Family eel dinner in Buk-gu, Gwangju: Deokeun Jangeo

This time, I went out for grilled eel with my family! My sister's company had recommended this restaurant, and it turned out that Mom and Dad had already been here haha. That made me even more excited—it is clearly a place loved by people nearby and by families 😊

Deokeun Jangeo parking and entrance

There is a large dedicated parking lot.

They say parking is available for around 80 cars, but both the first and second floors were spacious enough that it looked like they could fit even more! We parked on the second floor too before heading in.

After parking, head down one floor and you will see the entrance.

How long was the Saturday evening wait?

As soon as you arrive, you need to join the waitlist through Catchtable! We arrived at 6 p.m. on a Saturday evening with around 35 parties ahead of us, then got seated around 7:10 p.m.!

We got in after waiting about an hour haha. The turnover was surprisingly quick, so it was worth the wait. Seeing the place packed right up until the final waitlist really proves it is a great restaurant, right?? People of all ages from Gwangju came in with family, friends, and more.

Eel prices and how to choose

The signature Pungcheon freshwater eel is ₩29,000 for 1 kg (600 g boneless), and the adult table setting, including charcoal and side dishes, is ₩4,000 per person.

You choose the eel you want directly from the counter. Around 400 g per person is recommended, but our big eaters (= my husband) had 1.5 kg plus one more eel^^

Things to know before visiting

They will be open as usual during this Chuseok holiday period, so it seems like a nice place to visit with family over the holiday.

The table setting for preschoolers is ₩2,000, and they offer Wi-Fi and group tables. However, Sangsaeng Cards and local currency cannot be used!

Dining space and table setting

The table setting costs an additional ₩4,000 per person. Once you sit down, the basic setting is laid out like this. Extra meal items can be ordered on the tablet, while vegetables and ssam (wrap leaves) can be refilled without limit at the self-bar.

The restaurant was already so smoky inside that it felt like a festival!

You get one bottle of water per two people, and extra water is ₩500. You can also use the water purifier at the self-bar! For soft drinks and alcohol, let a staff member know—or order on the tablet!!

Using the self-bar

The self-bar has all the extra vegetables and seasonings too, so please take only as much as you will eat!

Thick eel grilled at the table

First, a little drink to get us started~

Let's start grilling the eel.

The eel we chose!! It was so thick—honestly the most delicious eel I have ever hadㅜㅜ

It went down so easily.

Flip it every so often and eat it right away! The owner or part-time staff check in now and then, but the restaurant is so busy that you need to keep an eye on your own grill.

The owner kindly showed us how to grill it and even gave us a little service, so we quickly got the hang of it and grilled some more.

Ta-da~~ Look at that plump, glossy eel. I seriously want it againㅠㅠ Even if I come to Gwangju next time, I have to come back for this!!

A proper big bite—ahh~~ I even picked up a business card!! I do not know why, though.

Ice cream and coffee after the meal

They also give you ice cream if you take part in a receipt review.

Us grown-ups had to have coffee, of course. There were several coffee machines, which was so nice! Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch was truly, truly satisfying—nothing was lacking in flavor, kindness, service, or price! Now I understand why it is so well-known among adults as a great Buk-gu, Gwangju restaurant and an excellent eel spot in Gwangju!!

Recommended for

• Anyone who wants to enjoy plenty of grilled eel without a huge price burden
• Anyone looking for a meal spot for family, friends, or a group
• Anyone seeking somewhere to go for holidays, Chuseok, or family events