Eel BBQ by Ansan's Seongpo Station, Friday dinner: Songnim Bok Jangeo

What are the hours and unlimited refill price at Songnim Bok Jangeo Wolpi Branch?

Songnim Bok Jangeo Wolpi Branch (송림복장어 월피동점) is open every day from 11:00 to 22:00 with no break time. I had visited another Songnim Bok Jangeo branch in a different area and loved it, so when I heard an all-you-can-eat eel place had opened in Wolpi-dong, Ansan, I ran straight over!

The unlimited price is ₩29,900 for adults and ₩14,000 for children (elementary school age), plus a ₩3,000 table setting fee. You get eel, pork belly and duck neck for a low price, so it's great value.

What's at the Songnim Bok Jangeo self-bar?

The self-bar is the first thing you notice when you walk in. There are two, one on each side, so it stays comfortable even when it's crowded.

It's not just the unlimited meats; the self-bar is decent too. Rice and soup are free to help yourself, and if you run short of side dishes you can grab more. Today's soup was a refreshing bean sprout soup (kongnamul-guk) with a slight kick, which went well with the eel. The eel, pork belly and duck neck for refills were good quality too, so I was happy!

Is Songnim Bok Jangeo Wolpi Branch good for family meals and group dinners?

The first thing that catches your eye is how big the place is. There are lots of seats and the tables are spaced generously, so it felt comfortable to eat, and it looked perfect for family meals, Wolpi-dong company dinners (hoesik) and group gatherings!

There are plenty of high chairs, and disposable aprons are provided for easy use. The restroom is inside the restaurant, which was convenient! To finish, there's even a coffee vending machine for a post-meal drink.

Do you need a reservation on Friday and weekend evenings?

I'd book ahead at Songnim Bok Jangeo. After I reserved, a table was already prepared for us, so we could start eating comfortably. I went on a Friday evening and, even though the restaurant is large, it was really busy. If you're planning a weekend evening visit, I recommend reserving in advance.

How do the unlimited freshwater eel, pork belly and duck neck taste?

I brought rice and bean sprout soup from the self-bar to eat with the eel. There's also a container of eel sauce on the table, so it's easy to take more. When you eat eel, of course, get ready to pile ginger on the sauce!

The biggest strength of Songnim Bok Jangeo is the quality of the unlimited freshwater eel. And since it isn't only eel that's unlimited, you can have pork belly and duck neck to your taste, so it's a good fit even if someone in the family can't eat eel.

Eel, pork belly and duck neck turning golden on the grill looked generous just to look at. Getting the rich eel together with the clean, mild flavor of pork belly and duck neck makes it even more satisfying.

Cut into bite-size pieces, the eel is tasty on its own, and I also dipped it in the sauce and ate it with ginger. Wrap the pork belly in lettuce and you'll find yourself craving a drink on your own.

Opening event: free bokbunja wine

When I visited, they were giving one bottle of bokbunja wine (Korean black raspberry wine) as a service for the Wolpi Branch opening event. The sweet, rich flavor went so well with the eel! It's sweet enough that even people who can't hold their liquor can enjoy it.

What should you watch out for when refilling at Songnim Bok Jangeo?

As an all-you-can-eat restaurant, Songnim Bok Jangeo charges an environmental surcharge if you leave food. I went to the self-bar to refill the next round, and the best approach is to take only what you can eat and go back often for small amounts. The food tastes better and you waste less.

The second round was turning golden and tasty too. The freshwater eel is incredibly thick, which makes it fun to eat.

What's the easiest way to grill unlimited freshwater eel?

Cook the eel skin-side first, and once it's partly done, stand the pieces up in a row, then pick up two at a time with the tongs and grill them. That makes it easy.

Eating it with lettuce and perilla leaves makes me so happy~~~~ The eel is crisp outside and juicy inside, and the rich, fatty pork belly with scallion kimchi (pa-kimchi) is the best.

If you're looking for a good restaurant in Wolpi-dong, Ansan, near Jungang Station, or a place for an unlimited eel company dinner in Wolpi-dong, I recommend Songnim Bok Jangeo for good-quality, good-value eel! Tasty freshwater eel as a health boost, and I'm full of energy~~~