Gwangyang eel grill, regular since day one, back with parents: Deokeun

A Gwangyang eel restaurant I've loved since it opened: Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch

I first came to Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch (더큰장어 광양점) with my parents when it opened, and they liked it so much that they now go often even when I'm not around. This time I went down to Gwangyang to spend the weekend with them, and we went to this famous Gwangyang eel spot for a stamina-boosting meal as a family.

The place looked different from last time, didn't it?

Word has spread so much lately that it's become a Gwangyang favorite with waiting lines on weekends. The eel here is really plump and tasty, so... ✨️ I really recommend it.

The view of Yi Sun-sin Bridge, the fresh, chubby eel and the spacious interior make it a very satisfying place for a family meal.

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch hours and info

• Address: 101 Hangman 9-ro, Gwangyang-si, Jeonnam (next to Rakhui Hotel)
• Hours: 11:00–21:30
• Break time: 14:00–16:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Groups, reservations and takeout available
• Separate men's and women's restrooms, waiting area, Wi-Fi, high chairs

Where does the eel come from? Eel farmed directly in Yeongam

Fresh eel farmed directly in Yeongam

I hear Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch farms its own eel in Yeongam, so it serves fresh, good-quality eel at a reasonable price at this eel restaurant. The eel's condition got such good word of mouth that it's now an established Gwangyang eel spot.

Some people hesitate to eat eel because of the fishy smell, but at Deokeun Jangeo I remember no fishiness at all, just a clean, nutty flavor that was really good.

Location and parking

Serving domestic pungcheon eel (Korean freshwater eel), Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is a big two-story building right in front of Rakhui Hotel, so it's easy to find. The parking lot is large and roomy, so visiting is comfortable.

Pick your eel on the 1st floor, eat on the 2nd with a Yi Sun-sin Bridge view

The restaurant runs over two floors. You buy your eel on the 1st floor first, then head up to the dining area on the 2nd.

How much eel should 3 people with parents buy?

For 3 of us, me and my parents, about ₩60,000 worth of eel was enough to stuff ourselves. The 1st-floor fridge has eel at various price points, and like at a butcher-style restaurant you pick as much as you want to eat. *If you can't judge the amount, the staff kindly recommend one.

Upstairs was full of customers, and our table was the very last seat. So lucky! ❣️

From the 2nd-floor window seats you can see Yi Sun-sin Bridge and the sea off Gwangyang in one sweep, so the atmosphere of the meal is great too.

Self-serve side dish corner

On one side of the restaurant there's a self-serve corner where you can take as many side dishes for the eel as you like. Staff tidy it constantly, so it stays clean, which I liked 🌿

Truly big, as the name says: one eel fills the whole grill

Look at the size of this eel and you'll see why the name means "bigger eel." It's huge, right? haha

The moment it landed on the table, my parents and I all went "Wow, that's really big," haha. The eel was so big and thick that just one on the grill filled it right to the edges, a fearsome size. And the flesh was so thick... it was hard to cut, hahaha.

The eel we picked that day was overwhelming in size and thickness, so thick that it was hard to fit a piece into your mouth in one bite.

Charcoal-grilled eel at Deokeun Jangeo

It cooked up crispy outside and moist inside, which made it even better.

The charcoal was in good shape so the eel cooked evenly, and a faint smoky charcoal aroma brought out the flavor even more. Chewy outside, soft inside, with plump flesh filling your mouth: so satisfying.

I thought we'd eaten plenty, but one strip of eel was still left over, hahahaha. Three adults with the ₩60,000 portion ate until we were about to burst ☺️

Finishing with eel soup

No matter how full you are ✨️ you always finish with carbs.

I always end the meal at Deokeun Jangeo with eel soup (jangeotang), and it's really delicious! It cleans up your palate and is perfect to close the meal, like a K-dessert in soup form 🙋‍♀️ Please do try it.

Back with my parents: is Deokeun Jangeo worth another visit?

This visit with my parents was a "place we keep coming back to" kind of trip, and since it's become so famous that there are even waiting lines, it seems everyone is happy with this eel restaurant.

Gwangyang's signature eel spot, where you can enjoy plump eel until you're full with a view of Yi Sun-sin Bridge