Cheongju eel restaurant for DIY eel sushi: Samhwa Susan

A day of charcoal-grilled eel in Nami-myeon, Cheongju

I visited Samhwa Susan (삼화수산), an eel restaurant in Cheongju where you can grill thick, mild eel to a golden finish over charcoal! It would be great not only for a family meal, but also for a gathering or work dinner in Cheongju—or even a date in a comfortable space.

Is parking easy?

There is a dedicated parking area right in front of the restaurant, so it is really convenient to visit by car! The lot is spacious and easy to pull into, and even if several cars arrive at once for a work dinner or gathering, you can park without worry.

Samhwa Susan exterior and interior atmosphere

The exterior is clean and generously sized, so it stands out even from a distance! Its prominent sign makes it easy to find, while the broad frontage gives it the comfortable, professional feel of a proper eel restaurant.

Once inside, the wide-open dining hall immediately catches your eye! There is plenty of space between seats and lots of tables, making it ideal for Cheongju work dinners or family gatherings. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable, so it is also a perfect stop on a Cheongju date! The self-service bar was neatly organized too, which made it easy to help ourselves to side dishes, vegetables, and seasonings without feeling self-conscious.

The 1 kg eel and table-setting menu

• Eel (1 kg): ₩50,000
• Table setting (per person): ₩4,000
• Sushi rice: ₩2,000
• Steamed rice: ₩1,000
• Clam soup: ₩1,000
• Self-service ramen: ₩4,000
• What I ordered: eel (1 kg), table setting (for 2)

The basic table setting served with the eel

Once you sit down, a neat spread of basic sides that go beautifully with eel arrives! There are shredded ginger, an essential with grilled eel, special teriyaki sauce, pickled perilla leaves, aged kimchi, pickled onions, garlic, and ssamjang (savory soybean dipping paste). Fresh lettuce and perilla leaves, dressed chives, and fresh kimchi are added too!

Seasoned rice for making eel sushi comes with the meal!

A cool, clear clam soup is also served as a basic accompaniment, making the spread feel especially generous and complete!

How to enjoy charcoal-grilled eel and eel sushi

The cleaned eel arrives with pale, thick flesh that looks wonderfully fresh at a glance!

Place it on the charcoal grill and cook it until golden, and its rich, nutty aroma rises right up!

It has a crisp exterior and tender interior, with a mild, deep flavor and none of the unpleasant fishiness!

Dip the nicely grilled eel in the special sauce and eat it with shredded ginger—the flavors come together so cleanly!

Best of all, it is a special treat to top the seasoned sushi rice with eel, punchy garlic, and sauce to make eel sushi!

Make a big ssam (leaf wrap) with fresh perilla leaves and lettuce, dressed chives, ginger, garlic, and ssamjang, and the eel’s nuttiness pairs beautifully with the fresh vegetables! Add the cool clam soup, and this Cheongju punggyeon-eel specialist lets you enjoy every last bite without it ever feeling rich or heavy.