Gangnam Japanese restaurant for three-way eel rice bowls: Chisot

Charcoal-grilled eel rice near Yeoksam Station Exit 7

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch (치솟 역삼본점) is a five-minute walk from Yeoksam Station Exit 7, tucked into the alley behind Centerfield and Josun Palace, so it is easy to find for a lunch spot for Yeoksam office workers.

The sign reads, “Over soaring charcoal flames, a bite that lifts your spirits.” It tells you from the name alone that this is a place grilling eel over charcoal, so I was excited even before going in, haha.

Once seated, the table was set so neatly. It looked like a lovely Yeoksam date spot too!

How did I eat the mini hitsumabushi?

Mini hitsumabushi with charcoal aroma from the start

When I opened the wooden-lidded bowl of mini hitsumabushi (₩25,000), the charcoal aroma rose up first. The eel was cut into easy-to-eat pieces and piled generously over rice, so it did not feel lacking in portion despite the “mini” name, haha.

The eel skin was nicely charred and glossy. The sauce had soaked into the rice too, so even the rice alone carried a gently sweet soy-sauce aroma.

The gyeran-jjim (steamed egg) had a soft texture and came with one shrimp inside. Served warm, it was comforting on the stomach. The clear soup was savory without being salty. It was perfect for cutting through the rich eel, and the scallions on top added a fresh aroma!

Plain, with toppings, and as ochazuke

First, I tried the eel and rice just as they were. The skin was crisp and the flesh moist, letting the charcoal fragrance and the eel’s natural flavor come through. Second, I added scallions and gim-garu (seaweed flakes). The nutty seaweed and sharp scallions made the same eel taste even fuller, haha.

For the last way, I moved the eel and rice into a bowl, poured in broth, and ate it as ochazuke (rice in tea or broth). As the sauce melted into the warm broth, it turned into something like a hearty, savory soup with rice, making it a nice finish.

A little wasabi gave a sharp aroma that neatly cut through the eel’s richness. Personally, this was the combination I enjoyed most!

Sake-don topped with thick slices of salmon

The sake-don (₩16,500) looked great from the start, topped with egg yolk, flying-fish roe, and scallions over thick slices of salmon! Once I broke the yolk and mixed it with the rice, the rich salmon and popping texture of the roe came together for a charm quite different from the eel rice bowl, haha.

The salmon was cut thick, so it had a satisfying bite. It was moderately rich and melted softly in the mouth. The rice was seasoned as well, so salmon and rice alone never felt bland. If you are looking for a salmon rice bowl in Yeoksam, this is a satisfying combination!

I tried the salmon with wasabi too. Its sharp aroma kept the salmon’s richness in check, so I could eat it cleanly to the end.

Seating for solo meals and small team dinners

Sake was displayed at the counter, so Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch also looked like a nice Yeoksam spot for having eel with a glass of sake alone in the evening. With counter seats and table seating separated, it works well for both solo meals and gatherings.

There were several tables for four in the dining room, making it convenient for lunch with coworkers or a small company dinner, haha.

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch was a place where you could comfortably enjoy charcoal-fragrant hitsumabushi and sake-don, whether dining alone or attending a team dinner.

If you are looking for a filling eel rice bowl for lunch in Yeoksam, I recommend Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch, haha.