Hagye-dong eel restaurant: plain, salt, then sauce tasting, Cheonsanga
In short
Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch (천상애장어가 하계점) is a grilled eel restaurant in Hagye-dong, Nowon, Seoul, where staff grill domestic freshwater eel at your table. Two diners ordered the set for 3, which came with three large eels. They tasted the eel plain, then with salt, then with a sweet sauce, and also had dol-chobap (sushi rice for topping with eel), eoriguljeot (spicy salted oysters) and eel soup. The verdict: Cheonsanga Jangeoga's crispy-outside, tender-inside eel is worth a deliberate trip back to Nowon, even from far away.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Hagye Station Exit 2 · 9-min walk (store listing, Oct 6, 2026)
- What we ordered
- Set for 3 (ordered for 2 people)
- Set for 3 includes
- 3 large eels, dol-chobap (sushi rice for topping with eel), eoriguljeot (spicy salted oysters), doenjang stew (one earthenware pot per person), nurungji sungnyung (scorched rice tea)
- Side dishes
- Naengmyeon (cold noodles), pickled deodeok root, signature eel soup and more
- Drinks
- Beer and non-alcoholic beer available
- Grilling
- Staff grill the eel at your table
- Banchan (side dishes)
- Refills from the self-serve bar; origin of ingredients is displayed
- Eel origin
- Domestic freshwater eel from farms in the Jeolla region
- Address
- Unit 102, 1st floor, 67 Hangeulbiseok-ro 1-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul
as written by the visitor on Jun 11, 2026
What is Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch like?
Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch (천상애장어가 하계점) is a grilled eel restaurant in Hagye-dong, Nowon-gu, and the writer's favorite eel place. I tried the eel here a few months ago and was blown away, and after putting it off for ages, I finally came back!!
It's quite far from my home, so I have to make a real plan to go. The interior is clean and well ventilated. It's a great Nowon eel spot for group get-togethers.
Why order the set for 3 when there are only two of you?
There were only two of us, but we ordered the set for 3 at Cheonsanga Hagye Branch!! That's my ordering tip. The set for 3 comes with three large eels, dolsot sushi (sushi-style rice), salted oysters, doenjang stew and nurungji sungnyung (scorched rice tea).
There are also plenty of side menu options, such as cold noodles, deodeok (bellflower root) pickles and eel soup.
Who grills the eel at Cheonsanga, and how?
At Cheonsanga Hagye Branch, a staff member grills the eel with skilled hands, and it turns out incredibly delicious.
The eel is grilled as if it's being fried in its own oil. Crispy outside, juicy inside, so so good. Please, you have to try it!
One of Seoul's top 3 eel restaurants, a taste from heaven!!!!
The best order to eat grilled eel: plain, salt, sauce
Cheonsanga's eel is grilled, not deep-fried, but it tastes almost like fried eel. I ate it plain, then with salt, then with the sweet sauce.
- First, eat the eel without any sauce. Nutty, tender, juicy, and just unbelievably good.
- Next, dip it in salt. The nutty flavor feels maxed out.
- Then dip it in the sauce. A piece with sweet sauce and a strand of shredded ginger is so good.
They really picked the right name. It truly is a taste from heaven!!
Topping dolsot sushi with eel
The set also comes with dolsot sushi, rice shaped like sushi. Put a piece of eel, shredded ginger and a bit of wasabi on top and it's really, really good.
Does Cheonsanga Hagye Branch have non-alcoholic beer?
Yes, Cheonsanga Hagye Branch has non-alcoholic beer too. Eel needs a cold beer, and I was so happy they had a non-alcoholic one. You can enjoy a glass without worrying about your liver or driving. A cold sip alongside nutty eel is pure bliss.
How were the basic side dishes and the salted oysters?
Cheonsanga Hagye Branch serves neatly arranged basic side dishes: lettuce wraps, pickled chili, onion and perilla leaves, white kimchi and more. The doenjang stew also comes tidily, one earthenware pot per person.
My absolute favorite was the eoli-gul-jeot (salted oysters). Fresh oysters are served in a salty brine, and they're so ridiculously good that you have to ask for a refill at least once.
Strangely, a spoonful of plain rice and the rice you shape into sushi on the dolsot are the same rice, yet they taste different, haha. The eel dolsot sushi is way, way better.
Fresh lettuce wraps with a piece of fresh onion are delicious too. Vegetables are a must when eating protein, so I love that lettuce wraps come with it.
The staff also worked hard grilling our last eel. The oil was sizzling and it was so good. The tail was unbelievably tasty, ugh!!!!!! Yes, this is why I came all the way to Nowon Hagye!!
Finish with nurungji sungnyung, or the signature eel soup
The set for 3 at Cheonsanga Hagye Branch ends neatly with sungnyung (scorched rice tea), haha. If it feels like something's missing and you need to order a bit more, get the signature eel soup.
Strength rises through your body from your toes. Eel soup recommended.
The eel soup comes finely ground, nutty, thick and very tasty. It's the thick style, not a clear broth. It really feels restorative, like strength rising through your body from your toes.
Self-serve bar and origin labels
At Cheonsanga Hagye Branch, you can grab more side dishes from the self-serve bar. It has a nice variety and is kept clean, which I really liked.
I'm told the restaurant sources domestic freshwater eel from eel farms around the Jeolla region. It's a Nowon eel spot and a stamina-food spot.
They even label the origin of every side dish served, which makes me trust them a lot.
Where it is
1st floor, Unit 102, 67 Hangeulbiseok-ro 1-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 노원구 한글비석로1길 67 1층 102호
Cheonsangae Jangeoga Hagye: hours, menu and prices →
