Ansan Korean restaurant with unlimited eel: Songnim Bok Jangeo

For boknal, I went with my companion to Songnim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill, Sadong Branch (송림복장어 민물장어 무한리필 사동점) for eel. In addition to eel, the all-you-can-eat selection included chicken neck meat and pork belly. This meal was discounted.

How were parking and Friday evening seating?

The restaurant is on the first floor at 61 Chodang-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. There was space for a few cars directly in front, but it was not especially spacious. I was concerned because it was Friday evening, but there was an open space when I visited.

Inside, the restaurant was full. Because I had reserved ahead, I was seated right away, and I felt it would have been difficult to get a table that day without a reservation. It was generally clean and lively, with enough room between tables to dine comfortably. Each table also had ventilation equipment.

What is included in the unlimited refill, and how long can you stay?

I could have unlimited eel, chicken neck meat, and pork belly together. It also gave my companion, who cannot eat much eel, other options to choose from.

The all-you-can-eat time limit was two hours. Leftovers could not be packed to go, so it was best to take only as much as I could eat.

There was also a notice that a ₩5,000 environmental fee would be charged for leftovers. Rather than taking a lot at once, I added small portions as I ate.

How do the first serving and self-service bar work?

Once seated, I was served basic side dishes including kimchi and pickled vegetables. They went well with the eel and meat.

At first, eel, chicken neck meat, and pork belly arrived together on one platter. I chose what I wanted from the three and put it on the grill.

For additional items, I helped myself at the self-service bar. Eel, meats, and various side dishes were available, along with rice and soup. I took small portions of what I wanted, grilled them, and had rice alongside.

That day, the owner gave me a bottle of bokbunja ju (Korean black raspberry wine) to have with the meal.

How did the eel, pork belly, and chicken neck meat taste?

I started by putting the whole eel on the grill. As it browned, it gave off a nutty aroma.

I ate the cooked eel with shredded ginger and sauce. The eel itself was mild and nutty, while the sweet sauce deepened the flavor. The sharp shredded ginger helped cut through the richness.

I grilled the pork belly until golden and ate it on ssam vegetables. The juicy meat and crisp vegetables worked well together, making it easy to eat cleanly.

The chicken neck meat was chewy yet tender. It had a mild, nutty flavor with a subtle grilled aroma, and it was not overly fatty, so I kept reaching for it.

Being able to alternate eel with pork belly and chicken neck meat made this a filling boknal meal. I was happy to be able to add more of the items I wanted, and the discounted price made the meal feel less burdensome.