Changwon eel restaurant with toothbrushes & floss: Daedo Jangeo

It was one of those sweltering days when you crave something to restore your energy, and I heard there was a great eel place in Palyong-dong, Changwon. They grill the eel over charcoal briquettes, so the aroma is supposed to be something else. I had high hopes, and it turned out even better than I expected..! Let me tell you about it 🫶

Where is Daedo Jangeo, and what are the hours and parking?

Daedo Jangeo (대도장어) is at 12 Uichang-daero 70beon-gil, Uichang-gu, Changwon, on the 1st floor, across from Changwon Station. It is open 11:30–21:30, with a break from 14:30 to 16:00 and last order at 21:00.

• Closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of every month!
• Parking: 5 spaces in front; if full, use the public parking lot right next door (1 hour covered at lunch, 2 hours at dinner!!)
• Groups and reservations accepted

Daedo Jangeo's exterior and first impression

Daedo Jangeo in Palyong-dong has a clean black-and-white exterior that stands out from far away! It's right across from Changwon Station, so it's easy to reach, and there's parking space by the building too.

Next to the entrance there's a "Changwon famous restaurant" certification sign and the opening info, which made me want to rush in and eat, hahaha. The whole exterior is neatly kept, giving a pleasant feel from the start, and I immediately thought it would be a good spot for a family meal or a get-together..!😎

What's the atmosphere like inside on a weekday evening?

Even though I visited on a weekday evening, there were tons of customers, yet the interior was so well kept that it never felt chaotic. The moment I walked in, I thought the inside was really clean.

You know that feeling when a place is packed but still looks tidy...? (It was a weekday evening and there were still so many people....) The strange thing is that despite the crowd, it didn't feel hectic.. 👏👍

Maybe because there are lots of tables with comfortable spacing, many people were there for family dinners or company get-togethers.

Does the restroom at Daedo Jangeo really have toothbrushes and toothpaste?

The restroom at Daedo Jangeo is to the left of the self-serve bar, stocked with hand wash, hand lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste and cotton swabs. The restroom is something I quietly care about in a restaurant, and I was happy to see it kept so clean.

Go left from the self-serve bar and you'll find the restroom!

There was no water scale around the sink, and with hand wash and hand lotion provided, it's easy to use before and after the meal. And they even have little hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and cotton swabs, such attention to detail.... 🫪 Big thumbs up!👍

Daedo Jangeo menu and the prices of what we ordered

The main menu at Daedo Jangeo is sea eel (baneo), freshwater eel and stir-fried octopus (nakji bokkeum). Note that sea eel can't be split half salt, half seasoned, so please keep that in mind!!

• Seasoned grilled sea eel (medium) - ₩50,000
• Eel soup + rice (2) - ₩8,000

The side dishes came out so neat... you could taste that each one was made with care..!! My number one pick was the pickled onion (yangpa jangajji)..!!! 🤭🤭

How does the charcoal-grilled seasoned sea eel taste?

The seasoned sea eel at Daedo Jangeo is deeply infused with charcoal smoke, slightly crisp outside and moist inside. And speaking of which, here comes today's star! Charcoal-grilled sea eel makes its entrance🐟🩵

The moment I saw the photo I knew it couldn't be bad, the look and the smell were insane and my mouth was watering🤤 Maybe because it's grilled over charcoal, the smoky flavor was deeply infused, and the texture, slightly crisp outside and moist inside, was really good! The seasoning isn't overpowering and brings out just the right savoriness, so the eel's own nutty flavor really comes through. I think even people who usually can't eat eel because of its earthy or fishy smell could eat it without trouble.

It looked like a small amount, but it was just right for two people. By the way, there's onion hidden underneath too, hehe🫢 And no joke, it was so tender that it vanished after just a few chews, like magic~🤫

Eating a piece of eel in a lettuce wrap (ssam) was pure bliss🥹 After finishing the eel, we moved on to the eel soup and rice..!

How was the seasoning of the eel soup?

The eel soup was a little salty for me, so I had to eat it together with the rice T_T

What's at the Daedo Jangeo self-serve bar?

Extra side dishes at Daedo Jangeo are available at the self-serve bar! Lettuce, garlic, chili peppers, pickled onions, ssamjang (dipping sauce) and other essentials were neatly laid out.

Floss and candy at the register, and coffee too

At the Daedo Jangeo register there are glasses wipes, dental floss and candy, and there's coffee set out beside the entrance too. When I went to pay after eating, I spotted the glasses wipes, floss and candy.... such a clever touch, hahaha...!!! Awesome!

And coffee outside too......... Isn't the owner just too thoughtful...??🩵🔥

On the way out I also spotted the waiting list sheet and all sorts of certificates!!!!

Is Daedo Jangeo in Palyong-dong, Changwon worth a return visit?

I'd been curious because of all the good reviews, and after going myself I see why it's so popular. After eating I thought it would be great for a team dinner later too! hahaha Since the eel is grilled over charcoal, the smoky flavor really comes alive, and it's a good place for a family meal or to take your parents. This Palyong-dong eel spot in Changwon is somewhere I want to come back to. Highly recommended~ 🩷

One note: at busy times there may be a wait, so reserving ahead should make the meal more comfortable.