Eel restaurant in Oido that won over a non-eel eater: Sanhaejinmi

What is Sanhaejinmi in Oido like?

Sanhaejinmi (산해진미) is the first all-you-can-eat eel place in Oido using 100% domestic Japonica eel! Besides eel, you can also eat giant scallops and naengsam (thin-sliced cold pork belly for grilling) in unlimited amounts. This weekend I visited Sanhaejinmi, which just opened in Oido ෆ

Sanhaejinmi layout and toilet location

The 1st floor of Sanhaejinmi only has a reception area and the men's toilet. The restaurant itself is up on the 2nd floor.

A whole standalone building..👍🏻 Take the elevator up to the 2nd floor.

Isn't the place super clean? Sanhaejinmi officially opened on June 18, so it's only been open a little over 10 days! They also keep the sauces, tissues and other essentials up on the table like this, which left the tables relatively roomy. I liked that 🤍

The women's toilet is on the 2nd floor, behind the counter.

What are the self-bar and tables like at Sanhaejinmi?

At the Sanhaejinmi self-bar you can help yourself to extra side dishes, naengsam, ramyeon (Jin Ramen Spicy, Yeul Ramen, Buldak stir-fried noodles) and packaged cooked rice. Just microwave the rice. Having Buldak noodles is real thoughtfulness..👍🏻

Each table has one induction burner and one gas burner. Only induction-compatible grill plates can go on the induction burner. Corn cheese is served once as standard!

What comes on the 3-tier tower at Sanhaejinmi?

At Sanhaejinmi we got a 3-tier tower holding naengsam, scallops, clams, abalone and eel. The joy of enjoying all this for the ₩40,000s per person..🍀

Honestly, I've wanted to try eel but was scared of failing at an eel restaurant, so I never went. But Sanhaejinmi also has scallops and naengsam besides eel, so no need to think twice. GO!

Is Sanhaejinmi's eel tasty even if you don't normally eat eel?

The eel at Sanhaejinmi comes pre-grilled, so it finishes cooking quickly! My nervous first bite of eel..🤍

My partner loves eel, but because of me we can't go to grilled eel places, so we go to places that sell eel rice bowls or eel sushi, and I once tried a bite of my partner's eel. It wasn't my style, so I thought, 'There's no eel in my life'..! But whoa. The eel was sooo good. Eel + eel sauce + ginger is a total winning combo.

The cheese scallops use giant scallops, not small red scallops, so they're really big!

After scallops, naengsam this time! I grilled the green onion kimchi and cabbage kimchi served alongside and took a bite..🤍

Order eel refills in advance

The eel at Sanhaejinmi was so good that I got a first refill. Since the eel comes pre-grilled, you need to order ahead! My partner said it was the first time seeing eel this thick at an all-you-can-eat place. I meant to stuff myself with scallops today but fell for the eel and ate loads of it..🤍

How big are the giant scallops at Sanhaejinmi?

The scallops at Sanhaejinmi are really good too! Topped with the corn cheese served as standard!

Giant scallops, confirmed.👍🏻 The meat is about the size of a soju glass.

They refilled the scallops too. You get 6 at a time.

Where do you cook the dessert ramyeon?

Of course we have to eat ramyeon for dessert🍜

The ramyeon pot at Sanhaejinmi isn't induction-compatible, so don't boil it on the induction burner!❌ We boiled it on the gas burner and then moved it, haha. The table behind me cooked their ramyeon on the naengsam grill plate. Clever folks👍🏻

Is Sanhaejinmi in Oido worth going back to?

Last, another eel refill lol. A whole one was too much, so I asked for just half. Sanhaejinmi is new so the place is super clean, and I was surprised by the food quality. The eel especially is the best..I'm smitten..

The view is great too. Recommending Sanhaejinmi, an Oido eel spot!✨