Changwon eel restaurant for dinner with dad & soju: Daedo Jangeo

My mom said she was off on a hiking club trip and asked me to take care of Dad's dinner, so I thought, why not have a date with Dad? We went to Daedo Jangeo (대도장어) in Palyong-dong, Changwon. This is already my Nth visit, so it's a regular spot for me. The grilled eel here has no fishy smell, the place is clean inside, and you can even brush your teeth afterward, which I love.

Where is Daedo Jangeo and where can you park?

Daedo Jangeo is in an alley across from Changwon Station, and you can use the public parking lot next to the restaurant. Parking cost ₩800 that day.

Just search it on Naver Map and follow the navigation. So easy!

I wondered if the public lot might be full, but there were two spots left inside. It was pouring rain, so we walked back to the restaurant under an umbrella.

I heard Daedo Jangeo was loved for 30 years as Namgang Jangeo in front of the main gate of Jinju's Chokseongnu Pavilion, then changed its name and was reborn. No wonder it feels like a long-standing local Changwon favorite!

Daedo Jangeo opening hours and closing day

The hours on the front door say it opens at 11:30 a.m., closes at 9:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. Break time is 2:30 to 4:00 p.m., and the regular closing day was every Monday.

Are Daedo Jangeo's dining room and side dish bar clean?

Daedo Jangeo has both a main hall and private rooms, and the tables and self-serve bar were very clean. Lots of guests had booked ahead,

and the tabletop looked really clean.

The walkways were wide, which made getting around easy. There was a self-serve bar, so I checked out the side dishes. All of them were covered with lids, which felt hygienic, and there wasn't a single flake of chili powder around, everything was neatly kept.

The drinks fridge was stocked with soju, beer and even highballs, which I liked. It would be a great spot for a company dinner too.

What's in the Daedo Jangeo restroom

The restroom at Daedo Jangeo has toothbrushes, toothpaste and disposable mouthwash, plus floss, cotton swabs, hair ties and even a stain remover. Honestly, the restroom shocked me. The sink was spotless without a drop of water, with hand soap and even hand cream out.

Isn't this what caring about customers looks like? Everything you might need was ready. The stain remover especially touched me.

Daedo Jangeo menu and lunch special

That day at Daedo Jangeo we ordered the large seasoned grilled sea eel. I asked Dad what he wanted while looking at the menu, and he said we should have whatever his daughter wanted, so that's what I picked.

On the back of the menu there's also the Daedo lunch special. It runs from noon to 2:30 p.m. and lets you enjoy pricey grilled eel in a more practical, good-value way. Sea eel + eel soup + side dishes + rice! The lineup was great. I wanted to come for lunch next time.

Which side dishes come with eel at Daedo Jangeo?

As soon as you order the grilled eel at Daedo Jangeo, side dishes like salad, broccoli, pickled onions, water kimchi (mul-kimchi) and a pancake (jeon) are all laid out at once. They brought the salad first, then freshly seasoned fresh kimchi (geotjeori), thinly sliced ginger, garlic, ssamjang (dipping paste), lettuce wraps and chili peppers.

To get my appetite going, I started with a bite of the sweet and sour salad! It set my mouth watering, a perfect warm-up before the meal. The scallion pancake (pajeon) was cold, but decent enough!

How does Daedo Jangeo's large seasoned sea eel taste?

The seasoned grilled sea eel at Daedo Jangeo comes cut into bite-size pieces and is kept warm so you can enjoy it to the last bite. I ordered the large so Dad could eat plenty! The eel looked gorgeous the moment I saw it.

I was sure Dad would want a glass of soju. I could feel it, but he kept declining. So what do you do? You just order it for him~

Once I ordered the Chamisul, he was happy. Hehe, I ordered a cola for myself too, in case Dad felt lonely drinking by himself. The seasoned eel looked amazing. Next time I'll try the freshwater eel!

Loaded and ready! Dad's solo drinking session began.

I made him a big wrap as a snack with his drink. He said it was bursting with savory flavor eaten with the fresh kimchi, and he loved it.

A staff member kindly explained that there's a layer of onions spread under the eel.

I picked up one big piece and tried it with ginger. The bones seemed to be removed cleanly, so it was just tender meat with no odd texture, and the spicy sauce tasted great.

Next I wrapped it in lettuce and perilla leaves, and the sweetness of the onion and the spiciness went really well together.

Daedo Jangeo meal menu: eel soup and cold noodles

For the meal at Daedo Jangeo, we ordered one eel soup with rice, and a refreshing cold noodle dish (mul naengmyeon) for me.

The eel soup, loaded with cinnamon powder, had a deep broth with a rich cinnamon flavor, and eaten with rice stirred in, it really felt like a health boost.

The cold noodles were refreshing, as if made with a dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth. They gave me vinegar and mustard too, so I added it all! One bite and my mouth, which had felt heavy, was clean again. The icy broth was great.

They even gave us sikhye (sweet rice drink) for dessert. This is the Palyong-dong, Changwon spot where I had my date with Dad! If you're looking for a restaurant that does grilled eel well, I recommend Daedo Jangeo.