Eel BBQ refills in Cheongna the Friday before Jungbok: Songrimbok

Why I went for grilled eel in Cheongna the day before Jungbok

It was the Friday evening before Jungbok (one of the hottest days of summer, when Koreans eat stamina food). I was wondering what would be good for the occasion, and ended up at Songrimbok Jangeo's Cheongna Direct Branch for grilled eel.

This unlimited freshwater eel spot in Cheongna is known as a go-to place near Cheongna Lake Park. I wanted eel and I also wanted meat, so it was exactly my kind of place, haha.

If you love eel, this is a place you should visit, so let me walk you through it in detail.

Where is Songrimbok Cheongna, and what about parking?

The Cheongna Direct Branch is at 78 Cheongna Keuriseutal-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, on the 1st floor of Elim Art Center, and it is open daily from 11:50 to 23:00. You can use the building's basement parking, and you get 2 hours of free parking after your meal.

It is close to Cheongna Lake Park, so it is easy to get to and parking was convenient. It is also a good spot for a walk in the park plus a meal.

When eating out in Cheongna, awkward parking can make you hesitate to come back, but you can visit Songrimbok without that worry.

The atmosphere on a Friday evening

When I visited on Friday evening, the restaurant was already full. It was a weekday evening and still really crowded, but the staff cleared tables quickly, so I didn't wait long.

There were lots of families and I also saw office group dinners, so it seems many people come here as their Cheongna all-you-can-eat pick. The place was spacious and the tables were big, so there was no discomfort while eating, haha.

Is the all-you-can-eat eel in good condition?

Songrimbok says it uses eel prepared fresh every day. The restaurant had a notice saying the eel is hand-prepared daily, along with a notice about being certified as a partner supplier of the fisheries cooperative (Suhyup).

I think the actual food matters more than wording like this, and when I saw the first eel I was served, it looked fresh and I trusted it. I had worried that the eel might be disappointing because it was all-you-can-eat, but the first impression passes!

Songrimbok prices and the unlimited menu

The price at Songrimbok Cheongna is ₩29,900 per adult. It isn't only eel: Korean freshwater eel, pork belly and duck neck are all unlimited.

At first I thought the price was a bit high, but with pork belly and duck unlimited as well as eel, by the end I felt it was actually great value. Another plus is that instead of eating only eel, you can grill some pork belly or duck in between.

A tidy self-serve bar

The self-serve bar had eel, pork belly and duck neck, and the wrap vegetables, mushrooms and side dishes were kept well stocked. At all-you-can-eat places the upkeep of the self-serve bar matters, and overall it was kept clean.

Better than expected from the first plate

The first eel I brought back had more flesh than I expected. I had expected thin eel for an all-you-can-eat place, but it was hefty and looked fresh in color.

Pork belly and duck neck came along too, and the table looked hearty just to look at. I thought, this is going to be a proper meal.

Basic side dishes that go well with eel

Songrimbok's basic side dishes are shredded ginger, white kimchi, kimchi, pickles, garlic and more, and they go well with eel. If you run out, you can help yourself at the self-serve bar.

Shredded ginger is a must with eel, right? Eating it with the rich eel cut the greasiness, so I never got tired of it.

How does the charcoal-grilled eel taste?

At Songrimbok, part of the fun is grilling the eel yourself over charcoal. I found the texture is best when you don't overcook it, just until the outside turns golden.

The eel was plump, so it was nicely chewy, and I hardly noticed any fishy smell. Even with just a light sprinkle of salt it was plenty tasty, and with shredded ginger it felt even cleaner.

In the end I got a second round of eel, haha.

You'll see it in a bit, but... yes... I brought back more pork belly too, haha.

Pork belly and duck neck too: land, sea and sky on one table

After I had enough eel, I grilled pork belly and duck neck as well. Thick pork belly grilled together with mushrooms felt much more generous.

The duck neck was mild yet had a lively, crunchy, chewy texture.

I had planned to eat only eel, but the meat was good enough that I even went back for more pork belly. Eel, pork belly and duck all in one place, it's like land, sea and sky gathered together, haha.

The best bite: the eel wrap combo

I put eel on a perilla leaf, topped it with shredded ginger and pickled onion, and took a bite. Personally it was the tastiest combination. The richness of the eel goes really well with the sharp bite of the ginger.

Is Songrimbok Cheongna worth going back to?

I went for eel and was so satisfied that I added pork belly too. For anyone looking for an eel place in Cheongna, the biggest plus is being able to eat eel without worrying about the bill,

and being able to eat pork belly and duck neck as well gave plenty of choice. I could see why it was so crowded.

If you want a restorative meal and are looking for an eel restaurant in Cheongna, I think you'll be satisfied if you stop by Songrimbok Jangeo's Cheongna Direct Branch.