Eel buffet in Jijok-dong, Daejeon for tired office workers: Songrimbok

I've been feeling run down lately and couldn't shake the tiredness, so I went looking for a stamina-boosting meal and ended up at Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store (송림복장어 민물장어 무한리필 대전직영점), an all-you-can-eat eel place in Yuseong, Daejeon. You get unlimited eel, pork belly and chicken/duck neck, so I went to eat a variety of meats to my heart's content. The eel quality was so good for an unlimited buffet that it genuinely surprised me, so here's my review today.

Where is Songrimbok's Daejeon Direct Store? Hours and parking

Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store is at 60 Jijokbuk-ro 66beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on the 1st floor, units 106 and 107. It's open daily from 11:50 to 23:00. I'll leave the menu photo below.

It's in the Jijok area, so it's quite easy to reach if you live in Yuseong. It's on the ground floor of the building, so it's easy to find, and there's a big parking lot in front, which makes it perfect if you're driving.

Songrimbok atmosphere and seating: are there rooms for work dinners?

This Yuseong restaurant was roomier and more pleasant than I expected. The tables are spaced generously, so we could eat comfortably.

The ventilation seems good, because the smell of meat and smoke clung to my clothes less than usual, and the grills at every table were kept clean, so it felt hygienic. There are separate rooms too, so it looks good for company dinners. I saw lots of families as well as groups of young friends. I guess many people come for summer stamina food!

Songrimbok all-you-can-eat eel price and how the buffet works

At Songrimbok's Daejeon Direct Store, it's ₩29,900 per adult, and that covers unlimited eel, pork belly and chicken/duck neck. Adults also pay an extra ₩3,000 table setting fee! Two of us went, and with the basic setup we tried a little each of the eel, pork belly and duck neck. After that, you just bring over whatever meat you want to eat, as much as you like.

A staff member did the first setup so we could start eating easily, and after that we kept refilling the side dishes and meat we wanted from the self-service bar and grilling them ourselves.

Meats and wrap vegetables at the Songrimbok self-service bar

The meats at the Songrimbok self-service bar were just as good, and they felt fresh, which I liked. Wrap vegetables like lettuce and perilla leaves, plus sides like garlic, ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste) and shredded ginger, were stocked generously at the bar, so I never felt short of anything.

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

The eel was definitely what I enjoyed most at Songrimbok. Eel at unlimited-refill places is usually small, or thin and dry, but Songrimbok's eel was thick and had just the right amount of fat, so every bite had a springy, bouncy texture.

How to grill eel so it has no fishy smell

Since it's fish it can smell fishy, so we were told to grill it until crisp, and when I grilled it well and took a bite, a nutty flavor spread with no fishiness at all. When you visit, I recommend keeping this in mind and grilling it thoroughly.

Saying it was fresh beyond what you'd expect from an unlimited buffet was no exaggeration. Especially when the eel is grilled to a light golden color and eaten with white kimchi, you can keep eating without getting sick of it.

What about the pork belly and duck neck? Best order to eat

The pork belly at Songrimbok was evenly thick and clean with no gamey smell, so it went down smoothly after the eel, and the duck neck kept its chewy texture, so it was fun to eat all three meats in turn. Personally I felt the eel was the best quality, so I'd recommend filling up on eel first and then finishing with pork belly or duck neck.

Who is Songrimbok's Daejeon eel buffet best for?

For the price, Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store was a really satisfying meal. I can recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy unlimited eel without worrying about the bill, and to people near Yuseong planning a different kind of company dinner or a hearty stamina meal with family. I plan to go back next time I need a stamina boost.