Seonleung eel bowl lunch with matcha and black tea ice bars: Manmok

Today I visited Manmok, an eel specialty restaurant in Seonleung, Gangnam-gu, with my lovely sister. Instead of the usual lunch spots near Seonleung Station, I wanted something a bit special but still filling, so I picked the whole eel rice bowl. Let me walk you through the eel rice bowl, the chawanmushi, the salad, and the matcha and black tea ice bars we finished with.

Where Manmok is near Seonleung Station, and what the entrance looks like

Manmok sits at 1F, 9 Seonleung-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The exterior is done in deep wood tones that caught my eye even while walking past. The sign, written in large brushstroke calligraphy, felt upscale and reminded me of a traditional Japanese eel restaurant.

There's a long wooden bench outside where you can sit and wait for a bit. It's an easy walk from Seonleung Station, making it convenient for office workers' lunches or meetups. It would suit anyone looking for lunch spots in Daechi-dong, as well as those wanting something a little special with coworkers.

Is Manmok's seating better for a solo lunch or a group dinner?

The interior carries the same warm wood feel as the exterior. Walking through the door, the mood from outside naturally continued indoors.

A large wooden table that fits several people sits in the center, with comfortable chair seating lined up on one side. The floor has a natural stone-like texture, and soft lighting combined with the dark wood interior created a calm, comfortable atmosphere.

The long table looked great for group visits, making it a good fit as a team dinner spot near Seonleung Station. Further inside, there were partitioned tables where my sister and I sat facing each other and could chat comfortably over the meal.

There are also seats that don't feel awkward for solo visits, which should work well for anyone looking for a place to eat alone near Seonleung Station. It felt like a Japanese rice bowl restaurant where you could enjoy a bowl of eel rice at a leisurely pace in a quiet atmosphere.

A small fish tank on one side of the restaurant added to the upscale feel. Rather than flashy, the calm interior built around wood and natural materials suited the eel dishes well.

How clean is Manmok's restroom, and what is stocked there?

When visiting a restaurant, hygiene and cleanliness matter just as much as the taste of the food.

Manmok's restroom was kept clean in a dark gray tone. The stone-like sink matched the restaurant's mood, and there was even a child toilet seat, a thoughtful touch.

Hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, and a hairbrush were all neatly arranged too. Seeing these small details taken care of for guests puts you in a good mood even before the meal.

What comes with Manmok's whole eel rice bowl

Once seated, we ordered the whole eel rice bowl.

A dark square lacquer box came out neatly arranged on a wooden tray along with soup, salad, and condiments. It was even more exciting before opening the lid of the eel rice bowl. The condiment plate had ginger, wasabi, and sancho pepper ready to add to the eel to taste.

The salad, with fresh vegetables and cherry tomatoes, refreshed the palate between bites of eel. It was a great pairing for a rich, flavorful dish like eel.

Lifting the lid: a whole eel over rice

When I finally opened the lid, a glossy, shiny whole eel covered the rice completely.

The eel was scored into bite-sized pieces and generously piled on top — it looked filling just to see it. The sauce glistened so much I wanted to snap a photo quickly and start eating.

Picking up a piece of eel with chopsticks, the outside was nicely grilled while the flesh inside was thick and moist. In my mouth, the soft eel meat blended well with the sweet, salty sauce. Eaten together with the rice, the eel's flavor came through even more.

"Wow, this is seriously good!"

That's what naturally came out as my sister and I locked eyes. A little wasabi on the eel added a sharp, clean kick, and eating it with ginger refreshed the palate. The portion of eel was generous, too, so it should satisfy anyone wanting a hearty lunch.

Manmok's shrimp chawanmushi, the other highlight

The chawanmushi (steamed egg) that came with the eel rice bowl wasn't something to skip either.

Opening the lid of the small bowl revealed plump shrimp inside soft, smooth chawanmushi. Scooping it up with a spoon, the egg was silky and smooth like pudding. It had a warm, light flavor that went well between bites of the eel rice bowl, and the springy shrimp made it even better. Not having to grill the eel yourself also meant we could chat comfortably through the meal.

So I'd recommend this as a lunch spot in Daechi-dong or a team dinner place near Seonleung Station.

Dessert at Manmok: matcha ice bar and black tea ice bar

After the hearty eel rice bowl, the matcha ice bar and black tea ice bar came out for dessert.

The green matcha ice bar and the softly beige black tea ice bar sat side by side in a long dish, and it looked pretty too.

The matcha ice bar had that appealing bitter, deep matcha aroma, while the black tea ice bar had a gentle, spreading tea fragrance. It was a dessert that finished off the palate, filled with eel rice bowl, in a cool and clean way. It was also fun sharing one each with my sister.

Final verdict on lunch at Manmok, Seonleung

Manmok in Seonleung was a place to enjoy a delicious eel rice bowl in a calm space with the warmth of wood. The glossy whole eel was moist and tender, and with the salad, condiments, and shrimp chawanmushi all neatly prepared, it made for a satisfying meal.

It's not awkward to visit alone, and it would also suit a lunch with coworkers, a family meal out, or a team dinner near Seonleung Station. Finishing the meal with the matcha and black tea ice bars made it satisfying from start to end. My sister and I had a lovely time eating good food together. If you're looking for a Japanese rice bowl restaurant with good atmosphere near Seonleung Station, or a lunch spot in Daechi-dong, how about a whole eel rice bowl at Manmok?

• Manmok Seonleung address: 1F, 9 Seonleung-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Menu eaten: whole eel rice bowl
• Dessert: matcha ice bar, black tea ice bar

※ Written based on a personal visit and photos taken during the meal. Menu and operating details may vary depending on when you visit, so please check before visiting.

Five questions worth thinking about

• When eating an eel rice bowl, do you prefer wasabi or ginger as a condiment?
• Would you choose a whole eel rice bowl or a half portion?
• When dining alone near Seonleung Station, what matters most to you?
• Between the matcha ice bar and the black tea ice bar, which would you try first?
• When choosing a place for a team dinner, does the food or the atmosphere matter more to you?