Bucheon private-room eel restaurant with eel soup: Gochang Pungcheon Eel

Gochang Pungcheon Eel behind Sangdong Station

Gochang Pungcheon Eel, a great eel spot near Sangdong Station, is right behind the Save Zone building by Exit 7 of Sangdong Station.

Fresh eel is kept in the outdoor tank, and this is a beloved eel restaurant in Sang-dong, Bucheon that has been passed down for two generations.

As the weather starts to warm up, their outdoor seating in Sang-dong, Bucheon is available too! It is quite spacious, so I would recommend it for company dinners in Bucheon as well.

There are around 10 four-person tables inside, so it seemed like a good choice for group company dinners in Bucheon too.

The reason it is great for a family gathering in Bucheon is that it is a restaurant with private rooms! There honestly are not that many private-room restaurants in Bucheon, and when the menu is eel too, it is the perfect spot for a family get-together, haha.

The self-serve station had plenty of varieties of banchan (Korean side dishes) ready to go.

Par-grilled eel and the table setting

They use premium Japanese eel raised for under 20 months and special charcoal grilling with hardwood charcoal. This Bucheon eel favorite has been run by two generations since 2003, so it felt like there must be a long-held secret behind its great eel.

All of the eel comes par-grilled as standard.

• Salt-grilled eel ₩35,000
• Gochujang-grilled eel ₩35,000
• Jangsu eel soup ₩10,000
• Steamed rice ₩1,000

The basic spread included ginger, teriyaki sauce, fried eel bones, ssam vegetables for wrapping, and assorted side dishes. Steamed egg and eel porridge also came as complimentary extras!

Jangsu eel soup first

Jangsu eel soup ₩10,000. The eel soup arrived first as our meal dish, bubbling away in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot). The bones and eel had been simmered for a long time, making the broth deeply rich! There was no murky or fishy taste at all; with cabbage greens and chives, it left a savory, lightly spicy finish that really soothed my stomach.

We ordered steamed rice to eat with it. Its thick, hearty broth warmed my whole body and truly felt like a nourishing meal, so I definitely recommend adding the eel soup to your order!

Salt-grilled and gochujang-grilled eel, cooked by the staff

Salt-grilled eel ₩35,000, gochujang-grilled eel ₩35,000. First, they brought out high-quality charcoal, then the par-grilled eel arrived one serving at a time.

Eel can burn easily if you grill it wrong, and it can be a hassle to cook it through, but the staff grilled everything deliciously from beginning to end with real expertise, which was so convenient! They lined it up in golden, bite-size pieces and placed it on the plate at its most delicious moment, so we could simply relax, chat, and eat. It is a restaurant I recommend for family gatherings in Sang-dong, Bucheon.

Not having to worry about the timing of the grilling, while receiving the eel at its absolute best, was an especially satisfying point for a visit with children or for a family gathering in Bucheon.

Thick, clean-tasting salt-grilled eel

Salt-grilled eel ₩35,000. The first thing we tried was, of course, the salt-grilled eel—the best way to enjoy the eel's naturally nutty flavor. Its thickness caught my eye right away, and it was grilled crisp on the outside and moist inside.

I dipped the perfectly cooked salt-grilled eel generously in the house sauce, then wrapped it with white kimchi and ssam vegetables. Its nutty flavor filled my mouth. It had no fishiness at all and a clean flavor, so even first-time eel eaters could enjoy it without hesitation.

The gochujang-grilled eel my dad and I liked even more

Gochujang-grilled eel ₩35,000. We ordered this to alternate with the salt-grilled eel, and the spicy-sweet gochujang seasoning had soaked beautifully into the flesh. The seasoning was not overpowering, yet it was full of savory depth and so addictive that I could not put my chopsticks down.

I had eaten salt-grilled eel many times before, so I actually liked the gochujang-grilled eel more?? My dad said he liked the gochujang-grilled one better too, haha.

My dad mixed all of his rice into the eel soup. He said the grilled eel was delicious too, but the eel soup's thick, rich broth warmed his whole body and made the perfect finishing meal, neatly refreshing his palate after the richness of the grilled eel.

A hearty meal to enjoy with parents

If you need to recharge your energy or are looking for a special meal out that everyone can enjoy, I recommend Gochang Pungcheon Eel, an eel specialist in Sang-dong, Bucheon! Beyond the fresh quality of the eel, having the staff grill it from start to finish was wonderfully convenient, and the harmonious progression from salt-grilled eel to gochujang-grilled eel and eel soup made it an unbeatable meal. If you are looking for a great family gathering restaurant in Sang-dong, Bucheon this weekend where parents and children alike can eat comfortably and heartily, do visit Gochang Pungcheon Eel!