Bucheon eel restaurant to treat parents: Gochang Pungcheon Eel

With the change of season, I've been feeling pretty worn out lately. Figuring I needed some proper nourishment, I took my parents to Gochang Pungcheon Eel, a clean, well-kept grilled eel restaurant in Bucheon.

The inside was spotless, and even the fish tank was kept impressively clean, which made me trust the place even more. Here's my honest review of the visit with my parents.

Where is Gochang Pungcheon Eel, and what are the hours?

Gochang Pungcheon Eel is located at 17-28 Giljudong 121beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It's 288m from Exit 8 of Sangdong Station (Line 7), and about a 1-minute walk from Exit 7.

• Address: 17-28 Giljudong 121beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (Gochang Pungcheon Eel)
• Transit: 288m from Sangdong Station Exit 8; about a 1-minute walk from Line 7 Sangdong Station Exit 7
• Hours: Tue–Mon 11:30–23:00 (last order 22:00)

Gochang Pungcheon Eel in Bucheon started out in 2003 as a small 13-pyeong (about 43m²) grilled eel shop and has been running for over 20 years now. The clean space and well-set-up rooms made it great for a family gathering, and beyond fresh eel and homemade side dishes, they also offer a full tableside grilling service.

Where do you park in Bucheon's Sangdong area?

Parking is available on floors 2 to 5 of the same building, Gukcheon Building, with the first 2 hours supported. Apparently there's also parking right in front of the restaurant during certain hours, so it might be worth checking with the restaurant before your visit.

Inside Gochang Pungcheon Eel: the 8-person private room for parents

They told us the interior was completely redone after a demolition and renovation, and it showed — the space felt clean and pleasant. There were also various table setups, which made for a comfortable meal.

There's also a private room that fits up to 8 people. It seemed like a lot of people use it for family occasions like a 60th or 70th birthday. Apparently they also provide a banner service for groups above a certain size, so if you're planning a family gathering, that's worth keeping in mind.

Salt or gochujang? Eel options and prices

I'd heard a lot about how pricey pungcheon eel (river eel) can be, but Gochang Pungcheon Eel was relatively reasonable considering that reputation. You could choose your seasoning — salt, soy sauce, gochujang (red chili paste) — according to taste, and there was also a good variety of soups to go alongside.

Jindo green onion kimchi and the side dishes

The side dishes overall came out clean and well-paired with the grilled eel. In particular, the green onion kimchi made with Jindo scallions was tasty right from the seasoning, and it went great with the eel.

After the side dishes were set, porridge and steamed egg came out too, like an appetizer. The seasoning was just right — honestly, the porridge was so good I wanted to ask for seconds.

Salt-grilled vs gochujang-grilled eel, and the tableside grilling service

After some deliberation, we ordered the basic salt-grilled eel, and — since I love a good sauce — the gochujang-grilled eel too, one of each. It was my first time seeing a place that sells seasoned grilled eel, so I was curious how the gochujang-grilled version, made with their special chili paste sauce, would taste.

What I especially liked about Gochang Pungcheon Eel was that a staff member does the actual grilling for you. Eel is surprisingly tricky to grill well since the taste changes a lot depending on how it's cooked, so having a skilled staff member grill it to a nice golden brown meant I could just relax and eat.

Once the eel was fully grilled, they set it aside on one part of the grill so it stayed warm without burning. Paired with the provided sauces and side dishes, it worked really well together, and the eel itself felt plump and fresh.

Book on Naver and the eel soup is free

We also visited after booking through Naver Reservation, and they served us eel soup that had apparently been simmered for about 12 hours, as a complimentary extra. The grilled eel was delicious, but honestly, this soup was the real standout for me. The broth was rich and there was plenty of it, making it great to share. If you're planning to visit, I'd recommend booking through Naver so you can try the soup too.

Is Gochang Pungcheon Eel worth it for a family dinner?

Gochang Pungcheon Eel in Bucheon is a place to enjoy fresh pungcheon eel, and with its clean interior and private room, it was a great spot for a family meal or a visit with parents.

Having a staff member grill the eel for you made the whole meal easy and relaxed, and being able to choose between salt-grilled and gochujang-grilled eel depending on your taste was also a nice touch. The eel soup that comes with a Naver reservation in particular had a rich broth and a generous portion, which was satisfying.

If you're in Bucheon looking for a place to treat your parents to some proper nourishment, or searching for a good grilled eel restaurant for a family gathering, I'd recommend Gochang Pungcheon Eel.