Daechi-dong eel bowl spot: quiet late lunch & barley tea, Manmok

A stamina eel bowl lunch at Manmok in Daechi-dong

Manmok is an eel bowl restaurant on Seolleung-ro 82-gil in Daechi-dong. I had to go to a hospital in the Gangnam area, and it happened to be lunchtime, so I went for a stamina meal. I ate eel bowls at Manmok! >.< I'd wanted to go for ages and finally made it!

Is there a wait at Manmok at lunchtime?

I heard Manmok is a popular Daechi-dong spot with a lunchtime wait, but we came after 2pm and it was thankfully quiet. I bet it's packed at peak time, haha.

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Manmok?

Manmok has a refined, natural-wood style. From the entrance it feels clean and upscale, and unlike the slightly noisy, casual mood you might expect from an eel place, Manmok felt calm and tidy overall.

The wood-tone interior with soft lighting made the whole meal comfortable while feeling like I was being treated well, and there's also a bar counter for people dining solo!

Manmok's review event

What you get at Manmok depends on how many reviews you write, and for 3 reviews it's a whole bottle of sake! Generous, just like you'd expect from a Daechi-dong favorite.

Ordering Manmok's whole-eel bowl, with barley tea

We ordered two whole-eel bowls (한마리 장어덮밥) at Manmok and waited. The water was barley tea instead of plain water, which really made it feel like a proper stamina meal, hehe.

Is Manmok's eel bowl worth the price?

Since it's eel, Manmok's eel bowl isn't cheap, but considering prices in Gangnam these days, it felt acceptable. Given the quality of the food, it's a price that's well worth it! If you want a proper restorative lunch, I think you'll be very satisfied.

Salad, chawanmushi and side dishes served with the eel bowl

The salad that comes with the eel bowl is lettuce piled with nutty sesame dressing. It's soft rather than sharp, so it's easy for anyone to eat. A hearty meal at Manmok, a great Daechi-dong lunch spot 👏

There's also ginger, radish wraps, wasabi and some mystery berry (?) to bring out the eel's flavor. I tried each one on a bite of eel, and each had its own charm, so you can eat it however you like.

The chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) wasn't heavily seasoned, with a gentle savoriness that was easy to enjoy, and the shrimp added texture and flavor so it never felt monotonous.

With shrimp inside the softly steamed egg, it felt even more upscale, and the way it melted into a silky texture the moment it hit my mouth was so good that I wanted another bowl.

Manmok also kept refilling the seasoned radish and water kimchi whenever we needed. The staff were very kind and their service was neat, making the whole meal even better. That's Manmok, a Daechi-dong favorite.

How does Manmok's whole-eel bowl taste, and how big is it?

As the name says, the whole-eel bowl comes with an entire eel on top, so the look alone is amazing! It was my first time trying a whole-eel bowl, and even with such a generous spread, the food came out quite fast, so it's a good place to come for a stamina lunch.

Eel bowl with a warm mushroom broth feels like it would pump energy into a run-down body, haha.

A spread that looks filling just by looking at it. Glossy eel sat neatly on the rice, and the portion was more generous than I expected! Once I saw the food, the price somehow felt cheap. Magic.

Manmok's eel had no fishy taste and was light yet tender, and the seasoning wasn't overdone, so it let the eel's own flavor shine. I was totally satisfied 💗 The soy-based sauce blended well with the rice and kept me eating without feeling greasy.

The eel wasn't too tough, just nicely soft, so it was easy to eat. The portion was plenty too, so I felt pleasantly full afterwards, haha. It was a very satisfying set for a lunch.

Why Manmok is a good lunch pick in Daechi-dong

Manmok, which I visited for a Daechi-dong lunch, was more than just a place to eat eel bowls: you get both atmosphere and food quality. It's a good choice when you want a slightly special lunch or need a stamina boost ✨

Manmok opening hours and break time

• Daily 11:00 - 22:00
• Break time 15:00 - 17:00