Jijok-dong, Daejeon eel buffet a bone-wary kid enjoyed: Songrimbok

Parking at Songrimbok: lot out front and mechanical parking

We visited Songrimbok Jangeo (송림복장어), a well-known eating spot in Jijok-dong, Daejeon. Parking is always my first worry when going to an eel restaurant, but not here. There's a lot right in front of the shop and mechanical parking in the building, so there was little circling around for a space. Even at busy times you can park in the alley below, so it's an easy place to reach by car for families or group dinners. We didn't waste any time parking, which put us at ease from the start.

Is the Jijok-dong eel restaurant spacious and clean?

The first thing I noticed when we walked in was how big it is. The tables are nicely spaced, so you don't feel self-conscious bringing kids, and it would suit a big company dinner too. We arrived before 6pm and a few tables were already taken. Maybe because it hasn't been open long, the whole place was clean, and the staff were all friendly, so we started the meal in a good mood. On one side they sell an eel extract called "Hwalryeok Booster" (활력부스터, "vitality booster"). It's so hot these days and my energy was at rock bottom, so I seriously considered taking a box home.

What's on the all-you-can-eat self-bar

Songrimbok is an all-you-can-eat place, so the self-bar is well stocked. There are wrap vegetables like lettuce and perilla leaves, plus garlic, chili peppers, ginger, pickled onions, green onion kimchi, ssamjang (dipping paste) and all kinds of sauces, so you can pair things however you like. And most importantly, the eel, pork belly and marinated meat are laid out so you can take as much as you want and grill it yourself. The first table setting comes with eel, pork belly and marinated meat together, so kids who still find eel difficult can fill up on pork belly. That made it low-pressure for a family.

The price is ₩29,900 per adult and ₩14,000 per elementary-school child, plus a ₩3,000 per person table setting fee (children excluded). For all-you-can-eat, that felt fair. Extra side dishes are help-yourself at the self-bar, and there are also meals like eel soup, galbi soup and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) for ₩10,000 each, buckwheat cold noodles for ₩9,000 and spicy ramyeon for ₩5,000, which are nice to finish with.

How good is the all-you-can-eat eel?

Honestly, you don't expect much from an all-you-can-eat place, right? But the eel here was really hearty. My husband, who loves eel, tried one piece and said this place is good, and he was very satisfied. I wasn't much of an eel person originally, but after going around to eel restaurants with my husband I somehow came to like it, and that day the chewy texture went down quite well. The funny part was my eldest, who normally hates the texture of the small bones and only eats noodles at other eel restaurants. That day, just like me, the eldest said the texture was chewy and delicious and ate it well. As a parent, just watching the kid eat well made me happy all evening. Among the side dishes, my husband liked the green onion kimchi, and I kept reaching for the pickled onions, which suited my taste.

Service and a café nearby

They gave us a bottle of bokbunja wine as a freebie. I'm not sure whether they give it to every customer, but my husband, who likes a drink, and our company were already mixing it with soju and having a glass before I could even take a photo.

My husband looked so happy, saying the drink goes down so easily with a stamina dish as the snack. I don't drink so I don't know that feeling, but just watching him made the mood great. (Whether alcohol is offered as a freebie may vary depending on the restaurant.) After the meal we stopped by a bakery café nearby called Kkudeubaeng (꾸드뱅) to pick up a cake we had ordered ahead. With a good restaurant and a café so close together, I thought Jijok-dong is a really nice neighborhood to live in.

Is Songrimbok worth it for a family dinner?

Songrimbok was an easy-parking, spacious, clean spot in Jijok-dong, Daejeon, well suited to family dinners or group meals. Even as all-you-can-eat, the quality was good and we were very satisfied, and I especially liked that kids can enjoy pork belly while adults have their stamina food, each to their own taste. Groups and reservations are possible, so it's easy to plan a gathering; if you have a large party, I recommend reserving ahead.

Songrimbok location, hours and info

• Name: Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store (송림복장어 민물장어 무한리필 대전직영점)
• Address: 60 Jijokbuk-ro 66beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea (1F, Units 106 and 107)
• Hours: Daily 11:50 ~ 23:00
• Amenities: Groups welcome · takeout · reservations · Wi-Fi · parking (in front / building mechanical / alley)
• Getting there: About 10 minutes on foot from Jijok Station on Daejeon Metro Line 1, 913m from Banseok Station Exit 2; by car, set your navigation to "Jijokbuk-ro 66beon-gil 60"

Songrimbok eel buffet prices

• All-you-can-eat: adult ₩29,900 / child (elementary school) ₩14,000 / table setting fee ₩3,000 (children excluded)
• Meals: eel soup, galbi soup and yukgaejang ₩10,000 each, buckwheat cold noodles ₩9,000, spicy ramyeon ₩5,000
• Drinks: bokbunja (Sejong ₩9,000, Bohae ₩15,000), Cheongha ₩6,000, soju and beer ₩5,000, soft drinks ₩2,000
• Takeout ₩35,000 (650g after trimming 1kg, 2 sauces free / ginger ₩1,000)