Yeouido mudflat eel restaurant: 1.5-eel premium set at Daedong Jangeo

I went to Daedong Jangeo Yeouido (대동장어 여의도점), on the Gukhoe-daero side of Yeouido, at lunchtime. I love eel and often go to eel restaurants with my family, but lately I'd only been going to Japanese-style grilled eel places and was getting a little tired of it. The mudflat eel concept caught my eye, so I went to try it.

To get to the point: Daedong Jangeo Yeouido suits people who really enjoy the taste of eel itself, and the portion was seriously huge haha.

Where is Daedong Jangeo Yeouido, and is there parking?

Daedong Jangeo Yeouido is on the first floor of the Oakwood Yeouido Park Hotel, about a 4-minute walk from Exit 3 of National Assembly Station on Line 9. If you drive, you can park at the hotel or a nearby lot, and the first 60 minutes are free.

• 📍 24 Gukhoe-daero 68-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Oakwood Yeouido Park Hotel, 1st floor, Unit 101)
• ⏰ Mon–Fri 11:00–22:00 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 21:00)
• ⏰ Sat–Sun 11:30–22:00 (last order 21:00)
• 🚗 Hotel or nearby lot: free for the first 60 minutes, then ₩6,000 per 60 minutes (max ₩20,000)

If the hotel's parking is full, they point you to a nearby lot and cover one hour of parking, I was told. On Naver Map, search for Yeouido Park Hotel Salon de Yeouido and you can find your way to the first floor of the same building. Reservations are possible and there are baby chairs, so it looks usable for family gatherings too.

Premium grilled eel set at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido: price and what's included

At Daedong Jangeo Yeouido I ordered the grilled eel set, premium size (1.5 eels), for ₩65,000. Since it comes with a whole eel and a half, the amount might be a bit much haha.

The set comes with rice and seaweed soup, plus several side dishes. The price is a bit high for lunch, but given how much eel you get, it felt reasonable. Below is the drinks list!

How is the mudflat eel served, and how does it taste?

The mudflat eel at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido arrives fully grilled, so all I had to do was eat. Not having to grill it myself is a big plus at lunchtime.

When I picked up a piece, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly thick it was. The texture was chewy and the flesh firm, definitely a different kind of eel from the soft, flaky kind I usually eat.

The more I chewed, the more it felt almost like eating meat, and I liked how rich and savory (umami-packed) it was.

How to eat eel, according to the table sign

A sign on the table explained how to enjoy the eel.

It said to start with just a light dip in salt to taste the eel's natural nuttiness, and it also suggested eating it with shredded ginger, gamtae (seaweed), or gimbugak (crispy seaweed chips). I tried it with ginger and a sheet of seaweed, and it cleaned up the richness nicely.

Another sign explained that they use Ganghwa Island mudflat eel, and that freshwater eels are acclimated in a mudflat environment for at least 75 days. The line about checking ingredients directly at the source also left an impression.

What side dishes come with the eel set at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido?

The grilled eel set came with mustard leaf kimchi, green onion kimchi, muk-sabal (acorn jelly noodle soup), seasoned mung bean jelly, pickled chili peppers and white kimchi, along with rice and seaweed soup.

The bowls were all in a celadon color and the whole table was neatly set, so it felt like being properly treated. Between bites of rich eel, I cleansed my palate with the muk-sabal and white kimchi, so I never got tired of it until the end.

Downsides of Daedong Jangeo Yeouido and who it suits

The premium set at Daedong Jangeo Yeouido is so big that even an adult man would struggle to finish 1.5 eels alone. I was full and asked if I could get takeout, but they said no, which was a real shame ㅠㅠ If it's your first visit, consider the portion and start with the one-eel set.

• People who are a little tired of Japanese-style grilled eel
• People who like the chewy, firm texture of eel itself
• People who want grilled eel served ready to eat, without the work of grilling

I think it's a good fit for these people.

My favorite part was the chewy, firm texture of the mudflat eel. Next time, I want to follow the sign, dip it in just a little salt, and taste the eel's true flavor from the very first bite.