Suwon eel buffet with seats for 100 and free parking: Songnim Bok

Ever want to eat eel to your heart's content but hesitate because of the price? A new value-for-money eel spot just opened in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon with all-you-can-eat freshwater eel haha. I went to check out Songnim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Suwon Main Branch.

It's not just eel that's unlimited — you also get pork belly and chicken neck meat, which makes it even better. The place is spacious and has its own parking lot, so it's great for family meals out or for anyone looking for a good-value spot for a work dinner or gathering. For an all-you-can-eat place, the quality and taste were surprisingly good — very satisfying!

Where Songnim Bok Jangeo Suwon Main Branch is, and where to park

Songnim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Suwon Main Branch is located at 8-35 Gwonjung-ro 50beon-gil, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 1st floor. It's about 941m from Exit 2 of Suwon City Hall Station on the Suin-Bundang Line, and there's free parking at the private lot on the 1st floor behind the building as well as an underground lot.

• Address: 8-35 Gwonjung-ro 50beon-gil, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 1st floor
• Location: about 941m from Exit 2, Suwon City Hall Station (Suin-Bundang Line)
• Hours: daily 10:50–22:00, no break time
• Parking: free at the private lot behind the building (1st floor) and underground
• Reservations available / takeout available
• Group use available / seating for up to 100
• Amenities: wifi, high chairs, waiting area, separate restrooms
• No corkage / no outside alcohol

Group seating for up to 100 and what the dining room looks like

The inside of Songnim Bok Suwon Main Branch was spacious enough for a work dinner or group gathering. There's group seating for up to 100 people, so it's a good pick if you're looking for a place for a big work dinner or family gathering.

Once inside, the restaurant felt roomy. The seats were spaced apart so it was comfortable. Every table is set up for charcoal grilling, with an individual hood hanging down above it.

What's on the self-serve bar at Songnim Bok Jangeo

There's a self-serve bar — actually two of them. There's an environmental fee if you waste food, so it's best to only take what you'll eat haha.

You can refill unlimited amounts from the self-serve bar.

Eel, pork belly and chicken neck meat are all set out, along with mushrooms, lettuce, perilla leaves, sauces, green onion kimchi, white kimchi and more to help yourself to.

Menu and prices at the Suwon eel buffet

• Table charge ₩3,000 per person (self-serve bar use)
• Freshwater eel all-you-can-eat ₩29,900 per adult
• Elementary school child ₩14,000
• Eel soup ₩10,000
• Galbitang ₩10,000
• Buckwheat makguksu ₩9,000
• Spicy ramyeon ₩5,000
• Rice ₩1,000

Based on about 650g dressed from 1kg raw. Eel is also available for takeout, listed at ₩35,000.

What we ordered and the side dishes that came with it

Songnim Bok Jangeo says it sources live freshwater eel every morning, selecting and dressing it at fish farms and direct markets before supplying it to the restaurant. Not using thawed frozen eel but dressing it fresh daily is what I liked most.

When you first sit down, they bring out a full plate of pork belly and chicken neck meat along with the eel. It looked pretty fresh — with three kinds of meat, it looked quite generous.

At first they brought out pickled onions, green onion kimchi, shredded ginger, white kimchi and pickled perilla leaves.

How the eel actually tasted

How to grill freshwater eel properly

Rather than cutting it up small from the start, it's easier to grill it whole a bit first, then cut. They say it's tastier to cook the skin side first. Once the fat starts rendering, the flames can flare up, so it's best not to leave it in one spot too long — keep turning it and watch how it's doing.

As the charcoal heat rises and the eel starts cooking, the flesh gradually shrinks and the surface starts to glisten.

Watching it sizzle as the fat renders makes you want to eat it right away lol. The smell is amazing~ it was quite thick, so it had a satisfying chew. Grilled golden brown, the outside had a slight bounce while the inside stayed soft and moist.

That distinctive savory, rich flavor comes through even stronger when it's grilled over charcoal.

Eating it with perilla leaves or pickled sides, or wrapped in lettuce, gives a different feel each time.

Switching up the combinations kept it from getting boring.

Charcoal-grilled pork belly and chicken neck meat

The charcoal pork belly is also unlimited, so we grilled some in the middle of the meal. The friend I went with said the pork belly was delicious. Once it hit the grill, the fatty part started sizzling and cooked up golden brown and tasty haha, so savory haha.

If you're eating with someone who can't handle much eel, having pork belly and neck meat is a good backup. The chewy chicken neck meat is also delicious grilled over charcoal, picking up that smoky flavor. Unlike regular chicken breast, which can be dry, it has a distinctly chewy texture.

Finishing the meal with spicy ramyeon

A hot bowl of spicy ramyeon. Since the meal can get greasy, I'd recommend ordering it. It's best to order it right after eating some eel. The bubbling ramyeon came out with a spicy broth that paired well as a finish after the grilled meal.

One spoonful of that hot, spicy broth and you feel revived haha. I usually don't eat ramyeon because it's often not that good, but whatever they use to make this one, it's really chewy and springy, and the broth soaks into the noodles nicely — tasty.

Who Songnim Bok Jangeo in Suwon suits best

• Anyone looking for a good-value all-you-can-eat eel spot in Suwon
• Anyone who wants pork belly and chicken neck meat alongside the eel
• Anyone looking for a family dining spot in Suwon to take parents to
• Anyone in Suwon looking for a group dinner spot near Suwon City Hall
• Anyone looking for a Suwon eel restaurant with free private parking

Final verdict on Songnim Bok Jangeo Suwon

Among eel restaurants in Suwon, Songnim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Suwon Main Branch stands out for being good value with unlimited refills, a large space, and free parking — great for group dinners and gatherings. Recommended!