Hagye-dong eel restaurant: owner-grilled set for 2, Cheonsanga

When you eat out with your parents or have a family gathering, good food matters, but a place where you can relax is even better, right? This time I visited Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch (천상애장어가 하계점), a Hagye-dong favorite that grills Korean-raised Japonica freshwater eel over charcoal.

The owner grills the eel for you, and the set comes with stone-bowl sushi, salted oyster jeotgal (fermented seafood), doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and nurungji (scorched rice), so it's a really full spread. From thick, chewy grilled eel to the tasty side dishes, I left properly stuffed.

Where is Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch, and what about parking?

Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch is an eel restaurant near Buk-Seoul Museum of Art in Hagye-dong, Nowon. It's about 610m from Hagye Station Exit 2 and you can also walk from Junggye Station, so it's easy to reach.

Parking is available, with a lot right in front of the restaurant, which is handy if you're coming by car. It also opens without a break time on weekends and holidays, so you can eat comfortably even if you miss the usual lunch hours.

A spacious, comfortable place for family gatherings

The restaurant takes group reservations for up to 66 people, so it's big. The moment I walked in, the roomy, clean interior caught my eye.

Tables are spaced generously and everything is kept clean, so the mood was cozy yet a bit upscale. With this much space, it suits family gatherings or company dinners in Nowon. High chairs and children's tableware are also available, which makes it convenient for family meals with kids.

If you're looking for a Nowon restaurant to eat with your parents, parking and atmosphere matter too, right? Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch has easy parking, and since the staff grills the eel for you, you can eat at ease whether you're looking after kids or dining with your parents, in a clean and pleasant setting.

What are the eel set menus and prices at Cheonsanga?

The signature menus are the grilled eel set for 2 (₩69,000) and the set for 3 (₩104,000). The set for 2 comes with 2 large Japonica eels and the set for 3 with 3 large ones, both served with stone-bowl sushi, doenjang stew, salted oyster jeotgal and nurungji.

• Grilled eel set for 2: ₩69,000 (2 large eels)
• Grilled eel set for 3: ₩104,000 (3 large eels)
• Weekday lunch special for 2: ₩59,000 (2 large eels, doenjang stew, nurungji for dessert)
• Eel soup: ₩13,000
• Stone-bowl sushi (5 pieces): ₩3,000
• Wild ginseng liquor: ₩15,000

We ordered the set for 2 (₩69,000). You get two big eels plus plenty of side dishes, so for the price the spread felt generous.

How does the owner-grilled Japonica freshwater eel taste?

Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch is a specialist that grills Korean-raised Japonica freshwater eel over Korean charcoal and uses Korean sun-dried sea salt. When our food arrived, two big, glossy freshwater eels showed up.

The owner laid the eel on the charcoal and grilled it golden with practiced hands. As the savory aroma spread and the eel cooked to a mouthwatering look, I was drooling.

While grilling, the owner also cut it into bite-size pieces and looked after us kindly, so we could just eat comfortably. My brother has been to lots of grilled eel places, but he said this was the first where they take such care even with the cutting. He was impressed, haha.

The well-grilled eel was seriously thick. Savory juices seeped out of the plump flesh and it was really good. Because it's chubby Japonica freshwater eel, the texture was tender yet delightfully chewy.

Charcoal grilling renders off just the right amount of fat, so even though eel is a rich fish, a deep savory flavor came first rather than greasiness. With that rich flavor plus a faint smoky char, it was delicious even without any sauce.

It's great for getting a hearty energy boost when you're run down, and since the eel is so tender, I thought it would be nice to come back with my parents.

How should you eat the stone-bowl sushi and salted oyster jeotgal?

The set for 2 also came with stone-bowl sushi and salted oyster jeotgal. Put the golden grilled eel on top of the sushi rice, with its nicely sticky rice and moist, tender eel, and you've got a fantastic eel sushi!

Topping it with salted oyster jeotgal too was a treat. The jeotgal is rich in umami, and its spicy seasoning went really well with the eel's deep savoriness. The side dishes served alongside were neat and tasty too.

Doenjang stew and nurungji to finish

The doenjang stew in the set had a savory yet kick-in-the-throat broth that freshened up my oily mouth. The nurungji I had to finish was lovely, with a faintly spreading toasty aroma and a clean, mild taste.

After filling up on grilled eel, finishing with the hot nurungji broth made it a really satisfying meal.

Reservations and corkage at Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch

The restaurant is big, so you can walk in the same day without a reservation, but for groups it's easier to reserve ahead. Corkage is ₩5,000 per bottle.

If you follow the place on Naver Place (플레이스 N) and then reserve, you also get a free drink.

Final verdict on Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch

Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch was a place where we could enjoy tasty grilled eel in a spacious, pleasant room, with good value and a full spread. The owner's kind service, grilling thick Japonica freshwater eel with skilled hands, was especially memorable.

You get eel with a savory flavor and chewy texture, and the set where you eat it with stone-bowl sushi and salted oyster jeotgal was a treat. If you're looking for a Hagye-dong restaurant, it suits meals with parents, family outings with kids, or group dinners. With its upscale, tidy atmosphere and kind service, it's a good spot in Nowon for a hearty grilled eel lunch or dinner with your parents.