Weeknight eel buffet for two in Sadong, Ansan: Songnim Bok Jangeo

Ahead of the weekend, I really wanted a delicious weeknight dinner, so I went to Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong branch, known as one of the best eel restaurants in Ansan!

Hearing "unlimited refill" had me half excited, half worried I'd be too full — but in the end it was a totally satisfying day! And the eel quality... was seriously no joke!

Eel is one of the pricier dishes, so if you're someone who's had the disappointment of never eating your fill of it, I think you'll relate even more.

Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong Branch: hours and parking

Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong branch is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00, and free parking is available right in front of the restaurant. The unlimited refill time limit is 2 hours.

It's easy to drive to since it's in the Sadong area, and I loved that the parking space right in front was free!

It's near Sari Station and lots of buses run through, so it's easy to get to without a car too! The unlimited refill time limit is 2 hours, so we could enjoy it at a relaxed pace. Since it was a weeknight evening, we were seated right away with no waiting haha. Groups with more people would probably be better off booking ahead.

How big is Songnim Bok Jangeo, and where is the self-bar?

Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong branch is a large restaurant with tables spread widely on both sides of the entrance, and the self-bar sits right in the middle of the store. There are also group tables and a baby chair.

The restaurant is really spacious! Tables are laid out widely on both sides from the entrance. There are group tables too, so it seems great for family gatherings or larger groups. With a baby chair available, it's also a perfect size for a work dinner.

The restaurant is huge, but the self-bar sits right in the center, so it's close no matter where you sit! Staff take your order directly — just tell them the number of people doing the unlimited refill and they set everything up right away.

What does the Songnim Bok Jangeo eel buffet cost, and what is on it?

The unlimited refill is 29,900 won for adults, with a table charge of 3,000 won per person. Besides freshwater eel, you can also enjoy unlimited pork belly and chicken neck meat!

There were plenty of side menu items like eel soup, yukgaejang (spicy beef soup), and cold buckwheat noodle ramyeon to cut through the richness, and the self-bar was absolutely loaded with side dishes too.

Especially the fact that rice and bean sprout soup were unlimited too... that was such a welcome bonus ෆ

How the freshwater eel tastes and how it is grilled

The freshwater eel at Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong branch first catches your eye with its thick size, and there was no fishy smell at all. You grill it skin-side first and remove the fins before eating.

Seriously insane visuals... the thick size stood out first, and it was fresh with zero fishy smell.

Following the proper way to grill eel deliciously, you grill it skin-side first, then carefully remove the fins (though honestly it's still tasty even if you don't remove them).

Grilled to a golden brown, the outside was slightly crispy while the inside was moist and tender.

You can see how tender it is, right...?! Even eaten plain with nothing else, it's insanely good — the eel's signature savory flavor comes through even more intensely!

The more you chew, the more this rich, savory, umami flavor keeps rising up, both clean and fatty at once — seriously addictive taste.....

Dipping it in the sweet barbecue sauce and wrapping it in pickled radish gives a whole different feel, so I'd recommend trying it both ways.

My husband likes his eel cooked well-done, but I prefer it cooked just right so it stays tender — honestly, it's delicious no matter how you eat it...

Pork belly and chicken neck meat are unlimited too

At Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong branch, you can grill chicken neck meat and pork belly alongside the eel. The chicken neck meat dipped in eel sauce tastes like barbecue chicken.

We grilled chicken neck meat and pork belly in between rounds of eel, and there was zero gamey smell — just savory. The chicken neck meat had a chewy yet tender texture, and dipped in the eel sauce it tasted like barbecue chicken! Seriously a real treat... make sure to eat plenty of chicken neck meat when you go, haha!

The white kimchi and pickled perilla leaves were tangy and salty, cutting through the richness perfectly.

We didn't get to eat much pork belly since we were busy with the eel and chicken neck meat, but it was really delicious too, haha!

Is the Sadong eel buffet worth a second trip?

With rice and soup unlimited too, this level really felt like a satisfying, worthwhile meal, haha. There's such happiness in eating eel without worrying about how much you're having........haha

If you're someone who's held back on eel because of the price, I don't think you'll need to hold back at all at Songnim Bok Jangeo Sadong branch, the all-you-can-eat eel spot in Ansan!

It seems like a great eel restaurant in Ansan for a worry-free family gathering or date course. Next time I definitely want to try the eel soup! I'd absolutely go back again :)