Daechi-dong eel bowl lunch with discounted Ebisu draft beer: Manmok

My boyfriend and I were looking for a good lunch spot in Daechi-dong and ended up at Manmok (만목), famous for its Kanto-style eel bowls. The atmosphere was calm and the staff were so kind that it felt just right for a lunch with friends or colleagues, a solo meal or a date. Here's my honest review of Manmok's Kanto-style eel bowl, plus visit info, the lunch menu and the vibe!

Manmok's hours and location in Daechi-dong: is there a wait?

Manmok is open daily 11:00–22:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. Last order is 14:20 at lunch and 21:20 at dinner. Parking, solo visits, group reservations and corkage-free are all possible.

Manmok is a 4-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seolleung Station (Line 2 and the Suin-Bundang Line). I went on a weekday at about 1:30pm and it was quiet, with no wait. There's a Catch Table (reservation and waitlist app) machine, and a sign out front said 20 minutes' wait, so I'm guessing the lunch peak gets busy! Expect a wait at weekday peak hours and on weekends.

Manmok's lunch menu and eel bowl prices

Manmok's eel bowl comes in three sizes: half eel for ₩26,000, whole eel for ₩39,000 and 1.5 eels for ₩50,000.

• Half eel ₩26,000
• Whole eel ₩39,000
• 1.5 eels ₩50,000

If you eat lightly, go for the half eel; if you have a big appetite, I'd recommend the 1.5 eels!

Manmok's lunch and dinner menus differ. Lunch is the eel bowl only, but at dinner you can order three kinds of dishes: eel bowl, grilled eel and eel nabe (hot pot).

Manmok's drink menu and lunch discount

The drink menu had plenty of choices, including Ebisu draft beer, highballs, soju and bottled beer. Good to know: if you visit at lunch, Ebisu draft beer and highballs are roughly ₩2,000–4,000 cheaper.

What are Manmok's atmosphere and seating like?

Inside, Manmok is very calm and quiet, and the staff explained things and the food so kindly that I felt welcomed. There was a phrase written there, "a place where quiet hospitality stays," and once I stepped inside, I really felt what it meant.

The seating comes in three types: partitioned seats, a bar table and solo seats. The vibe and seating are good enough not just for a date but also for a group lunch or a business meal.

Overall it felt like a local eel bowl shop in Japan with Korean traditional touches added. And even though it's an eel place, there was no smoke or grilling smell inside at all, so it was really pleasant.

Manmok's whole-eel bowl: portion and taste

My boyfriend and I each ordered a whole-eel bowl. The portion was just right for me, but my boyfriend said it was a little short, so for adult men I'd recommend the 1.5 eels!

The eel bowl is served with salad, chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard), seasoned radish slaw, white kimchi, pickled ginger, whole black peppercorns, pickled radish, wasabi and eel soup.

Maybe because it's made Kanto-style, the texture was very chewy and soft. Apparently Kanto-style means the eel is steamed once and then grilled twice over charcoal! Eel itself tends to be rich, but Manmok's eel bowl tasted clean rather than greasy, so my stomach felt comfortable while eating.

Eel bowl with Ebisu draft beer

Of course I had Ebisu draft beer, which is a must with an eel bowl. It was so cold and smooth that I wanted another glass, but I held back.. haha. On a hot day like these, it's perfect for cooling your throat~

Matcha and black tea ice cream after the meal

After the meal, Manmok serves ice cream, and you can pick matcha or black tea. We chose matcha, and it was a nice way to cleanse the palate and finish.

Who I'd recommend Manmok in Daechi-dong to

Lunch at Manmok near Seolleung Station was a real success. If you want a tasty, tidy lunch in a calm atmosphere, I recommend Manmok :)

• Anyone looking for a quiet lunch spot around Seolleung Station and Daechi-dong
• Anyone looking for a good eel bowl restaurant near Seolleung Station and Daechi-dong
• Anyone deciding on a place for a group lunch, business meal or date
• Anyone who wants to eat quietly on their own