Two large eels grilled tableside with bibim naengmyeon: Yuil Jangeo

Yuil Jangeo is my pick for eel in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju! I've visited more than once now, and it's one of those Songjeong-ri grilled eel spots people keep coming back to because it arrives pre-grilled and the basic side dishes are generous.

The parking lot is big and there's often a wait on weekends, but the rooms inside are spacious too, so it's a great Gwangsan-gu restaurant for group visits.

You pick the eel you want from the display counter, they pre-grill it for you, and then it gets a quick second grill on the tabletop burner.

There's also nurungji (scorched rice) and eel tteokgalbi (eel patty skewers) that even kids can enjoy, so this is a nice family-meal option — let's get into the review of Yuil Jangeo, my go-to eel restaurant in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju!

Parking and entrance — a big lot behind the building

There's a spacious parking lot behind Yuil Jangeo. Even when I had to wait for a table before, there were still open spots.

I'm in the habit of parking and going in through the back door haha. There's a restroom near the back door too, and it's a quick walk to the lot.

This photo was taken from the front of the restaurant — besides seating inside, there's also outdoor seating to wait in, and it felt like a proper little rest area where you could enjoy the view with a coffee after your meal, waiting or not. There's a coffee machine by the front door, so grab a coffee and relax a bit after eating — good stuff.

Inside the restaurant and the rooms

The interior has both dining space and waiting space together, and even though I came fairly early, it was already busy — here's a look inside Yuil Jangeo, my favorite eel restaurant in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju!

The room space

On one side there's a room you can reserve in advance — reservations go through Naver Place or by phone, just so you know :)

How to pick your eel — the seafood (eel) counter

Eel comes packaged by portion, from 2 servings up to 6, and I seriously debated between four smaller eels or two big ones...

We settled on the pack with two larger eels, plus a side of nurungji or naengmyeon (cold noodles), and ordered that! Haha.

You pay upfront once you've chosen your eel, and settle the setting fee or any extra food on your way out!

Self-serve bar

Staff kept coming by to restock vegetables, side dishes and sauces at the self-serve bar, and it was kept really clean and well-managed! The bars are set up on both ends of the room, so wherever you sit, it's a short walk.

Restrooms

The restrooms are at the back of the restaurant, on the way out to the parking lot, separated by gender — the women's side had about three stalls, so there was no crowding.

Menu and table setting fee

Yuil Jangeo, my go-to eel restaurant in Songjeong-ri, Gwangju, charges a ₩4,000 table setting fee per adult! They only serve domestic freshwater eel.

Beyond the grilled eel there's a full lineup of meals and sides to pair with it — this time we ordered bibim naengmyeon and nurungji (2 servings and up).

Taste notes

At Yuil Jangeo, once you've picked your eel and sat down at your assigned table, they bring out a simple spread of basic side dishes — anything else you need, you grab from the self-serve bar.

They light the grill and bring out the pre-grilled eel — this time they didn't fill the whole grill with charcoal, only half of one side. I think it was so we could pull pieces off to the side once they start burning, but the side that cooked fast ended up doing all the cooking, which was a bit annoying for someone as impatient as me haha.

Grilled eel

Here's the eel from Yuil Jangeo, my recommended grilled eel spot in Songjeong-ri, Gwangju, after being pre-grilled and finished off once more! It was cut into nice bite-sized pieces, and since it was already pre-grilled you could technically eat it with just a little more heat, but I like all four sides browned nicely so I cooked it to my own liking.

The classic pairing with eel is teriyaki sauce and ginger, but I always think it tastes better with a wrap of lettuce. Eaten like meat — with ssamjang (dipping sauce) plus pickled garlic and onion — it's tasty too!

I usually pair eel with the lettuce wraps or the naengmyeon, but this time I tried it with salt and sesame oil too! I've actually done this before, but it's so clean and nutty tasting that I ended up eating most of it this way this time haha. You get that savory-salty combination all at once with the grilled eel!

Nurungji

Nurungji (scorched rice) at Yuil Jangeo, my go-to eel restaurant in Songjeong-ri, Gwangju, is only available from 2 servings up. Since you can't add a single extra serving on top of a 2-person order, if there are three of you, I'd recommend ordering 3 servings right from the start!

It has a nutty, roasted flavor, and since I already like nurungji, it made a satisfying, filling pairing with the eel.

Bibim naengmyeon

I debated between mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), and went with the bibim! Sweet and tangy, it goes great with the eel but it's also delicious eaten completely on its own haha.

It's good to split between two people, and since it has a fair amount of broth, it felt like a hybrid between a soupy and a spicy cold noodle dish! If you're generally a fan of naengmyeon, I'd recommend this one too.

Eel tteokgalbi

Eel tteokgalbi (grilled eel patty), which I got to try through the review event — this is honestly a hidden gem haha. It's best grilled over low heat; last time it burned and didn't turn out great, but this time it came out perfectly grilled! vvV

Eel tteokgalbi can taste a bit fishy if made poorly, but this one was clean-tasting and seemed like something even kids would enjoy. Completely bone-free and totally meaty — it's a great pick at Yuil Jangeo, my favorite restaurant in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, whether you're treating the adults or looking to feed something nourishing to the kids too 😉🙏

Wrap-up

If you're looking for an eel restaurant in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, or a Songjeong-ri eel spot, I recommend Yuil Jangeo — big parking lot, fresh eel!