Gwangyang eel restaurant, no dogs and 2–4pm weekday break: Deokeun

The days are already getting bright and sunny, and that energy-draining season is on its way. That's exactly when you should load up on stamina food ahead of time, so you can get through the rest of the season healthy and lively, right?

So I recently went to Gwangyang, Jeonnam, with my family for a proper stamina meal. Many people think of bulgogi first when they hear Gwangyang, but locals have a hidden stamina-food champion they keep raving about.

It's Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch (더큰장어), famous for its overwhelmingly big eels and tender texture. It's next to Rakhui Hotel, so it's easy to find, and the look and taste really live up to the name. I came away totally satisfied. I'll tell you all about the tasty eel, along with the must-know info before you visit! If you're looking for a proper eel restaurant in Gwangyang like me, keep reading!

Where is Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch, and is there parking?

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is at 101 Hangman 9-ro, next to Rakhui Hotel, and the parking lot is big. The huge building stands out from far away, so finding it was very easy. As you'd expect from a large restaurant, the parking area is spacious and comfortable, so we pulled in with no parking stress at all. It's also a great spot for family meals, group gatherings and company dinners.

Address: 101 Hangman 9-ro, Gwangyang-si, Jeonnam, South Korea (Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch)

Yi Sun-sin Bridge view from the 2nd-floor window seats

From the 2nd-floor window seats at Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch, you can see Yi Sun-sin Bridge in full. Inside, a wide, airy hall with big panoramic windows greets you. The 2nd-floor window seats in particular give you a gorgeous view of Yi Sun-sin Bridge, so it feels like a treat for your eyes as well as your mouth. Tables are spaced generously and there are comfortable private rooms too, so the layout is ideal for bringing your parents or holding a group dinner.

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang opening hours and weekday break time

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is open daily 11:00–21:30, with a 14:00–16:00 break time on weekdays only. So you don't make a wasted trip, here are the hours by day as listed on Naver Map. Weekdays have a break time, so check before you go!

• Monday – Friday: 11:00 – 21:30 (break time 14:00 – 16:00 / last order 20:30)
• Saturday – Sunday: 11:00 – 21:30 (no weekend break time / last order 20:30)

On weekends it runs straight through with no break, so you can come for lunch or dinner whenever suits you and eat at a relaxed pace.

Can you bring your dog to Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch?

Sadly, Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch does not allow dogs. If you have a pet, this is important to check before you visit. So many people travel and eat out with their pets these days, right? I love daily life with my dog too, so wherever I go I check first whether pets are allowed.

Because it's an indoor restaurant and a grill house using strong charcoal fire, pets are fully restricted for safety reasons. I hear some people got confused, brought their dogs and had to turn around, so if you're planning a Gwangyang trip with your dog, please keep this in mind and leave the pup somewhere safe for a while!

How Deokeun Jangeo works: choose eel on the 1st floor, grill on the 2nd

At Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch you choose your eel at the 1st-floor shop, pay up front, then grill it on the 2nd floor. The table setting fee is ₩4,000 per adult. The system is unusual and reasonable. You see and pick fresh Pungcheon freshwater eel (풍천민물장어) with your own eyes at the 1st-floor shop, pay first, and when your number is called you go up to a 2nd-floor seat to grill it. The table setting fee is ₩4,000 per adult, and it covers the charcoal and neat side dishes as the basic setup.

Ginger strips, wrap vegetables and the self-serve bar

The table setting at Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch includes ginger strips, vegetable wraps and pickles, and you can refill at the self-serve bar. Once you sit down, you get tangy ginger strips that pair perfectly with grilled eel, fresh vegetable wraps, pickled side dishes and more. I hear eel goes well with ginger! If you run low on side dishes or wrap vegetables, you can refill freely at the big self-serve bar without feeling awkward, which was very convenient.

On top of the main grilled eel, there are plenty of side dishes like eel soup, eel patties (tteokgalbi) and cold noodles, so it's also great to come with kids or people who don't eat eel well.

How big and thick is the charcoal-grilled eel at Deokeun Jangeo?

The eel at Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch was big and thick enough to fill the whole grill. Finally, the star eel I picked on the 1st floor came out, prepped and ready! The moment I saw it, I understood why the place is called "Deokeun Jangeo" ("The Bigger Eel"). My jaw dropped at the huge size that filled the grill and, above all, the thickness that looked remarkable even at a glance.

It was so fresh that the flesh was springy and there was absolutely zero fishy smell.

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch grills the eel over high-heat charcoal, so a subtle charcoal aroma soaks deep into the flesh. The fire is so good that the eel cooks nicely golden on both sides while the grease drains away. Since the eel is so big and thick, they slice it into bite-size pieces and line them up, and the full cross-sections made my mouth water just looking at them.

Eel with no fishy smell: from salt to sauces

The grilled eel at Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch was nutty and clean with no off-smell even with just salt. If you don't love fish or eel, or you're hesitating to try it for the first time because of the fishy smell, you can stop worrying here. I dipped one well-cooked piece in just salt, and any gamey or fishy flavor was completely gone, with a nutty, clean flavor spreading the more I chewed.

The flesh is so plump that the texture, crispy outside and chewy and juicy inside, was a work of art.

I thought, no wonder this is a famous Gwangyang eel restaurant. Next, I tried the signature sauces here.

It's delicious with the sweet-salty teriyaki sauce and a generous helping of ginger strips, and the addictive red seasoning sauce was sweet, spicy and clingy, so alternating between the two was a lot of fun. Wrapping eel with myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic-like greens) on a fresh perilla leaf was a fantastic combo I could eat endlessly. The portion is so big that even with the whole family full, it felt like it never shrank.

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch verdict: who it's for

Thanks to its clean distribution system, Deokeun in Gwangyang is a great place to enjoy top-quality Pungcheon freshwater eel at a reasonable price. We could fill up on stamina food while looking out at the open view of Yi Sun-sin Bridge, and my parents' satisfaction was through the roof.

• Anyone looking for a truly all-time-great stamina meal
• Anyone who wants the best grilled eel of their life
• Anyone who wants a comfortable family meal or group gathering

True to its name, I was happy with the size and even more moved by the taste and the view at this Gwangyang eel restaurant, Deokeun Jangeo. Next time you're low on energy, stop by and recharge.