Eel buffet for a family of three in Jijok-dong, Daejeon: Songrimbok

My husband, my daughter and I recently had a special meal out for the first time in a while. The whole family was happy with it, so I really wanted to share it: Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store (송림복장어 민물장어무한리필 대전직영점).

I've lived in Daejeon and tried a few eel places, so I'm almost sad that I only found such a satisfying one now. When I heard "all-you-can-eat," I was a little worried about the eel quality at first, but once I tasted it, there was no need to worry at all!

From the eel to the side dishes, everything was good, so let me walk you through it :)

Location and opening hours

• ☑️ Address: 60 Jijokbuk-ro 66beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon (1F, Units 106 and 107), Songrimbok
• ☑️ Hours: 11:50 - 23:00, open every day
• ☑️ Dedicated parking lot available

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

At Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store, all-you-can-eat is ₩29,900 for adults and ₩14,000 for elementary school children. The table setting fee is ₩3,000 per person, children excluded.

• Adult all-you-can-eat: freshwater eel, plus unlimited whole pork belly, premium duck and chicken neck, ₩29,900
• Child (elementary school) all-you-can-eat: freshwater eel, plus unlimited whole pork belly and premium duck neck, ₩14,000
• Table setting fee (children excluded): ₩3,000 per person

How was the quality of the all-you-can-eat eel?

To be honest, I was a bit worried at first because it was all-you-can-eat. With unlimited eel you assume there's plenty of it, but you wonder if the quality might slip, right?

But once I visited, I completely changed my mind. The eel was in great condition from the start, and I couldn't smell any fishiness at all.

It was plump and had a good texture, easily holding its own against eel at a regular eel specialty restaurant. The quality was so good that the "all-you-can-eat" label hardly seemed to fit, and I was happy through the whole meal.

The restaurant is in Jijok-dong. It's nice for families with kids like ours, and fine for bigger groups too.

Not just eel: pork belly and duck neck too

At Songrimbok, it isn't only the eel that's unlimited. Grilled whole pork belly and duck (or chicken) neck are included in the all-you-can-eat too. That's great for families with different tastes.

My daughter doesn't eat much eel yet, so she could enjoy the other dishes without any pressure. With meat on the menu too, it works for a family meal and seems like a good fit for gatherings of many people.

The well-grilled eel was savory outside and tender inside. Some people hesitate because of eel's distinctive smell, but this eel had almost no fishy scent, so I think anyone could eat it comfortably.

Finishing with bokbunja wine and eel soup

I had to drive, so sadly I ordered a cold cider (sparkling soda) instead of alcohol. But my husband said eel can't go without a drink and ordered bokbunja wine (Korean black raspberry wine).

The combination of eel and bokbunja wine went together better than I expected. A bite of savory eel with a sip of bokbunja wine felt like a proper dinner out.

To finish, we also ordered eel soup. After eating eel, a warm soup made it a hearty way to end the meal.

The rich, savory broth with rice was satisfying right to the end. Best of all, the staff were friendly, and you can easily order more of whatever you run out of.

Why it suits everything from family dinners to company gatherings

With all-you-can-eat places, people sometimes worry about food handling and service, but Songrimbok felt clean and well kept overall.

I thought it works for many occasions: when your family wants to eat until full, when dining with parents, or even for a company dinner with a big group.

Eel prices are steep at many places these days, so the biggest plus was being able to eat as much good-quality eel as you like. If you've lived in Daejeon for a long time like me and still didn't know about it, it's worth a visit.

This visit felt like discovering a new place for family meals, and we were so happy I wondered why I hadn't found it sooner. I recommend it to eel lovers and to anyone who also wants meat dishes.

If you're looking for a good place for a company dinner in Daejeon, it seems a decent choice, from family meals to group gatherings.

If you're after all-you-can-eat eel in Jijok-dong in particular, do visit Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store. Thanks to the varied menu and good eel quality, we had a satisfying meal. It's a Yuseong restaurant I want to remember : )