Hyatt Regency Jeju to launch horse meat menu in March

A bowl of spring salad with horse meat tataki / Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Jeju

By Kim Se-jeong

If you are curious about horse meat or wanting to go to Jeju Island for an authentic vacation experience, Hyatt Regency Jeju is the place to be.

The hotel’s Terrace Café is launching a horse meat menu on March 1.

The menu includes spring salad with horse meat tataki, braised horse rib with abalone, carrot and ginseng, bibimbap with horse meat and spring vegetables and spaghetti with horse meatballs.

“It’s a widely-held perception that horse meat is tough and not so juicy,” Jun Kwan-soo, the hotel’s head chef, said. “But, that’s not completely true. I am hoping my food will ultimately change people’s perceptions.”

The chef procures the meat from the Jeju local government, which operates a small horse shelter. At the shelter, which is part of the government’s efforts to expand the horse business, the horses are fed, slaughtered and packaged for sale.

Jeju is one of the few places with horses on the entire Korean peninsula, and the islanders have long been eating horse meat. History shows that horse meat from Jeju was first served at the king’s dinner in 1276 under Wang Geo.

The island is also home to two breeds of horses. With the new western breed horses, the total number of horses on the island is now almost 1,500. Most of the horses are raised for racing and some for tourism. Riding horses is one of the must-do activities in Jeju Island.

The horses that are too fat, old or injured are sent to the shelter.

“What we do is feed them with animal stock for about six months so that their muscles will be tender,” Lee Wan-hee from local government said. He also said he is confident with the meat’s unquestionable quality.

A horse meat meal starts at 66,000 won, including tax and service charges. For more information and reservations, call (064) 733-1234 or visit jeju.regency.hyatt.com.