The Place Located within The Arts House in Cityhall, Jeju Haenyeo is a very different dining experience to say the least. This is the first overseas branch of Haenyeo’s Kitchen, bringing the first-ever Jeju Haenel show and dining experience to Singapore where it has multiple branches in Jeju.
I first walked through a short gallery showcasing the key landmarks of Jeju Island, before being brought into the main dining hall by the staff which takes up an open space concept. The concept of Jeju Haenyeo is a multi-course dining experience paired with live performances and visual storytelling. The idea of the storytelling is to bring diners through the sights, sounds, and spirit of Jeju as each course is served.
Seating is quite limited which makes it an intimate ambience, where the whole dining experience lasts for about two hours. I am not going to spoil much of the surprises here, but you can expect light, sound and movement of the staff throughout the meal.
The Food It is a fixed set menu which changes seasonally to reflect fresh, local ingredients. You can expect an omakase-style seasonal seafood dishes to reflect Jeju’s rich coastal bounty. One main theme throughout the meal is Haenyeo – female divers from Jeju Island, Korea, who harvest seafood by free diving without oxygen tanks – a practice recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance. The spirit of Haenyeo shapes each dish and performance.
The price starts from $45++ for the lunch course with no performance, where I went for the weekend Lunch Course with Performance (S$158++). In terms of beverages, there are traditional Korean liquor on the menu.
Here is what to expect in terms of the menu:
