Cheongna eel buffet with a toddler and wait-time perks: Jangsodam

I went to Jangsodam (장소담) Cheongna Main Branch with my husband and our 31-month-old. Our family really loves eel, and I'd heard this was an all-you-can-eat eel buffet in Cheongna, Incheon, so we went in with high hopes.

Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch isn't just about eel. There's meat, special dishes, ramyeon, rice, drinks and even ice cream, so it looked fine for a family meal and also for a group dinner.

Parking and atmosphere at Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch

Diners get 2 hours of free parking, so driving there was easy. That made a good first impression, and we could eat in a relaxed way without watching the clock.

The restaurant is spacious and the tables aren't crammed together, so it looked good for visiting with a bigger group.

The menu is so varied that it would work even for company dinners or family gatherings where everyone wants something different.

There are also several high chairs, which made it easy to visit with a 31-month-old.

Jangsodam B Set price and what's included

We had the B Set at ₩34,000 per adult. That includes the table setting fee, and you get unlimited freshwater eel, chuck ribs, marinated crab, pork, special dishes, Hangang ramyeon, rice, drinks and soft-serve ice cream. For people who love eel and eat a lot, it's a pretty solid deal, haha.

The B Set can also come with one Yeonpyeongdo seasoned raw crab (yangnyeom gejang) as a service item, so we tried that too. All three of us love eel, so we finished the first batch we brought and ended up going back for one more eel.

If you love eel and have a big appetite, you'll make the most of this Cheongna, Incheon all-you-can-eat eel buffet.

Grill scallions alongside your eel

My personal top recommendation that day at Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch was eel plus grilled scallions.

We put scallions next to the eel and grilled them until golden. As they cooked, the scallions turned sweet, and that went really well with the rich flavor of the eel.

Eating only eel can get a little greasy, but with scallions it felt much cleaner. Next time I'll grab plenty of scallions first, haha.

What's at the self-bar?

The self-bar at Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch had side dishes, fried food, kid-friendly items, morning rolls, Hangang ramyeon and soft-serve ice cream. The side dishes were tasty, and it was fun to pick up a bit of everything. Stuffing meat or other items into a morning roll to make a little sandwich was a nice combo too.

You can even cook Hangang ramyeon (instant noodles) yourself, so it's great for anyone who wants to finish an eel meal with ramyeon.

After the meal there was soft-serve ice cream, and it was so cute to see kids walking around with a cone each, haha. My little one noticed the ice cream right after eating and showed instant interest.

A Cheongna eel restaurant for kids, with a playroom

There's a small playroom inside Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch, which was great for visiting with a 31-month-old. After eating, our child could play happily, which was really convenient for us as parents.

When you eat out with a kid, they often finish first and get bored, right? At Jangsodam they can spend time in the play area after the meal, so it worked well for a family outing. If you're looking for a Cheongna eel restaurant you can go to with a child, you'll probably like this too.

Why Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch works for group dinners

A plus of Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch is that even with a big group, nobody has to agonize over what to order.

Eel lovers can eat eel, meat lovers can eat meat, and you can also enjoy special dishes or ramyeon in between, so it looked like a safe choice for a company dinner.

The seating is roomy and parking is easy, so it looked like a good fit for anyone searching for a group dinner spot in Cheongna.

If there's a wait: the thank-you event for waiting guests

Maybe because it's a popular place, there seemed to be a wait, and I was impressed that there's a separate thank-you event for waiting guests.

Perks depend on how long you wait. For example, if you wait under 30 minutes, you get one side dish per table. When you're the one waiting, even a small gesture like this feels nice.

They were also running a Naver review event, and I heard you can get a free soju or beer for writing a review, so it's worth checking when you visit.

Overall impression of Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch

We eel lovers left Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch really full and happy. If you want to eat eel until you're satisfied, not just a little taste, you'll really feel the appeal of this Cheongna, Incheon all-you-can-eat eel buffet.

You can enjoy plenty of dishes besides eel, it's easy to visit with a child, and it's good for company dinners or group gatherings. Jangsodam Cheongna Main Branch is somewhere I'd happily go back to the next time we crave eel :)