Eel restaurant near Yeoksam Station: grilled eel set lunch, Yangsando

What kind of place is Yangsando Yeoksam?

Yangsando Yeoksam is an eel rice bowl restaurant near Yeoksam Station, often mentioned as a spot for team lunches and office-worker get-togethers. On a day I had a meeting in Gangnam, lunchtime was approaching and I searched for somewhere to eat. Yangsando Yeoksam kept coming up as a popular lunch place around Yeoksam Station. I like eel, and I wanted a filling, satisfying meal, so I went, and it turned out to be quite a satisfying one.

The Yeoksam Station area is packed with good restaurants, so there are lots of options, but the competition is fierce too. Even so, Yangsando Yeoksam already had plenty of people coming for its eel bowls. Since it's often mentioned as a place for team lunches and work gatherings, I was even more excited.

What are the lunchtime mood and seating like at Yangsando Yeoksam?

At lunchtime Yangsando Yeoksam was full of office workers, and the interior was clean with comfortably spaced tables, good for chatting over a meal. There were people dining alone, coworkers together, and guests who seemed to be there for a meeting or a meal appointment. It struck me as a place that works for all sorts of occasions.

The whole interior felt tidy and put together. Not flashy, but not plain either. It was a relaxed place to eat, and the spacing between tables made conversation easy.

Is it good for a lunch date in Yeoksam too?

When I pick a lunch date spot in Yeoksam, I care about the atmosphere as much as the food. Yangsando Yeoksam is quiet and calm, so I thought it would work fine for a date. If you don't like noisy restaurants, I think you'd be happy here.

What are the signature dishes at Yangsando Yeoksam?

The signature dishes at Yangsando Yeoksam are hitsumabushi (Nagoya-style eel rice bowl) and teishoku (a set meal), and this time I added a butadon (pork rice bowl) for three in total. Looking over the menu after sitting down, hitsumabushi and teishoku stood out most. As you'd expect from an eel specialist, there were lots of eel dishes, and I think eel lovers would enjoy the choosing.

On this visit I ordered hitsumabushi, teishoku and butadon. Getting to try several dishes made me even more excited.

How was the hitsumabushi at Yangsando?

The hitsumabushi at Yangsando Yeoksam is a Nagoya-style bowl of Japonica freshwater eel, and the eel was softer and moister than I expected. It was the first dish to arrive, and the look of it alone won me over. Eel piled on appetizingly over glossy rice, and my mouth was watering just looking at it.

The first bite was softer than I'd hoped. The eel was grilled just right and still moist, and the house tare (sweet soy glaze) added a deep savory flavor. If you like that characteristic eel taste, you'll find it plenty satisfying.

I also liked that hitsumabushi offers different charms depending on how you eat it. You start with it as is and then enjoy it to your own taste, so I never got tired of it right to the end.

Is the butadon good too, not just the eel?

The butadon at Yangsando Yeoksam is a pork rice bowl made with Duroc pork shoulder. Since it's an eel specialist I didn't expect much, but I was far more satisfied than I thought I'd be. The butadon I ordered alongside was quite impressive.

They say they use Duroc pork shoulder, known as one of the world's top three pork breeds, and the texture was really tender. It wasn't tough, it was cooked moist, and the house sauce added a rich savory depth.

The sweet-and-salty sauce went well with the rice, and it felt like an easy dish to enjoy. It would also be a good pick if you come with someone who doesn't like eel.

What I felt while eating was that care had gone into every dish. The eel quality was satisfying and so was the cooking. On taste alone, I'd definitely want to come back.

Having visited, I understand why so many people head to Yangsando Yeoksam for lunch near Yeoksam Station. It's not just fame; the food itself is well made.

How is teishoku (grilled eel set) different from hitsumabushi?

The teishoku at Yangsando Yeoksam is a grilled Japonica freshwater eel set, said to be finished with several brushings of a 65-year-tradition house tare. I could taste the eel more intensely than in the hitsumabushi.

The eel was very soft and the flesh thick, so it was highly satisfying. The sauce wasn't overpowering, so it didn't hide the eel's own flavor, and eaten with rice the balance was good.

As an eel lover, I was happy with both the hitsumabushi and the teishoku, but if you want to enjoy the eel itself more intensely, teishoku is a good choice.

Even the dumplings were perfect!

Is Yangsando Yeoksam good for a team lunch near Yeoksam Station?

With satisfying dishes and a clean atmosphere, Yangsando Yeoksam looked good for team lunches and work get-togethers near Yeoksam Station. Yeoksam is full of office workers who want a quick, satisfying lunch, and Yangsando Yeoksam seemed to deliver on that.

It would be great to visit with coworkers. In fact, I saw other tables holding company meals and lunch gatherings.

And plum tea for dessert, nice :)

What was disappointing at Yangsando Yeoksam?

One thing that was a little disappointing at Yangsando Yeoksam was the care of the tableware. Some of the dishes I used had hairline cracks or slightly chipped edges.

Of course, it wasn't enough to affect the meal, and I didn't feel any hygiene problem. But since the food and atmosphere were so good overall, taking care of small details like this would make the place even more polished.

Maybe the fact that I even noticed this means everything else was satisfying. The food and service were good overall, and the staff were friendly.

Who I recommend Yangsando Yeoksam to

Walking out after the meal, I thought I could happily visit Yangsando Yeoksam again next time I'm nearby. As an eel specialist, its eel dishes were highly satisfying, and the butadon was better than expected.

• Anyone who wants a slightly special lunch in Gangnam or Yeoksam
• Office workers looking for a good lunch near Yeoksam Station
• Anyone planning a team lunch near Yeoksam Station
• Anyone looking for a lunch date spot in Yeoksam

At Yangsando Yeoksam I got a filling meal and really enjoyed the flavor of eel. There was a small letdown, but the food was so satisfying that I finished the meal in a good mood.