Gojan-dong, Ansan eel buffet with no muddy smell: Songnim Bok Jangeo

I got a discount to visit, but I'm writing this very honestly so it can actually help you! ☺️

Lately I've been oddly low on energy and tired, so I wanted a hearty, restorative meal for once. Eel is usually the first thing that comes to mind for that, but it tends to run pricey, so eating your fill of it isn't something you can really do casually.

So this time I went looking for a restaurant where I could get eel, and also pork belly and duck neck, all-you-can-eat at a reasonable price! ☺️ Here's my honest, no-exaggeration take on what I found. If you've been searching for an all-you-can-eat eel spot in Gojan-dong, I hope this post helps.

* Detailed location, hours and parking info are at the bottom~!

How much is the all-you-can-eat price at Songnim Bok Jangeo?

The all-you-can-eat at Songnim Bok Jangeo Ansan City Hall Direct Store is ₩29,900 for adults, ₩14,000 for children (elementary school age), plus a separate ₩3,000 table charge per person (children excluded). For one adult including the table charge, that's around 30,000-something won.

• All-you-can-eat adult: ₩29,900
• Child (elementary school): ₩14,000
• Table charge: ₩3,000 per person (excluding children)

With all-you-can-eat places, you inevitably worry the ingredients might be a bit low quality. I was half-skeptical too as I looked over the self-serve bar, but wow, the ingredients were managed really cleanly.

There's a separate table charge, but fresh lettuce wraps, wild garlic, pickled perilla leaves, the ginger strips essential to eating eel, and all kinds of sauces were fully stocked without anything missing, so the money didn't feel wasted!

They bring this out for you the first time, and from the second round on you just help yourself at the self-serve corner! They gave us bokbunja wine (Korean black raspberry wine) as a free service — seems like it's because they're newly opened!!!!!! So lucky 👍

The side dishes are totally clean and tidy. Now let's actually dig in

Does the freshwater eel taste muddy?

The freshwater eel at Songnim Bok Jangeo, charcoal-grilled, didn't have a muddy taste. I'm someone who can't eat it if there's a muddy smell, but I enjoyed it here.

Squawk squawk

The green onion kimchi here is seriously delicious. Perfect for when things get greasy

And the pork belly here wasn't bad either, but the duck neck is really tender and delicious, so you have to try it!

The self-serve corner

I liked that the self-serve corner was so neatly organized. The eel looked well-kept and properly managed too

🤤 Honest taste review of the three main meats

The biggest strength of Songnim Bok Jangeo is how cleverly it covers the downside of eel alone getting boring, by offering a variety of meats too.

1. Freshwater eel: mild and clean

The main event, eel, is kept fresh and well-trimmed, generously stocked at the self-serve bar. You take as much as you want and grill it yourself over charcoal. I liked not having to awkwardly flag down staff every time for a refill — I could just grab as much as I wanted.

The eel cuts were fairly thick, and grilled golden over charcoal, they had a clean flavor with no fishy or muddy taste. I can't say it's exactly equal to a high-end, pricey eel specialty restaurant, but considering it's all-you-can-eat and in the low-₩30,000s, the quality was more than satisfying. Well-grilled eel topped with ginger strips and dipped in teriyaki sauce was the best combination.

2. Duck neck: the most addictive texture

Personally, what impressed me even more than the eel was this raw duck neck. It's a specialty cut you don't easily find at regular Korean BBQ places, and it's low in fat and very mild.

The more you chew, the chewier and more satisfying it gets — a completely different appeal from the eel or pork belly. Grilled over charcoal, it picks up a subtle smoky note too, and I kept reaching for it even when full. If you visit, make sure to put the duck neck on the grill.

3. Pork belly: the safe crowd-pleaser

Another reason I'd recommend this place for a Gojan-dong group dinner is this pork belly. Even if someone in your group isn't a fan of seafood or eel, there's no need to stress over the menu.

It's not a token, dry cut just for the sake of variety — it's juicy, solid, tasty pork belly, good for alternating with the eel. Being able to grill three kinds of meat on one grill plate, to your own taste, is genuinely practical.

👍 Honest verdict on Songnim Bok Jangeo in Ansan

Songnim Bok Jangeo's Ansan Gojan location has clear strengths in 'value for money' and 'variety.'

• First, with eel, duck neck and pork belly all on offer, it's easy for a group to enjoy without anyone being left out.
• Second, thanks to the cleanly managed self-serve bar system, you can eat comfortably without feeling awkward.
• Third, in an era of high prices, it's a solid, reasonably priced option for a hearty, restorative meal.

If things start feeling a bit greasy toward the end of the meal, adding a refreshing cold buckwheat noodle dish or a savory eel soup on the side to finish things off cleanly could be a great choice.

Parking is easy, the space is spacious, and the menu has something for everyone, so if you're after an eel restaurant near Ansan City Hall or a good-value spot for a Gojan-dong group dinner, a visit to Songnim Bok Jangeo shouldn't disappoint!

📍 Location, hours and parking in Gojan-dong, Ansan

Songnim Bok Jangeo Ansan City Hall Direct Store is on the 1st floor of Ansan Praum City Officetel at 33 Danggok-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, open daily 11:20–22:00 (last order 21:00).

• Location: 33 Danggok-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (1st floor, Ansan Praum City Officetel)
• Hours: Daily 11:20–22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Parking: Free for 2 hours in the building's basement lot

The restaurant sits right in the downtown area across from Ansan City Hall. It's easy to reach by public transit, and accessibility is excellent if you're looking for an eel restaurant near Ansan City Hall.

And one of the most important things when recommending a Gojan-dong group dinner spot is parking convenience. Here, you can comfortably use the basement parking lot of Ansan Praum City Officetel for free. Not having parking stress with family visitors or group gatherings is a pretty big plus. The interior is also spacious with generous spacing between tables, making for a pleasant meal without disturbing your neighbors.