Gimhae eel restaurant with private group rooms and eel soup: Ildeung

What is Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo in Gusan-dong, Gimhae?

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo (일등참숯장어) is an eel grill restaurant in Gusan-dong, Gimhae, that cooks 100% domestic Japonica freshwater eel over real charcoal. The staff grill everything for you so you can just relax, and the place is spacious, with a kids zone, private rooms and group seating.

Grilled eel is always hearty and delicious, and it's proper stamina food too, right? One golden piece of eel with a little shredded ginger on top... ahh, that nuttiness is just unforgettable!!! This time I went to Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo in Gusan-dong, Gimhae, for a proper eel feast.

The prices are honestly on the low side, so it looked good for family meals with kids, dinners with your parents and get-togethers. Today's place is Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo in Gimhae :)

Location and how to get there

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo is at 7 Gusan-ro 19beon-gil, 1st floor, Gimhae, Gyeongnam. It's not far from Yeonji Park, so it's a handy spot if you're looking for a good restaurant near the park.

It's an easy place for a family meal or for taking your parents out. The area around the restaurant is easy to get to, and it was convenient to arrive by car too.

What are the opening hours and parking?

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo is open 14:00–23:00 on weekdays and 12:00–23:00 on weekends, with last order at 22:00. Parking is free.

• Name: Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo (일등참숯장어)
• Address: 7 Gusan-ro 19beon-gil, 1st floor, Gimhae, Gyeongnam
• Weekday hours: 14:00–23:00
• Weekend hours: 12:00–23:00
• Last order: 22:00
• Parking: free

Since it opens at noon on weekends, it works well for a Saturday or Sunday lunch. You can also use the Yeonji Plaza parking lot next door, and I was told parking support is available when you dine here. There was parking right in front of the restaurant too!

Inside Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo

Once I stepped inside, the restaurant was much bigger than I'd expected! It's neat and tidy, and the tables are nicely spaced, so it was comfortable to eat.

Grilled eel is something families eat together, but it's also a popular choice for parents' birthdays, family gatherings and company dinners. So I really liked that the space is so big.

Gimhae eel dinner: how many people do the rooms and group seats hold?

Rooms hold 6 to 28 people and group seating holds 4 to 106, and full venue rental starts at 30 people, I was told. There are regular tables, but also rooms and group seating, so it suits company dinners and family gatherings!

• Rooms: 6–28 people
• Group seating: 4–106 people
• Venue rental: from 30 people

I'd especially recommend it if you want a quiet meal with your parents, or you're looking for a spot for a family event or a company dinner.

Can you bring kids? The kids zone at Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo has a separate kids zone where children can pass the time, plus baby chairs and children's tableware. The kids zone was another plus that caught my eye!

Honestly, eel restaurants can feel a bit worrying with kids, right? The adults want to enjoy a slow meal, but waiting can be boring for children. I loved that the kids can have fun while the eel is grilling. If you've been looking for a restaurant with a kids zone in Gimhae, take note!

They even thoughtfully had baby chairs ready!

Menu at Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo says it only uses 100% domestic Japonica freshwater eel. Besides grilled eel, the menu includes eel soup, a kids' pork cutlet, bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) and kimchi-mari guksu (noodles in cold kimchi broth).

It's nice that there are plenty of side dishes to go with the eel when grilled eel alone isn't quite enough.

Today's order: Ildeung Alchan Set ₩65,000 + bibim guksu

This time I ordered the Ildeung Alchan Set (1kg eel + eel soup) for ₩65,000. I also added bibim guksu, which goes well with the eel.

With 1kg of eel and a hearty eel soup, it's a set that suits 2 to 3 people. You get grilled eel and then finish with warm eel soup, so it's a solid lineup, right?

Basic side dishes and homemade pickles

The basic sides at Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo include onion pickle, shredded ginger, eel sauce and ssam vegetables (leaf wraps), all pairings that suit eel. They came out one by one soon after we ordered. I think how you eat grilled eel changes the taste depending on the side dishes.

I also noticed the homemade perilla leaf and angelica (danggwi) pickles and the shredded chili pickle. A tangy, fragrant side cuts through the richness of the eel and makes it even better. If you run out of sides, you can grab more from the self-serve bar.

A surprise treat: crispy eel bones

The biggest surprise while eating was the eel bones! Haha. I'd never paid much attention to eel bones before, but crispy and nutty, they were really appealing. The more you chew, the nuttier they get, and you keep reaching for more like a snack! I only just learned eel bones could be this good. No wonder people call them a delicacy :)

The water wasn't just plain bottled water either, which I liked!

Domestic freshwater eel grilled over charcoal

And now the main dish, freshwater eel, makes its entrance! At Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo you can enjoy domestic Japonica freshwater eel grilled over top-quality charcoal.

Eel grilled over charcoal has a flavor that's in a class of its own. Watching the eel turn golden brown with that faint charcoal aroma rising, I couldn't wait to dig in.

The eel arrives already par-grilled, and the staff finish it for you at the table.

How much is 1kg of eel?

The 1kg of eel in the Ildeung Alchan Set was so much that after grilling a full tray, there was still another tray left. Seriously, 1kg of eel is a lot more than I expected!! Haha. When the first full tray came up I thought, wow, generous, but that wasn't all! All the eel you see in the photo is part of the 1kg in the set!

They said it suits 2 to 3 people, and seeing it in person, the portion was quite generous, which made me even happier. No need to worry about running short on eel, we could eat our fill :)

Staff grill the eel for you

At Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo, the staff prepare the eel, cut it into bite-size pieces and grill it for you. Personally, this was a part I really liked!

Eel can easily get overcooked or fall apart on the grill, but since they grill it for you, we didn't have to worry about cooking and could just eat comfortably. It looked easy even for first-time eel eaters. They kept watch until the eel was cooked to its best, which was even more satisfying.

A plump, chewy piece of eel!

I tried a piece of well-cooked eel. The flesh was thick and plump, with a wonderfully chewy texture! Maybe because it's charcoal-grilled, the faint smoky aroma blended nicely with the eel's own nuttiness. Golden outside and tender inside, I kept reaching for another piece. I also didn't notice much of the fishy taste freshwater eel can have, so I enjoyed it.

How to enjoy freshwater eel

• Dip it in salt first
• Shredded ginger with eel sauce
• With chili pickle
• With angelica (danggwi) pickle
• Wrapped in ssam vegetables

Shredded ginger and sauce

Shredded ginger is the one combo you can't skip with eel! Put a little ginger on a piece of eel and add the eel sauce, and it goes really well together. The sharp ginger aroma brings out the eel's nuttiness even more.

It's also good wrapped in a pickled perilla leaf, or in ssam vegetables with various side dishes. Rather than eating it just one way, it was fun to try different combinations.

The angelica pickle I still remember

One side dish that stayed with me personally was the angelica (danggwi) pickle! Its fragrant, slightly bittersweet flavor pairs really well with the nutty eel. A piece of eel with danggwi pickle added a lovely aroma and made it a special treat.

Refill side dishes at the self-serve bar

There's a self-serve bar on one side of Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo! If the basic side dishes run out, you can help yourself any time without feeling awkward.

Eel tastes even better with shredded ginger and pickles, right! It was convenient to refill right away when we ran low, and I liked being able to have as much as I wanted :)

Sweet and tangy bibim guksu to alternate with the eel

The bibim guksu I ordered with the eel comes in a spicy, tangy sauce with kimchi and crumbled seaweed on top. While eating nutty eel, you start craving something tangy and spicy now and then.

That's where the bibim guksu comes in. The spicy-tangy sauce with crunchy kimchi and nutty seaweed flakes really woke up my appetite. One piece of eel, then one bite of noodles!

The sweet and tangy sauce goes well with the nutty eel, so alternating was great. If eel alone feels a bit lacking, try ordering the bibim guksu too.

Rich eel soup included in the Alchan Set

The Ildeung Alchan Set also includes eel soup. It's made by simmering domestic Japonica eel for a deep, rich broth, and I hear it's loaded with siraegi (dried radish greens).

Grilled eel alone is filling, but the set's strength is that you also get a warm soup. The savory, rich broth was a great way to finish the meal. Having everything from grilled eel to eel soup in one go really felt like a proper health boost.

Signature green onion kimchi eel hot pot: next time

The item on the menu that caught my eye most was the restaurant's signature dish, the pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi) eel jeongol (hot pot).

It's a hot pot combining nutty freshwater eel with sharp green onion kimchi, said to have a spicy, deep broth. It sounds like it has a different charm from grilled eel. I definitely want to try the pa-kimchi eel hot pot next time!

Kids' menu: kids' pork cutlet ₩7,000

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo has a menu not only for adults who love eel but also for kids.

At ₩7,000, the kids' pork cutlet means children who can't eat eel yet can still join the meal. With the kids zone, baby chairs and children's tableware, it seems even better as a family dining spot.

Lots of rooms: recommended for family gatherings!

There are several rooms toward the back of Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo! Besides regular tables, there are spaces for private dining, so it would suit special days like a family gathering or a parent's birthday.

It's also perfect for company dinners and group gatherings! With wide seating and rooms, you can choose a space to fit your group size, which I liked. If you're looking for a place for a family meal or company dinner in Gimhae, I'd recommend Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo :)

A hearty finish to the meal

After enjoying the grilled eel, bibim guksu and eel soup, I was properly full. With 1kg of eel and eel soup together, it's a set that works well for 2 to 3 people. Nutty grilled eel, tangy bibim guksu, savory eel soup! Each had its own charm, so I enjoyed the meal right to the end.

Finishing with ginger jujube tea

After the meal, one last cup of ginger jujube tea! The faint ginger aroma with the sweetness of jujube was much tastier than I expected. After grilled eel and a hearty meal, finishing with warm tea left my mouth feeling fresh. Even a little dessert like this made the end of the meal feel good :)

Overall verdict: Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo in Gusan-dong, Gimhae

Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo is a place in Gusan-dong, Gimhae, where you can eat domestic freshwater eel grilled over charcoal. From the use of 100% domestic Japonica freshwater eel to the staff grilling it for you, I was satisfied.

Above all, the large space with rooms and group seating suits family meals, dinners with parents and company dinners. With a kids zone where children can play, it's a good place to visit with kids too! Also note that it opens at noon on weekends, so you can have grilled eel for lunch with your family. If you're looking for a good freshwater eel restaurant in Gimhae for stamina food, how about a meal at Ildeung Chamsutt Jangeo?