# No-reservation weekend lunch at a Seoul eel restaurant near DMC: Ryeok

- By Miran (https://superchart.com/en/@midday-detour-seoul/)
- Written Sep 16, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written as part of a sponsored store visit.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@midday-detour-seoul/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@midday-detour-seoul/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/index.md)

## In short

Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom (력 민물장어구이전문점) is a freshwater eel grill restaurant on Seongam-ro 15-gil near Digital Media City Station in Mapo, Seoul. Arriving right at opening on a weekend without a reservation, the writer ordered the special eel rice bowl hitsumabushi at 27,000 won and cream shrimp, served with chawanmushi, soup, banchan, ochazuke broth and a brownie dessert. The opening rush got the writer a table straight away, but with so many reserved seats at Ryeok, booking ahead is the smarter move next time.

## Good to know

- **Special eel rice bowl (hitsumabushi)**: 27,000 won
- **Egg and eel rice bowl**: 18,000 won
- **Abalone and eel pot rice**: 21,000 won
- **Side menu**: Yurinke fried chicken, cream shrimp, duck grill, potato pancake
- **Served alongside**: Chawanmushi, soup, banchan (kkakdugi radish kimchi, pickles), ochazuke broth, brownie dessert
- **Reservations**: Many reserved tables even at weekend lunch; booking recommended for groups
- **Address**: 37 Seongam-ro 15-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul

*as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026*

I was craving eel on a weekend lunch, so I went to Ryeok Eel, a well-known spot near Digital Media City. I went without a reservation, timing it right for opening, but as soon as I walked in I was surprised to see quite a lot of tables already reserved. We got seated right away by going for the opening rush, but if you're planning a relaxed weekend lunch, I think booking ahead would give you more peace of mind.

![Interior of Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom at weekend lunch opening time](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-01-5sghe-900.webp)

The lunch menu wasn't just one or two types of eel rice bowl — there was quite a bit to choose from, and I went with the special eel rice bowl hitsumabushi. The portion of eel was generous, and with egg strips, onion and ginger to mix in, it didn't taste the same from the first bite to the last. Chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard), side dishes, soup, and even a brownie at the end came together for a proper full lunch.

## Do you need a reservation for weekend lunch at Ryeok?

Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom had quite a lot of reserved tables even at weekend lunch. We walked in right at opening time. I figured a weekend lunch might be on the quieter side, but there were more reserved tables than I expected, and more guests kept coming in not long after. I realized it's better to either do the opening rush or reserve ahead rather than show up late and end up waiting.

![Table with reservation sign at Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-02-7jhkp-900.webp)

If you're going for a group gathering or work dinner near DMC, I'd say booking ahead is a good idea. For two people, one open table is usually enough, but it's a different story with a bigger group. There were plenty of reservations already by lunchtime that day, so next time I go back, I'll just make a reservation myself.

![Seating and table setting at Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-03-13a5b-900.webp)

![View of the dining hall at Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom near DMC](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-04-2w2ka-900.webp)

## Lunch menu and prices at Ryeok: ordering the special eel rice bowl

The lunch eel menu at Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom had the special eel rice bowl hitsumabushi for 27,000 won, the egg eel rice bowl for 18,000 won, and the abalone eel hot pot rice for 21,000 won. Looking at the menu, there were quite a few ways to enjoy eel at lunch, so I could pick the style I wanted. I decided on the special eel rice bowl hitsumabushi.

![Lunch menu board showing the price of the special eel rice bowl hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-05-u3jj2-900.webp)

![Side menu board listing yurinke, cream shrimp and other options](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-06-1jd3r-900.webp)

Sides like yurinke (crispy fried chicken with tangy sauce), cream shrimp, duck-duck grill and potato pancake could also be ordered separately, and we added the cream shrimp. The eel rice bowl alone was plenty, but sharing one side between two of us made it fun to pick at something different in between bites. If you're coming with a group, ordering one eel dish each plus a few shared sides seems like a good plan too.

## What comes with the meal: chawanmushi, banchan and a brownie

Even with just one eel rice bowl ordered, Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom set the table first with chawanmushi, soup and side dishes. I liked that the table was set before the main dish arrived, rather than just the main showing up alone — there was plenty to eat along the way. The chawanmushi was warm and soft, so I had a few spoonfuls before the eel arrived, and it was easy to go back to partway through the eel too.

![Lunch table set with chawanmushi, soup and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-07-ikeqm-1200.webp)

Small portions of kkakdugi (radish kimchi) and pickled sides came along too, and after finishing the meal, a brownie dessert arrived. I thought the meal ended with the eel rice bowl, but having a dessert too meant I was pretty full before even thinking about a café afterward.

## How much eel is in the special eel rice bowl, and how it is grilled

The special eel rice bowl had so much eel it nearly covered the entire bowl of rice. Instead of a few thin slices, it was topped generously with long grilled eel cut into bite-sized pieces, and picking up one piece showed the flesh was quite thick.

![Special eel rice bowl hitsumabushi with eel covering the rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-08-ac0to-900.webp)

The outside was grilled to a deep color with the distinct flavor of grilled eel coming through clearly, while the inside stayed soft. I'm not a fan of eel rice bowls where there's not enough eel and you're left eating plain rice, but with such a generous portion here, it was good to eat with rice all the way to the end. Ordering the special was the right call on a day I really wanted to eat a lot of eel.

## How to eat it: mixing the eel with egg strips, onion and ginger

Under the eel in the special eel rice bowl was a generous layer of egg strips, along with onion and ginger. For the first few bites I just ate the eel with rice, then started mixing in the egg strips and adding a bit of ginger here and there. It was noticeably less heavy than eating eel on its own the whole time.

![Egg strips and onion layered beneath the eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-09-17mtx-900.webp)

![A spoonful of eel rice bowl mixed with ginger on top](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-10-177b8-900.webp)

The ginger in particular cut through the richness of the eel, and I preferred eating it that way. Mixing in the onion too added a nice crunch. Rather than mixing everything together right from the start, I found it tastier to combine the eel, egg strips and ginger a little at a time.

## Finishing with ochazuke: save some eel and rice

Once you've eaten a good amount of the eel rice bowl at Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom, you can save some eel and rice to turn into ochazuke (rice in savory broth). I deliberately left some rice and eel aside from the start, planning for this. Pouring in the broth that came separately completely changes the feel from the eel rice bowl you were just eating.

![Broth poured over the leftover eel and rice for ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-11-1t9ci-900.webp)

![Bowl of ochazuke with eel softened in the broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-12-16anv-900.webp)

Even with a decently full stomach, mixing rice into the broth made it go down easily. The eel softened slightly as it soaked in the broth too, which was perfect for the last few spoonfuls. Finishing the eel rice bowl and then the ochazuke on top left me genuinely full after one meal.

The cream shrimp we ordered alongside was also good — the shrimp were large and the batter was generously coated in sauce, making it easy to pick at a piece or two between bites of eel. The eel rice bowl alone is enough, but if you're sharing dishes with others at the table, adding a side like this seems worth it.

![Cream shrimp side dish generously coated in sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run/dmc-eel-rice-weekend-lunch-open-run-13-7700i-900.webp)

Seeing so many reserved tables even at weekend lunch, it seems plenty of people already seek this place out as a DMC-area favorite. I liked the generous portion of eel in the special eel rice bowl, and there was something fun about working through chawanmushi, ochazuke, and dessert one by one. Next time, instead of the opening rush, I'll book ahead and go a bit more comfortably.

## Where it is

- Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom (력 민물장어구이전문점)
- 37 Seongam-ro 15-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 마포구 성암로15길 37 1층
- 37.5773125, 126.8964448
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A0%A5%20%EB%AF%BC%EB%AC%BC%EC%9E%A5%EC%96%B4%EA%B5%AC%EC%9D%B4%EC%A0%84%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5773125,126.8964448,17z

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