# Eel bowl restaurant in Yeoksam with unlimited rice refills: Chisot

- By Sumin J. (https://superchart.com/en/@cups-plates-seoul/)
- Written Sep 14, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored visit to the restaurant.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@cups-plates-seoul/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@cups-plates-seoul/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/index.md)

## In short

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl (hitsumabushi) restaurant a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Dining solo at a two-person table, the writer ate the hitsumabushi in the classic three stages — eel on its own, mixed with toppings, then as ochazuke — and finished comfortably full, since rice and ochazuke broth at Chisot come with unlimited refills. Unlike the usual eel that falls apart softly, the eel here is springy and chewy like pufferfish sashimi, and that texture is the verdict.

## Good to know

- **Address**: 59 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor (5-minute walk from Yeoksam Station Exit 7, near Eonju Station)
- **Hours**: 11:00–21:30 (break 15:00–17:00, last order 21:00)
- **Closed**: Sundays and public holidays
- **Main menu**: Hitsumabushi (freshwater eel rice bowl)
- **Other menu items**: Salmon rice bowl (sakedon), unagi bento, kaisendon and more
- **Seating**: Open-kitchen bar counter and regular tables
- **Refills**: Unlimited rice and ochazuke broth
- **Good to know**: Takeout available

*as written by the visitor on Sep 14, 2026*

![Full hitsumabushi spread at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-01-1k9s3-1200.webp)

I've been really into eating alone lately. Not long ago I finished a whole bowl of pufferfish soup solo, and today it's a hitsumabushi solo dining review. And yep — finished this one too (?).

![Solo dining table setup for Nagoya-style eel rice bowl hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-02-hiq06-900.webp)

Eating alone so often, I realized one-bowl dishes are perfect for it. So today I tried Nagoya-style eel rice bowl, hitsumabushi, solo.

![Close-up of eel rice bowl at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-03-251zj-900.webp)

I love eel rice bowls so much I've hunted down a lot of eel spots in Seoul. Today's place, Chisot, had a reputation as a great Japanese restaurant near Yeoksam Station, and it really was delicious. I hadn't planned this visit at all — I was supposed to meet a friend at Centerfield but plans changed, so I went to eat solo instead. Maybe because it was unplanned, it tasted even better somehow.

![Hitsumabushi topped with charcoal-grilled eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-04-6ov65-900.webp)

After eating at Chisot this time, I genuinely met the best eel rice bowl of my life near Yeoksam Station. Why would anyone go to Japan??? Unlike the usual eel that melts apart softly, this one had a firm, chewy texture almost like eating pufferfish sashimi — that's what really moved me. Here's my honest solo dining review of Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch.

## Where is Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch, and what are the hours?

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is on the 1st floor at 59 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station. Hours are 11:00–21:30 with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. It's a great spot for Yeoksam-dong office workers or anyone in the Gangnam area looking for a solo dining or hearty nourishing meal.

![Exterior of Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch near Yeoksam Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-05-i5v5z-900.webp)

- Address: 59 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor (5-min walk from Yeoksam Station Exit 7 / near Eonju Station)
- Hours: 11:00 ~ 21:30 (break time 15:00 ~ 17:00 / last order 21:00)
- Regular closed days: Every Sunday and public holidays
- Parking/convenience: Takeout available, open-kitchen style bar table

## Inside Chisot: open kitchen, seating and menu

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant with an open-kitchen bar table where you can watch eel being grilled over binchotan charcoal. The main dish is hitsumabushi (freshwater eel rice bowl), with sides including salmon rice bowl (sakedon), unagi bento, kaisendon, and more.

![Open kitchen and bar table at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-06-bem9c-900.webp)

![Open kitchen grilling eel over binchotan charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-07-15la0-900.webp)

Walking in, the first thing you notice is the open-kitchen bar table where you can watch chefs grilling eel to a golden brown over binchotan charcoal. The bar seats are well set up, so it's totally fine as a solo dining spot near Yeoksam Station! But I proudly did not sit at the bar — I sat at a regular 2-person table haha. That's just where I'm comfortable hahaha.

![Regular 2-person table seating at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-08-q6v3r-900.webp)

- Main menu: Hitsumabushi (freshwater eel rice bowl)
- Side menu: Salmon rice bowl (sakedon), unagi bento, kaisendon, and more

![Menu board showing hitsumabushi and salmon rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-09-1ib9s-966.webp)

Eel rice bowl is the main event, but they also have great side salmon dishes for salmon lovers. Honestly, I wanted to order salmon too on top of the eel bowl, but held back so I wouldn't look like a pig.

## A whole eel: is it enough for one person?

Chisot's hitsumabushi comes with a whole eel on top, along with steamed egg (gyeranjjim) and clear soup. There's a lot of eel but comparatively little rice, so it's a portion an adult can absolutely finish solo. The moment my hitsumabushi arrived, a gentle charcoal aroma hit my nose.

![Hitsumabushi set served with steamed egg and clear soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-10-9eskk-966.webp)

Steamed egg and clear soup came along, so I took a bite of that first. How is it this soft...

![Rice bowl topped with a whole eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-11-ylkpa-900.webp)

Looking at the eel, it really was one whole eel laid on top. The portion is genuinely generous. But don't worry! It's a portion one adult can finish. Well, of course, I do eat quite a lot for an adult woman hahaha.

![Bowl of hitsumabushi with eel covering the rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-12-1t3dp-900.webp)

Why can you finish it all? Because there's a lot of eel but comparatively little rice. That's exactly what makes it finishable. There's just soooo much eel!!!!! But since rice is refilled unlimited, even people who eat more than me can still fill up plenty.

## How to eat hitsumabushi in three stages

At Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch, you divide the rice into four portions and enjoy it in order: eel alone, mixed with toppings, then ochazuke. Since the ochazuke broth and rice are refilled unlimited, you can go all the way through all 3 steps without any hesitation.

![Rice divided into four portions, the hitsumabushi eating method](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-13-15ah5-900.webp)

![Table set with ochazuke broth and toppings](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-14-1kg0p-900.webp)

As a proper eel rice bowl specialist, I tried the classic method of dividing the rice into four portions and combining it various ways. One of Chisot's biggest strengths is that the ochazuke broth and rice are unlimited refills! I could refill broth and rice without any hesitation and reach the final step-3 ochazuke feeling very full and satisfied.

![Rice soaked in tare sauce with eel on top](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-15-1ts7r-900.webp)

![Step 1 hitsumabushi with eel alone on rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-16-zbsqg-900.webp)

Tasting the original flavor: chewy eel alone placed on rice soaked in tare sauce, enjoying the pure charcoal aroma.

![Plate of green onion, seaweed flakes, and wasabi toppings](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-17-c64ne-900.webp)

![Step 2 eel rice bowl mixed with toppings](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-18-dwcbb-900.webp)

Mixing in toppings: adding green onion, seaweed flakes, and wasabi and mixing it all together (the sharp wasabi kick cutting through richness is my top pick combo!)

Making ochazuke: pouring in the warm ochazuke broth for a soft, clean finish, slurped down at the end.

## Chewy like pufferfish: the eel texture at Chisot

Unlike the usual eel rice bowl that melts apart softly in your mouth, Chisot's eel has a springy firmness like pufferfish sashimi. They say it's aged at low temperature for 72 hours, then grilled over binchotan charcoal to tighten up the moisture and fat.

![Step 3 eel rice bowl with ochazuke broth poured over](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-19-1ogfa-900.webp)

![Chopsticks lifting a piece of chewy eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel-20-1l7zt-900.webp)

The moment I took my first bite, I actually blurted out, "wait, eel can be this chewy?" Most eel rice bowls are soft and melt apart in your mouth, but Chisot's eel has that springy, dense bounce you feel biting into pufferfish sashimi. In terms of texture alone, this was hands down the best I've ever had! Genuinely, so, so good, T.T

- Taste & texture: Pufferfish-level chewiness, worlds apart from ordinary eel!
- Recommended for: Solo diners near Yeoksam Station, Japanese rice bowl enthusiasts, anyone seeking a hearty nourishing meal
- Would I return: 200% (next time I definitely want to try the side salmon rice bowl too)

If you want to try proper Japanese hitsumabushi in Yeoksam-dong, I strongly recommend Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch!

## Where it is

- Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch (치솟 역삼본점)
- 59 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor Unit 102, South Korea
- 서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로30길 59 지상1층 102호
- 37.5037272, 127.0367344
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%B9%98%EC%86%9F%20%EC%97%AD%EC%82%BC%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5037272,127.0367344,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@cups-plates-seoul/chisot-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-chewy-eel/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt