Ansan eel buffet eating order, salt-grilled to crispy tail: Songnim

All-you-can-eat eel: is it really thin and bad?

Songnim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Ansan City Hall Direct Store (송림복장어) smashed my bias that all-you-can-eat eel is thin and tasteless. When I need a health boost, eel is the first thing that comes to mind, but honestly the price makes me hesitate every time. You finally splurge, and after a few pieces the plate is empty, and ordering more feels like too much.

So when I search for "all-you-can-eat," I get suspicious first. "At this price it must be thin, bad eel," I'm sure you've all thought that at least once. I did too. But near Ansan City Hall, there's a place that really broke that bias for me. I walked in half doubtful, and after trying it my opinion changed completely.

Parking and atmosphere at Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall

Parking is available and the lot is large, which was the biggest plus for me.

Maybe because it hasn't been open long, the restaurant is much bigger and cleaner than I expected, perfect for company dinners or family gatherings! The tables are spaced generously too, so I could relax the whole meal without worrying about the people next to me.

The self-bar is also well stocked, and being able to help myself to as many side dishes and fresh vegetables as I wanted, along with the eel, was a big plus.

Eel tastes better grilled over charcoal

At Songnim Bok, once you sit down, the staff bring out the basic side dishes and the eel first, and even set up the charcoal for you. I think that's a stroke of genius haha. They say they bring in live freshwater eel every morning and prepare it themselves, and you can tell: the meat is thick and fresh, and

it's grilled over charcoal rather than gas, so the smoky aroma soaks in deep, and that crispy-outside, juicy-inside texture honestly shocked me haha.

Adding the glass of bokbunja they gave as an opening-event service made it a perfect stamina-boosting meal.

How much is the Songnim Bok buffet? Is it worth it?

The all-you-can-eat price at Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall is ₩29,900. That's the most important part, right? If you can eat as much pricey eel as you want without worrying about your wallet, what could be better?

When you first hear the price you might think, "Oh, that's not bad." But the real value shows when you compare. Think about eating 2 or 3 servings at a regular eel restaurant, where one serving costs tens of thousands of won. You'd blow past ₩100,000 in no time.

But at Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall, for just ₩29,900 you can eat far more, and good-quality eel at that.

Not only eel but pork belly and chicken neck are also unlimited, so all things considered it's definitely far more economical. This is what it feels like to get "a pricey meal and a full stomach."

If you want to enjoy eel as much as your stomach allows, without nibbling stingily or feeling self-conscious, I don't think there's a better alternative than Songnim Bok.

The order to eat the eel for 200% enjoyment

My tip is to eat the eel in this order: salt-grilled → ginger and sauce → lettuce and perilla wraps → crispy tail. If you're going to eat it, you may as well make it tastier, right? I figured this tip out myself, and honestly only people in the know do it.

1. Start with salt-grilled, always

Always start with the salt-grilled eel. It's important to taste the eel itself first, with no seasoning.

2. Dip it in ginger and sauce

After you've enjoyed that clean, charcoal-scented flavor, try dipping the eel in the sauce along with some ginger! Even the same eel tastes completely different.

3. Wrap it in self-bar lettuce and perilla

Then grab some lettuce and perilla leaves from the self-bar.

Put a nicely grilled piece of eel on the lettuce and perilla, add some ginger dipped lightly in sauce, and wrap it all up: the greasiness disappears and the savory flavor explodes. This is the best combo I've found haha.

4. Grill the tail crisp, like a snack

Finally, never burn the eel tail. Grill it until it's crisp and eat it like a snack; it's a real treat.

Who is Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall for?

I think Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall will be a really satisfying choice for people who love eel but hesitated because of the price, or because they didn't trust the quality of all-you-can-eat. You get to eat thick eel for 2 hours without worrying about anyone's eyes, and the taste is better than expected! Those two things alone are reason enough to visit.

If you're looking for a good eel restaurant near Ansan City Hall, especially if you're deciding where to go for a company dinner or family meal, you can stop worrying. If you had the same "all-you-can-eat bias" as me, Songnim Bok will completely change your mind.