Yeouido eel restaurant with a 4-year-old: 3 eels at Daedong Jangeo

An eel dinner with my child after Han River Park: Daedong Jangeo Yeouido

Daedong Jangeo Yeouido (대동장어 여의도점) is an eel grill place I'd recommend in Yeouido for family gatherings or company dinners. The cool autumn breeze had just started, so we took our 4-year-old to Yeouido Han River Park, and then came the question: where should we eat dinner?? My child loves eel, so we headed to Daedong Jangeo Yeouido.

There are so many great restaurants in Yeouido, but this one won me over not only with the eel but also with the atmosphere and the attentive service. Every seat is a private room, so it was easy to eat with a child, and I could see it working well for hosting important guests or a team dinner too.

Where is Daedong Jangeo Yeouido, and how is the parking?

The restaurant is on the first floor of the Oakwood Yeouido Park Hotel building, and parking next to it is free for the first 60 minutes. The building is tidy and the restaurant is easy to spot, so first-time visitors shouldn't have trouble finding it. We booked through Naver before visiting.

• Address: 24 Gukhoe-daero 68-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st floor, Oakwood Yeouido Park Hotel)
• Reservations: Naver, Catch Table
• Parking: first 60 minutes free next to the restaurant

• Weekday hours: 11:00–22:00
• Weekday break time: 15:00–17:00
• Weekend hours: 11:30–22:00
• Last order: 21:00

How many eels for 3 adults and a 4-year-old?

What we ordered at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido this day was 3 freshwater eels, 2 bowls of rice and 2 yeolmu guksu (noodles in a young summer radish kimchi broth). Three adults and one 4-year-old shared it, and the amount was just right.

First, neatly arranged side dishes came out.

An appetite-whetting mukbap (acorn jelly in cold broth with rice) and a salad came too,

so the meal got off to a happy start even before the eel.

Plump freshwater eel, grilled for you by the staff

The freshwater eel here arrives pre-grilled, and a staff member cuts it into bite-size pieces and grills it for you. Soon the 3 pre-grilled eels arrived. They were big, but what I liked even more personally was how plump the flesh was.

With eel, how thick the meat is matters as much as size, right? It was grilled neatly to just the right doneness and cut into bite-size pieces, so we could eat comfortably. Not having to grill the eel yourself and lose focus on the meal is a huge plus~

Grilled scallions as good as a skewer joint's

The grilled daepa (large green onion) at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido was really impressive too.

When scallions are grilled well, their sweet juices come alive and the flavor improves, and here they were grilled moist and sweet. They tasted as good as the grilled scallions at a skewer specialist, and went great with the eel.

Best ways to eat the eel: ginger strips and the special sauce

The eel is delicious with just a light dip in salt,

and it also went well dipped in the special sauce or paired with kimchi. My favorite combination was ginger strips with the special sauce. The eel's signature richness stays, and the ginger aroma makes your mouth feel clean. Eel can get a little greasy as you go, but eating it this way kept it delicious to the end.

With the first bite the eel itself was good, but what struck me first was how well it had been grilled. The outside was slightly crisp, the inside chewy, and the rich flavor was alive.

Finishing with yeolmu guksu

The yeolmu guksu we had to finish was satisfying too. Its tangy, clean taste was great for refreshing the palate after the eel. After a hearty eel meal and a cool bowl of noodles, the meal ended on a happy note.

Why it's good with a baby: all-private rooms and children's tableware

Every seat at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido is a private room, and children's tableware is prepared separately, so eating with a baby was easy. The space itself pleased me as much as the eel this time.

Since every seat is a room, we could eat without worrying much about other guests' glances. When you eat out with a baby, you sometimes end up glancing around whenever the child moves or talks, right? In a private room it was much more relaxing.

They also prepared separate tableware for the baby, which made it easy to portion food out for my child. Our child likes eel and eats the salt-grilled kind well, and with staff grilling the eel, we could look after the child and still enjoy our own meal.

Coat closet and clean restrooms

Another thing I liked is that the rooms at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido have a closet where you can hang your outer layers. After eating grilled meat, the smell clinging to your clothes can be annoying. In the season when people start wearing coats, this quietly matters, right? I really appreciated the thoughtful touch of letting you store outerwear separately.

The restrooms were kept clean too, so the whole visit was pleasant. It felt like a place that's tidy not only in its food but also in its space and the way the meal flows.

Is it good for company dinners or hosting guests in Yeouido?

Personally, I felt Daedong Jangeo Yeouido suits not only family meals but also company dinners and hosting guests. Because staff grill the eel, your group can focus on conversation, and the private rooms give you a private atmosphere to spend time in.

After an important meeting or when hosting a valued guest, you care about the space and service as well as the food, right? In that sense, Daedong Jangeo gave me the impression of a place with a well-rounded overall atmosphere.

Staff looked after us attentively throughout the eel, so nobody in the group had to be busy grilling, and the mood of the meal stayed calm. I liked that.

Questions before visiting Daedong Jangeo Yeouido

Is it okay to visit with a baby?

Yes. When I visited Daedong Jangeo Yeouido, they prepared children's tableware separately and we could eat comfortably in the room. It's worth considering if you're looking for a place to eat in Yeouido with a child.

Is parking available?

Yes. According to the restaurant's information, the first 60 minutes of parking are free.

Is it suitable for company dinners or hosting guests in Yeouido?

Its strengths are the room-based layout and the staff grilling the eel. I think it suits groups who want a private meal, or anyone looking for a place to dine with an important guest.

Should I make a reservation?

We booked through Naver before visiting. If you plan to use a room or bring a large group, ask in advance about party size and conditions when you reserve.