Eel buffet parking guide in Anrak-dong, Busan: Songnim Bok Jangeo

My husband and I have both been feeling a bit run down lately, so I went looking for something hearty to build us back up — and that's how I found this place. Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel, Busan Dongnae Branch, a new spot in Anrak-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan, where you can eat as much fresh freshwater eel, pork belly and duck as you want without any guilt.

Just the two of us went, and we absolutely demolished thick domestic freshwater eel, pork belly, duck, and a free glass of bokbunja wine on the house. Here's my honest review!

Where to park at Songnim Bok Jangeo in Anrak-dong: a paid lot 3 minutes on foot

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel, Busan Dongnae Branch sits at 146 Myeongjang-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan, right in the Anrak-dong commercial area, so it's easy to find. There's no dedicated parking lot for the restaurant itself, so if you're driving, you'll need to use a paid lot nearby.

It's a great spot for locals or families in the area to come get a hearty meal. Finding parking nearby can be a bit of a maze, but we managed to track down a hidden lot just 3 minutes' walk from the restaurant!

If you search for the NongHyup Bank Chungnyeol branch parking lot or Big Sale Mart in your navigation app and head into the alley, you'll find a spacious lot.

Since it was near closing time for the lot, we prepaid ₩6,000 for 1.5 hours upfront — which works out to about ₩2,000 per 30 minutes. If you're driving, this parking tip should come in handy.

Inside Songnim Bok Jangeo: a ventilation hood over every table

Walking into Songnim Bok's Dongnae branch, the whole place was clean and well-kept, which made a great first impression right away. The staff greeted us really warmly too.

Even though we came for a weekday lunch, there were quite a few other diners already eating. It has a bit of an outdoor-tent feel, but the interior was so clean and comfortable that my husband and I could eat happily.

The tables come in various sizes, from small seats to group tables, so it looked easy to find seating for any party size. What I really loved was that every single table had its own ventilation system, so grilling eel and meat over charcoal didn't come with any worries about smoke or lingering smells.

Menu and prices: Korean eel buffet at 29,900 won per person

The menu is built around domestic freshwater eel, with a solid all-you-can-eat course.

• Domestic eel buffet: ₩29,900 per adult (plus ₩3,000 setup fee per person / 2-hour time limit)
• Meal items: eel soup, yukgaejang (spicy beef soup), buckwheat noodles, spicy ramen, and more

Once you place your order, the first round comes out as a nicely arranged small plate of thick domestic eel — prepped fresh every morning, they said — along with pork belly and duck. You taste this first, then help yourself to more meat freely from the self-serve corner if you want it.

And here's the really amazing part — they give you a free bokbunja wine worth ₩9,000 just for visiting! My husband, who loves a drink, practically lit up when he saw it. With side dishes this good, there was no way we weren't pairing eel with a glass of bokbunja.

How the food tastes: thick freshwater eel, pork belly and duck neck

When the charcoal came out and the eel was laid on top, I honestly hadn't expected much since it's an all-you-can-eat place. But the eel pieces were huge and thick, with a color that stood out from the start. I asked, and apparently they only use eel that's been prepped fresh that same morning.

I took a bite of the eel once it was golden brown, and the charcoal aroma had really soaked in — crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside.

It had barely any fishy smell and tasted fresh — great dipped in teriyaki sauce, and it went down smoothly paired with fragrant pickled perilla leaves or sharp shredded ginger too.

We also grilled the pork belly that came out, and it was surprisingly savory. Wrapping the pork belly in green onion kimchi or white kimchi turned out to be a hidden delicacy, so we ended up grilling almost as much pork belly as eel that day.

The domestic duck neck meat had a light pepper seasoning, and grilling it over charcoal brought out a subtle smoky aroma while staying soft and clean-tasting. Dipping the duck in the eel sauce was an unusual but delicious combination too.

Being able to enjoy eel, pork, and duck all in one sitting meant my husband and I could each pick whatever we were craving — it was perfect.

Writing a Naver receipt review let us choose between ramen or a drink, and we went with the ramen — it made for a really satisfying finish to the meal!

Is Songnim Bok Jangeo worth it for a couple's lunch in Anrak-dong?

From the hidden parking lot 3 minutes away, to the well-ventilated and comfortable dining space, to the free ₩9,000 bokbunja wine and the solid self-serve bar — thanks to the thick, fresh-prepped, no-fishy-smell eel paired with pork belly and duck, my husband and I left completely stuffed and well fed.

If you're around Anrak-dong in Dongnae-gu and want to eat your fill of eel and meat at a great price, definitely check out Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel, Busan Dongnae Branch, a go-to spot in Anrak-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan!