Eel buffet near Cheongna Lake Park with a loyalty coupon: Jangsodam

What is Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch?

Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch (장소담 청라본점) is an all-you-can-eat eel and beef restaurant near Cheongna Lake Park. If you want to eat your fill of eel in Cheongna, this is the first place that comes to mind. It's known for great value: fresh eel and premium beef together in one buffet.

There's a parking lot inside the building, so it was easy to come by car, and the location is great for a walk around Cheongna Lake Park after the meal.

I'm told the name Jangsodam means eel and beef packed together. True to the name, the biggest draw is getting japonica freshwater eel and premium beef at the same time.

Jangsodam A Set price and time limit

The A Set is ₩39,000 per adult, ₩18,000 for elementary school students and ₩10,000 for preschoolers. The time limit is 120 minutes if you order eel or beef, and 100 minutes if you order pork. We ordered the signature A Set.

When you order eel, you also get steamed rice, drinks, special dishes and even Hangang ramyeon (instant noodles) buffet-style, so the value for the price was very high.

How were the table setting and the eel?

The basic table setting came with assorted side dishes, a variety of sauces to enjoy the eel with, and both seasoned raw crab (yangnyeom gejang) and soy-marinated raw crab (ganjang gejang). Everything was neat, which made the meal feel even fuller.

Then the fresh eel arrived. The prepared eel looked fresh from its color alone and was nice and thick. Maybe because turnover is high, the eel was in very good condition, and as you'd expect from an eel specialist there was no fishy smell, which I loved. The A Set includes not just eel but also beef and yukhoe.

How were the A Set beef and yukhoe?

The yukhoe was fresh too, and a simple way to whet the appetite. While the eel was still cooking, I grilled the beef first, and the quality was better than I expected. Several cuts, including flank steak and sirloin, were provided so I could try different flavors. It was tender with no off-odor, and I was just as satisfied with it as with the eel.

Best of all, grilling over charcoal gave everything a faint smoky aroma that lifted the flavor. Watching the eel turn golden made me even hungrier.

What's on the Jangsodam self-serve bar?

The self-bar had fresh vegetables and side items like pizza and fried foods, all take-as-much-as-you-like. I was so focused on the eel and beef that I didn't eat many sides, but I think having them alongside would make the meal even more generous.

Best way to eat the eel: charcoal and perilla wraps

The plump eel was delicious on its own, but wrapped in a perilla leaf (kkaennip) with garlic it tasted even richer. It was fun to alternate between the spicy sauce and the basic sauce, and with a glass of beer I thought this would suit a family meal or a company dinner just as well.

How do A Set refills work?

The biggest plus of the A Set is that once you finish the first set, you can keep ordering whichever cuts you like. You can refill eel and beef as much as you want, and the seasoned and soy-marinated crab are available as extras too, so the meal was very satisfying.

The portions were big enough to fill up even an adult man, and getting eel and beef together made it feel like truly great value.

Fresh japonica freshwater eel, several cuts of beef and yukhoe all in one go, plus the self-bar and plenty of sides: I was very satisfied.

Is Jangsodam Cheongna good for a family meal?

Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch is a rare all-you-can-eat place where you can enjoy eel and beef together. It's near Cheongna Lake Park, so it's easy to reach, and with parking in the building it's a comfortable choice for family meals or get-togethers.

If you're looking for a good-value all-you-can-eat eel restaurant in Cheongna, I recommend trying eel and beef together with the A Set.

Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch is a good eel restaurant to visit with kids: it has a play room and baby chairs.

Jangsodam loyalty coupon perks

Jangsodam also has loyalty coupon perks. I hear that if you bring the coupon, you can get services such as one side dish, 100g of beef, seasoned or soy-marinated raw crab, and one bottle of alcohol, so if you plan to come back, be sure to pick one up.