere, overall experience was great, but the food was a bit uninspiring from a flavor standpoint. Expected bolder flavors from this fusion forward experience. Engaged in the tasting menu and perhaps that was where we made the mistake. Should have ordered more items outside the tasting menu and perhaps we would have had a different experience. As it is, we did try the shishito peppers and they turned out to be the best option.
Cocktails were top notch and we did indulge multiple times. With so many options out there, first impressions are super important and we're not sure we'd return unless we hear about a bolder approach to the flavor profiles.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Came for the fries that had been advertised as the best Portland...they are, especially with the sauce. The Chicken wings were also incredible & the burger is fantastic, don't skip the green beans either. Service was kind & very responsive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Overall, a lovely establishment. The space is warm and comfortable with an elevated feel. The food was good and well-executed, though the flavors stray quite a bit from traditional Korean cuisine; so be prepared for some surprises if you’re expecting the usual. The service was the one area that felt lacking. The menu isn’t exactly straightforward, and for those unfamiliar with Korean food, a brief intro or some guidance would go a long way. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that by default and had to draw it out of our server. Maybe they were a newer hire 🤷♂️
TL;DR: Great spot overall. Food was tasty but not your typical Korean, and the service could be better, especially for a restaurant of this caliber.
Oh! I want to highlight that they were very accommodating to allergies. So if you're gluten free, dairy free, etc, this is a great place for you.
Fantastic restaurant, unique flavors and Very chill atmosphere. one of my fabs places in Oregon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Good food, terrible service. Our server was either oblivious or indifferent. We communicated that our ribeye was overcooked and received barely an acknowledgment, let alone an apology or any form of compensation. Very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
We came to JEJU for a private Chef’s Tasting Menu on June 25, 2025 with RSVP ($75/person, party of 11), and while the service was truly exceptional, the food didn’t match the hype for my personal taste.
That said, I want to applaud JEJU’s commitment to whole animal butchery, sustainable sourcing, and zero-waste practices. Their whole animal program is commendable, and it’s no surprise they have a strong support base in Portland.
The banchan was underwhelming (radish-heavy kimchi, overcooked egg drop soup, flavorless green beans), though the soft tofu stood out. The pan-fried mandu was chewy but saved by the broth. Kampachi crudo lacked seasoning, and the Ssam meats were tough. Highlight of the night? The JeJu Sundae was easily the best dish.
The space is gorgeous with high ceilings, cool plants, and a private room with karaoke (limited song choices). Restrooms need TLC, no seat covers, and the decor feels like an afterthought.
Limited lot parking (~12 spaces), but free street and Kitty App parking nearby.
All in all: Excellent service, admirable values, but uneven execution on the plate. I’ll give them another shot down the line.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Managed to score a last minute reservation on my anniversary at the kitchen bar and don't regret it. Korean is my absolute favorite, but this place managed to make it even better. Great environment and amazing food; they made a roast squash lover out of me!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The staff was rude to my fiancé and told her to move, the food was vastly overpriced. I’ve had much better Korean food in many other places in the Portland area and they took forever to bring the check. We won’t return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Bibigo mandu out of the freezer with soy sauce is a better option than going to this restaurant. The 'somaek tower' costs $100🤣.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
The food is simply amazing. Don't sit at the Chefs Counter in the summer though. It's hot 🥵Food is prepared freshly in front of you, portion sizes are satisfying but not oversized. We chose a la carte vs prix fixe since I'm particular, and I'm glad we did even though I had some combos I've never tried nothing was adventurous and bad. It was all good. Fried chicken and any of the steak was so delicious. Highly recommend. Kids maybe ok on the patio, I wouldn't have them at the counter or bar or most of the busy indoor tables though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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