Daejeon eel buffet grilled by a 7-year eel chef husband: Songrimbok

Songrimbok in Jijok-dong, Daejeon: all-you-can-eat freshwater eel for two

Today I visited Songrimbok Jangeo Daejeon Jijok branch, located in Jijok-dong. It's a place where you can eat unlimited freshwater eel, pork belly, and chicken neck, so my husband and I went together for a bit of stamina food. The dining room is spacious enough to grill and eat whatever you like, so I think I'll be adding it to my list of Yuseong, Daejeon restaurants to revisit often.

Actually, my family has run eel restaurants for over twenty years, and my husband personally managed one for about seven years. So he's a real pro at grilling eel. He has a feel for fire control and flipping timing down to a science, so all I have to do is sit next to him and eat comfortably. He grilled it himself today too, and you could really tell the difference in skill.

I couldn't help but show off a little haha.

Inside and out: the green sign and standing tables at Songrimbok

The restaurant was easy to find thanks to the bright green sign out front. Inside, the space was much bigger than I expected, and copper ventilation pipes hanging from the ceiling above each table gave it an industrial feel. The window-side seats had a view outside and good natural light, so the atmosphere was bright even during the day.

The tables were spaced generously, so we could eat comfortably without worrying about the next table over, and since they're standing tables rather than floor seating, sitting for a long time wasn't tiring at all. Among Yuseong, Daejeon restaurants, a space this roomy is pretty rare.

How is the freshwater eel served?

At Songrimbok Jangeo Daejeon Jijok branch, the eel, pork belly, and chicken neck all come out together on one plate. The eel arrives already cleaned, with a thick skin side and firm meat. As soon as my husband put it on the grill, his hands were already moving. He grills the skin side crispy first, then flips it to cook the flesh evenly — and you can really tell the difference between someone experienced at this and someone who isn't.

Eating it alongside the shredded ginger (생강채) served on the side made the eel's natural richness taste noticeably cleaner. Dipping it lightly in the special sauce was also good — it was salty with a savory depth that didn't overpower the eel's own flavor. Watching my husband grill eel with his own hands, I found myself saying, without even meaning to, that he'd grilled it well.

Pork belly and chicken neck are unlimited too

Eating only eel can get repetitive, but having pork belly and chicken neck alongside it made it easy to switch between them. The pork belly was cut thick, giving it a good chew, while the chicken neck was cut into bite-sized pieces, making it easy to grill and eat. Putting a piece of eel and a piece of meat on a lettuce leaf with sliced onion and sauce and eating it as a wrap made for a really filling meal.

The chicken neck in particular was tender and juicy, so I think even kids would eat it well. For anyone looking for restaurants in Yuseong, Daejeon, being able to enjoy several kinds of meat at once like this is a big draw.

Complimentary Sejong bokbunja wine

As we were eating, a staff member brought us a complimentary serving of Sejong bokbunja wine. It paired really well with grilled eel and meat. It's a sweet drink with a lingering, subtle aroma, so we shared it casually, glass by glass. Thoughtful touches like this made the meal even more enjoyable.

Finishing with spicy ramyeon

After filling up on eel and meat, we ordered spicy ramyeon (얼큰라면) to finish. They boil the noodles in a pot of broth set beside the grill, and the spicy broth felt like it cut right through all the richness we'd eaten. The noodles cooked up perfectly springy too, and we finished the broth down to the last drop.

Is Songrimbok worth it? Final verdict

This was a place where we could comfortably grill and eat eel and meat in a spacious dining room. It tasted even better knowing my husband grilled it himself with his years of experience. I think I'll be thinking of it again as one of my go-to Yuseong, Daejeon restaurants.

Songrimbok in Jijok-dong, Daejeon: location, hours and parking

• Location: Songrimbok Jangeo, 60 Jijok-bukro 66beon-gil, 1st floor, Units 106-107, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
• Hours: 11:50 AM – 11:00 PM
• Parking: Private parking available