Siheung eel buffet where refills match the first plate: Songrim Bok

This is my review of Songrim Bok Jangeo (송림복장어) Jeongwang Direct Branch, a freshwater eel restaurant near Jeongwang Station. When I want stamina food or something restorative, eel is the first thing that comes to mind, and this Siheung spot lets you eat freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck all-you-can-eat.

What is the atmosphere like at Songrim Bok Jangeo Jeongwang?

The restaurant is spacious and well ventilated. My first thought walking in was "wow, big." Eel and BBQ places can feel stuffy from the smoke, but the ventilation system here is good, so the air stayed comfortable.

The tables are spaced widely, so it's easy to talk, and I'd strongly recommend it for company dinners or family gatherings. It's also a short drive from Baegot New Town, so anyone looking for eel in Baegot can come over without hassle.

How much is the all-you-can-eat eel?

The all-you-can-eat deal is ₩29,900 for adults and ₩14,000 for children (elementary school), plus a ₩3,000 table setting fee. There are meal dishes too.

• All-you-can-eat, adult: ₩29,900
• All-you-can-eat, child (elementary school): ₩14,000
• Table setting fee: ₩3,000
• Eel soup: ₩10,000
• Yukgaejang (spicy beef soup): ₩10,000
• Buckwheat noodles, cold broth or spicy mix: ₩9,000
• Spicy ramyeon: ₩5,000

Prices have gone up so much lately that even buying a single freshwater eel is a burden, so getting unlimited eel, pork belly and chicken neck for ₩29,900 per person is a best-value Siheung eel buffet. If you've been looking for an all-you-can-eat eel place in Baegot, I think this is a good choice.

What side dishes come out?

The basic side dishes are a generous set: shredded ginger, green onion kimchi, pickled perilla leaves, wrap vegetables and sauces. It starts with the ginger, which goes wonderfully with eel, and the neat spread of sides cut right through any greasiness of the eel.

Is the all-you-can-eat eel good quality?

Freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck all come out together. I worried that "all-you-can-eat" would mean lower quality, but that worry was completely shattered this time. The eel is thick and fresh, and the pork belly and chicken neck served with it also felt fresh. An eel place in Jeongwang that builds anticipation before you even take a bite.

Grilling eel, pork belly and chicken neck on one plate

As soon as the grill heated up, I put the freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck on all at once. Grilling eel, pork and chicken together on one plate was a fun change. As they turned golden, a nutty aroma rose up, and I felt like I'd experienced the real standard of Siheung grilled eel.

How to grill eel well

• Pre-grilled eel comes out 70–80% cooked, so cut it right away with scissors and grill it standing upright
• Grill fresh eel back side down, cook both sides well, then remove the middle of the back, the side fins and the head fins
• The key is to brown the edges until golden

How does the domestic Japonica eel taste?

The freshwater eel here is domestic Japonica, so it was clean and nutty with no muddy or fishy smell. The moment I picked up a piece I could feel its thickness, and because it's domestic Japonica rather than imported or cheap eel, there was no muddy or fishy smell at all, just a light, nutty flavor filling my mouth. I could feel why it gets recommended as a good Siheung eel restaurant.

Not just the eel: the pork belly and chicken neck were in good shape too. The varied lineup lets you enjoy meat and seafood flavors at the same time, and I was more satisfied than I expected.

With teriyaki sauce, ginger, green onion kimchi, wrap vegetables and more, there were many ways to combine everything, so I never got tired of it.

A shot of a plump piece of eel dipped in rich sauce.

The self-serve bar and how refills work

At Songrim Bok Jangeo Jeongwang Direct Branch you fetch eel, pork belly, chicken neck and side dishes yourself from the self-serve bar. The bar was kept tidy, and the side dishes, eel, pork belly and chicken neck are all yours to take freely.

With all-you-can-eat, asking for refills again and again can feel awkward, but self-serve refills are convenient and make it easy to control the amount. It's an eel place in Jeongwang whose considerate system stands out.

Wrap vegetables and chili peppers from the self-serve bar.

Looking at this nicely browned eel makes my mouth water all over again. The charcoal (or grill) heat was strong, so I could grill and eat quickly without interruption.

Is the refilled eel the same quality as the first round?

The eel I refilled from the self-serve bar was exactly the same quality as the eel first set out. I emptied a plate in no time, went straight back to the bar for more eel, and was moved that the refill eel wasn't lower in quality or smaller.

It had been a while since I'd had eel, so I refilled mostly eel and could keep eating until I was full.

Overall verdict on Songrim Bok Jangeo Jeongwang Direct Branch

At Songrim Bok Jangeo Jeongwang Direct Branch you can eat unlimited domestic Japonica freshwater eel plus pork belly and chicken neck, and the big space made it a comfortable meal that also suits company dinners and family gatherings. It's a 5-minute walk from Jeongwang Station, so access is great, and if you drive, there's dedicated basement parking so you don't need to worry.

Songrim Bok Jangeo is an eel specialist in Jeongwang where you can eat plentiful, fresh domestic Japonica freshwater eel without limit at a reasonable price. If you're looking for a Siheung eel place near Jeongwang Station that nails both taste and value, I recommend going without hesitation. It's good for bringing your parents, or for recharging stamina with friends or a partner, an all-you-can-eat eel spot in Siheung and Baegot.