Coal briquette eel buffet in Hakik-dong, Incheon: Songrim Bokjangeo

I recently visited Songrim Bokjangeo in Incheon. Eel is one of those foods I want to eat but hesitate over because of the price, so I was glad to find a place where you can have all-you-can-eat freshwater eel, plus pork belly and chicken neck. It had been a long time since I'd had eel, and I was really looking forward to it. My friend and I ate until we were absolutely stuffed.

Where is Songrim Bokjangeo Hakik-dong, and is there parking?

Songrim Bokjangeo Inha Univ. Hakik-dong branch is at 248 Soseong-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on the 1st floor, near Baekhak Elementary School, and 8 minutes by car from Incheon Munhak Stadium. I heard it reopened recently, and it wasn't hard to find.

We'd come to Incheon by car for a day out and ended up here on the spur of the moment. Parking is available, so there's less to worry about if you're driving, which I liked. I didn't make a reservation and just walked in on a weekday. If you're planning to go without a reservation, it's probably a good idea to check the busy hours beforehand.

The restaurant is also quite big, so I think it would work well for a company dinner or a group gathering.

Songrim Bokjangeo all-you-can-eat eel price and menu

The all-you-can-eat buffet is ₩29,900 for adults and ₩14,000 for children (elementary school age), with a separate table setting fee of ₩3,000 per person. Since you get pork belly and chicken neck along with the freshwater eel, it seems fine for eel lovers and also for anyone in your group who isn't big on eel.

There were also meal dishes like eel soup, galbitang (beef rib soup), yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles). I liked that you can go for the buffet when you want to eat your fill of eel and meat, or pick a regular meal dish when you're in the mood for that instead.

How does freshwater eel taste after a childhood bout of indigestion?

Contrary to what I'd feared, the freshwater eel at Songrim Bokjangeo was so good! Honestly, I got indigestion from eating eel when I was little, so I didn't eat it for quite a while. This was my first eel in ages, and maybe because of that, it tasted even better.

The restaurant says it doesn't use frozen eel and sells eel caught fresh every day. Eating it myself, I was impressed by the springy, bouncy texture.

Eel grilled over coal briquettes: crispy outside, chewy inside

Eaten plain, it had a rich, nutty, chewy flavor, and dipping it in the sauce they provide gave it a different kind of charm. Grilled gently over charcoal, in particular, it came out crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

The eel's springy texture went so well with the golden-grilled surface that I kept reaching for more. Even though it had been ages since I'd had eel, I enjoyed it a lot and was really satisfied.

Finishing the eel with two strips of pork belly

After eating my fill of eel at Songrim Bokjangeo, I finished with pork belly. Since I'd already had so much eel, just two light strips.. hehe.

Golden-cooked pork on a lettuce wrap with white kimchi and Cheongyang chili pepper (a spicy green chili) was, of course, heavenly! Even if everyone in your group likes different dishes, each person can pick what suits them, which I think is one of Songrim Bokjangeo's strengths.

Why I'd go back to Songrim Bokjangeo

I liked that for one set price you get a good-value spread of eel, pork belly and chicken neck. Eel can be pricey enough that you hesitate to eat it often, right? Personally, the texture of the eel, crispy outside and chewy inside from the charcoal grill, is what stuck with me. I enjoyed it even after not eating eel for so long, and my friend, who loves eel, left happy too. Parking is convenient as well, so if you're looking for a good eel place in Incheon, it's worth stopping by Songrim Bokjangeo :)

Who is the Songrim Bokjangeo eel buffet for?

• Anyone looking for an all-you-can-eat eel place in Incheon
• Anyone looking for a group dinner spot in Hakik-dong
• Anyone looking for good food near Incheon Munhak Stadium
• Anyone looking for an eel restaurant with parking in Incheon

Songrim Bokjangeo Inha Univ. Hakik-dong branch: hours, address and info

• Address: 248 Soseong-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 10:00–22:00 / closed every Tuesday
• Other: all-you-can-eat, takeout, reservations, baby chairs, parking