Gwangyang eel restaurant: pick and grill your own at Deokeun Jangeo

I wanted to properly eat eel while in Gwangyang, so my girlfriend and I went to Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch.

I like eel, but when two people go out to eat it, the price is always on your mind. We ended up eating well at a fair price, so here's my review!!

Once we got there, I was surprised by the size of the eel right away, and grilling it ourselves over charcoal was great too, but what stood out most was the view from the window — better than I expected, and the kind of spot that would work well for bringing your parents or a family meal. Definitely a solid eel spot in Gwangyang.

Where Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is and what to know first

• 📍 101 Hangman 9-ro, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do
• 🚗 Parking available
• 🔥 Charcoal-grilled eel
• 🥢 Self-serve side bar
• 💙 Eel available for takeout

Lunch at Deokeun Jangeo: 10% off eel

When I visited, the first thing that caught my eye was the sign for the 10% lunch discount on eel. Since eel is already a pricier dish, being able to visit during lunch and get that discount was a nice bonus.

So if you're looking for a good lunch spot for eel in Gwangyang, it's worth checking whether the lunch discount is running.

Choosing your own eel from the display case

At Deokeun Jangeo, the eel is displayed so you can pick out which one you'll eat. According to the store signage, they use 100% domestic Japonica species river eel.

Eel can feel quite different depending on thickness and size, so I liked being able to choose based on what I actually saw.

More than anything, when we got our eel, we both said the exact same thing at the same time.

It's seriously huge…

The grill plate is fairly large, but once one eel went on, it was nearly full. Photos alone might not give you a sense of scale, so I took a shot next to my hand for comparison — and my hands aren't especially small, so you can really tell how big the eel is.

I prefer thick, meaty eel over thin, small ones, so I was already looking forward to it before it even hit the grill.

Inside Deokeun Jangeo and the sea view from the window seats

The dining space was bigger than I expected. The tables weren't cramped, and there were plenty of seats good for groups, so it works well for a two-person meal but would also suit bringing your parents, a family dinner, or a company gathering.

And from the window seats, you can see the sea and a bridge like this. Honestly, I didn't go there expecting a view on top of the eel. Sitting by the window with the water right there gave it a much more open feeling than a typical eel restaurant. If you're looking for a good eel spot in Jungma-dong and care about atmosphere or a place for a family meal, this could be a plus for you too.

What the self-serve bar includes

There's a self-serve bar set up on one side of the restaurant. Everything from lettuce wraps to kimchi, pickles, garlic, ginger, and various sauces was available, so we could grab as much as we wanted while eating without running out of side dishes.

When eating eel, you tend to keep reaching for ginger, sauce, or lettuce wraps, and it was nice not having to call a staff member every time. There were also side dishes that cut through the richness of the eel, so it stayed enjoyable all the way through without getting heavy.

How to grill eel over charcoal, step by step

Charcoal is brought to the table and you grill the eel yourself.

Unlike beef, where you can just flip it back and forth, the order matters quite a bit with eel. The method was clearly written on the wall, so it wasn't hard to follow along.

• Place skin-side down on the grill first
• After about 30 seconds, lift it slightly
• Once the skin turns golden, flip and grill the flesh side
• Cut into pieces and stand them up to finish

At first I wasn't sure how to grill such a huge piece of eel, but cutting it into smaller pieces and standing them up let the surface brown evenly all over. That's when the smell started getting really good.

How the thick charcoal-grilled eel tasted

I picked up a nicely browned piece of eel. The outside had a slight crisp to it while the inside was moist, and the flesh was quite thick. Thin eel tends to dry out quickly once grilled, but here each piece was substantial enough that biting into it really gave that full, meaty feel.

It was good even with just a little salt, but I still liked it best dipped in the eel sauce. Dipping it generously in the slightly sweet sauce with a bit of ginger on the side cut through the richness and kept me coming back for more.

My girlfriend and I both said, this is pretty good for the price and thickness. From the size of the eel to the actual texture when eating it, it was more satisfying than we expected.

Is Deokeun Jangeo good for family meals and parents?

Deokeun Jangeo felt less like a typical spot for eel with drinks in the evening, and more like a place that works well for lunch or a family meal. At the time of my visit, they also had the 10% lunch discount on eel running.

The restaurant itself is spacious, so it wouldn't feel cramped bringing your parents along. With parking available, a roomy dining space, and a sea view from the window, it's worth putting on your shortlist if you're looking for a place to take your parents in Gwangyang.

Takeout prices for eel soup and eel tteokgalbi

You're not limited to eating in — eel-related menu items are available for takeout too. As of my visit, eel soup was ₩9,000 for 1 pack and ₩26,000 for 3 packs, and eel tteokgalbi (grilled patties) was ₩3,500 for 1 piece and ₩10,000 for 3 pieces.

Pre-grilled eel is also available to take home, so if you want to eat eel at home, takeout is an option. Prices and offerings may change over time, so double-check when you go.

Final verdict on Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch for two

Visiting Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch with my girlfriend, the six things that stuck with me were: the size of the eel, the thick texture, the charcoal grilling, the self-serve bar, the spacious dining room, and the sea view from the window.

In particular, the eel was bigger and thicker than I expected, and even after grilling it hard over charcoal, the inside stayed moist, which I really liked. It's a good spot to visit in Gwangyang when you're craving something a bit more filling and nourishing than the usual grilled meat or raw fish, and it would suit anyone looking for a place to take their parents or a spot to eat eel in Jungma-dong.

If you're visiting during lunch, make sure to check whether the 10% discount is running. If you're looking for a good eel restaurant in Gwangyang, Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is worth checking out for the size of the eel alone :)