Magok eel rice bowl restaurant near Mai Art Museum: Una Magok

A recommended date course near Magok One Grove Mall.

Eel rice bowls at Una Magok after the Mai Art Museum exhibition

Last week I finally went to see the Jean-Jacques Sempé exhibition I'd been dying to see. After such a heartwarming show, I was trying to figure out what to eat, and since the weather's swinging wildly these days and my energy's been a bit low, I headed to Una Magok for a proper restorative meal!

It's a place near Magok One Grove Mall where you can get authentic Nagoya-style eel rice bowl, so my expectations were sky-high before I even walked in — and combined with the wonderful exhibition, it turned out to be the best choice!

Una Magok location, hours and parking in Magok

• Address: 105-7 Magok-jungang-ro, K-Square Magok Tower 2, 1F, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (2–3 min walk from Magongnaru Station Exit 5 or Magok Station Exit 2)
• Hours: Daily 11:20–22:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 21:00)
• Parking: K-Square underground parking (90 minutes supported)

What is the atmosphere like inside Una Magok?

The moment I stepped into Una Magok, the calm, tidy interior really stood out. Even though it was already pretty crowded when I visited around lunchtime, the atmosphere itself was quiet and upscale, so I could eat comfortably :)

The space is so neatly arranged that it'd work perfectly for a date, a family meal out, or even hosting an important business client or meeting!

Una Magok menu, prices and choosing your eel portion

Una, a well-known spot near Magok One Grove Mall for its eel rice bowl, is great because you can adjust how much eel you get. We ordered the small size and it was still pretty generous. If you want more eel, the regular or large size would be good too.

They also have a grilled hoki (Patagonian toothfish) rice bowl and a kids menu, so it's a place everyone can enjoy! We ordered two dishes — hitsumabushi (small / ₩32,000) and tori mabushi (charcoal-grilled chicken rice bowl / ₩29,000) — and they told us rice and side dishes could be refilled for free!

Three ways to eat the hitsumabushi (small, 32,000 won)

I was a little worried the small size would be too little, but when it arrived, I was surprised by how generous the portion actually was! There was a sheet on the table explaining how to enjoy hitsumabushi properly, so I followed it step by step!

• Eat it as is, savoring the natural flavor of the eel and tare sauce
• Add the toppings provided — wasabi, scallions, and more — for a spicy, varied combination
• Pour in the warm broth and finish it traditional ochazuke-style, savory and warm

Getting to experience three different charms in one bowl meant I never got tired of it, right to the last bite. The eel had zero fishy smell and the meat was really tender.

Una Magok reportedly grills its eel based on the traditional Nagoya cooking philosophy of jeongjongnigiri-style preparation. They repeatedly coat and grill the eel with a special sauce over and over, and the tare sauce especially is a work of art! Simmered for over 12 hours with around 30 kinds of medicinal herbs and spices, it has a subtle aroma and deep umami that cleanly cuts through the eel's richness. The outside caramelizes to a crisp while the inside stays moist — a perfect crispy-outside, tender-inside texture!

How was the tori mabushi, the charcoal-grilled chicken rice bowl?

The hitsumabushi was really, really good, but the tori mabushi was pure joy! Chicken with a whiff of charcoal smoke came piled thick on top of the rice, and the portion just kept going and going.

It comes neatly arranged in three rows total, and there was so much that even putting a piece of chicken on every single spoonful of rice, there was still meat left over. The chicken had no gamey smell at all and was moist and tender — truly excellent! Since this place is famous for eel rice bowls, I honestly didn't expect much from the chicken version, but it was genuinely delicious :) I highly, highly recommend trying the tori mabushi at Una Magok!

Side dishes, green tea ice cream and the verdict on Una Magok

Beyond the main dishes, the side dishes that came along were also really neat and delicious. The restaurant's cleanliness gave me confidence, and above all, the owner and staff were so kind and attentive that I felt good the entire meal :)

The green tea ice cream served for dessert was the perfect clean finish after the meal. The portions given as standard were so generous that I didn't even need a refill.

For anyone in Magok looking for genuinely crafted, authentic eel dishes or a dignified meal, I confidently recommend Una Magok. It was a gift-like, heartwarming meal in a clean, polished atmosphere :) Highly, highly recommend the eel rice bowl as a follow-up after seeing an exhibit at the Mai Art Museum!