Eel restaurant near LCT, Haeundae: baby-friendly lunch at Pungcheonman

Pungcheonman is a Haeundae eel place that my husband and I love in Mipo. We hadn't been in a while, so we dropped by on a weekday lunch, and it was as good as ever.

Where is Pungcheonman and where do you park?

Pungcheonman Freshwater Eel Haeundae Jungdong Main Branch (풍천만민물장어 해운대중동본점) is near LCT in Mipo, Haeundae. It has its own parking lot, and parking is free if you hand in your receipt. It's close to Haeundae Beach, so it's easy to find.

Since there's a dedicated lot, it's easy to come by car too.

Interior and seating

Right as you walk in, a smart farm on the right catches your eye. The restaurant grows the fresh vegetables you eat here itself.

It's such a famous Haeundae spot that you can see signatures from all kinds of celebrities, and lots of Lotte Giants players have visited.

They use only fresh domestic Japonica eel and pre-grill it as soon as you order, so the taste is amazing. I've been many times and it's always good.

The inside is pleasant with clean, neat decor, and the tables are spaced widely, so you can eat without feeling cramped.

It seemed quiet when we arrived for weekday lunch, but by the time we finished, customers kept streaming in.

There are also a whopping 5 rooms, which makes Pungcheonman a good Haeundae grilled eel spot for group gatherings or in-law meetings.

How is the eel grilled?

Pungcheonman pre-grills the eel as soon as you order, so the freshness of this Haeundae grilled eel is top-notch.

A skilled staff member cooks it over charcoal at a grilling station and brings it to you, so you don't have to deal with splattering oil or smells.

What vegetables are at the self-bar?

At the self-bar you can eat as much as you like of the organic vegetables grown in the entrance smart farm. There's lettuce, perilla leaves, bangah leaves (Korean mint) and more, and picking and choosing was a lot of fun.

I loved that they're organic. There's also garlic and chili peppers, so help yourself however you like. Classic Mipo favorite, Pungcheonman.

There are also plum and peach drinks, great as a palate cleanser after the meal. I wish I'd grabbed one before leaving!

Is it comfortable with a baby?

Pungcheonman has children's tableware, so guests with a baby like us can eat comfortably.

We didn't even ask, and the staff set up a baby chair for us. Such a thoughtful touch, it really moved me.

There's also a locker room for valuables, so use it if you're carrying anything important.

Pungcheonman menu and prices

Here's the menu at Pungcheonman. The lunch special grilled eel set for 2 is ₩59,000.

• Domestic freshwater eel, 1 portion (500g): ₩49,000
• Ganghwado tidal-flat eel, 1 portion (from 3 portions): ₩82,000
• Eel soup set for 1: ₩12,000
• (Lunch special) Grilled eel set for 2: ₩59,000
• (Lunch special) Grilled eel set for 3: ₩118,000
• Eel + beef bulgogi: ₩82,000
• Eel + yukhoe (beef tartare): ₩82,000
• Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew): ₩6,000
• Namhae seafood ramyeon: ₩12,000
• Gamtae seaweed + cultivated wild ginseng root + ginseng sprouts: ₩15,000
• Eel extract, 1 box (30 pouches): ₩150,000
• Freshwater eel (takeout): ₩45,000
• Eel soup for 2 (takeout): ₩20,000

How does the lunch special grilled eel set for 2 taste?

We ordered the Pungcheonman lunch special for 2 and added one more eel. The table has instructions on how to enjoy the grilled eel best, and we tried them one by one.

All the food we ordered at Pungcheonman has arrived. Take a look in the video!

True to a place that makes every side dish from scratch, the table looks neat and tidy, with braised radish, stir-fried fish cake, seasoned cucumber, corn salad, white kimchi, black sesame salad, seaweed and more.

With pot rice, soup and grilled eel all together, it became a truly generous spread.

As you'd expect from domestic Japonica freshwater eel, it comes out glossy and golden. It looks so tasty just to the eye!

The cooked eel is placed on a brazier at each table, so it stays warm until you finish. Each piece is thick and big, enough for about 2 bites per piece.

Tasty ways to eat Pungcheonman grilled eel

First I dipped it in the handmade ginger salt and wow.. I couldn't help exclaiming. So mild and nutty, the savory flavor exploded in my mouth.

Next I had it in a wrap with ginger and the special sauce, and it wasn't greasy at all. If you want a cleaner bite, you'll like the vegetable and ginger combination.

The white kimchi with the special sauce was also excellent and melted in my mouth. The white kimchi is aged in-house, which may be why it tastes so different.

The vegetables and the eel are both great, so this Haeundae grilled eel was good in any combination.

Lunch special gondeure pot rice and eel soup

If you order the Haeundae lunch special at Pungcheonman, you get pot rice too. We chose gondeure (thistle greens) rice.

The grains were fluffy with a great texture. Pot rice, need I say more? So good. It's also excellent wrapped in seaweed, so definitely try it.

The eel soup that comes with the Haeundae lunch special was thick and deeply flavored too. They say it's simmered with herbal medicine ingredients for over 6 hours, and it felt like having a health tonic.

You end up finishing it down to the bottom of the bowl, it's addictive! The grilled eel is great and the soup is too, so this Haeundae lunch special is impossible to resist.

We even finished the sungnyung (scorched rice tea) cleanly. Pungcheonman, where we want to come back again, is our number one regular spot.

Pungcheonman Haeundae Jungdong Main Branch opening hours

• Hours: daily 11:00–22:00
• Weekday break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 21:00