Myeonmok-dong eel restaurant for first-timers: Cheonsangae Jangeoga

I went for a Friday evening reservation at Cheonsangae Jangeoga, a charcoal-grilled eel restaurant in Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang, Seoul — right by Sagajeong Station and known as a spot for boyangsik (health-boosting food).

Where is Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch, and when is it open?

Cheonsangae Jangeoga sits right in the middle between Myeonmok and Sagajeong stations. It's on the roadside so it's easy to find. Apparently it used to be an Ediya coffee shop years ago before it changed hands.

• Hours: 11:30–21:30
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 14:00, 20:30
• Two-top tables, 4–6 person family seating, group seating up to 36, private booking available
• No pets allowed
• Corkage allowed, Naver reservations available
• Pregnant guests get one free eel!!!!

No parking is available on-site. Nearby alternatives include the 24-hour unmanned paid lot Nice Park (357 Myeonmok-ro, Jungnang-gu, Seoul) and the Green Hospital parking tower.

How much is lunch? The Seolhwasan three-eel set at 59,000 won

On weekdays from 11:30 to 14:00 there's a lunch special. Seolhwasan Sam-jangeo set — ₩59,000, wild ginseng eel soup set — ₩9,000. A great value chance to eat boyangsik!

Wood and hanji interior, from tables for two to groups of 36

The interior of Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch is wood-paneled with a slightly unusual layout. It's great for group gatherings and company dinners, but also works well for a small meal.

This wood and hanji (traditional Korean paper) interior is really pretty. Good for bringing your parents too! Would also work well for family dining on a milestone birthday like a 60th or 70th.

The tableware was hygienically individually wrapped.

The menu and the 79,000 won two-person eel set

The signature menu is the 2–4 person set, and there are various promotions: one free eel for pregnant guests, one free eel for those over 80, 10% off for police and firefighters, and a cute Minions-branded gim-jaban (seasoned seaweed flakes) service for kids.

I chose the two-person set for ₩79,000. If you come for weekday lunch it's the same composition but ₩20,000 cheaper!

Side dishes and the self-serve bar at Cheonsangae Jangeoga

A variety of side dishes. The soy-marinated perilla leaves were surprisingly delicious.

If you run low on side dishes you can just grab more from the self-serve bar. There's kimchi too, so I helped myself midway through.

Two freshwater eels grilled over Yeoju charcoal at your table

Out comes the oak white charcoal. Apparently it's domestic Yeoju charcoal.

Two huge eels arrive along with wood ear mushrooms. The staff member grilled them for us so kindly!!!

You can tell they're fresh just by looking, right?

They stretched the eel out and cut it so it would all fit on the grill.

It cooks fast. Ah it looks so good, I want more already.

You can just sit there drooling and watching while the pro grills it perfectly for you.

Personally I'm an eel novice — I've only had hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) a few times — but honestly just the visual of this got my heart racing.

We weren't allowed to eat yet. Now we can.

Turns out I like eel (still haven't eaten any yet)

Doenjang stew, eel sushi and Tongyeong oyster jeotgal

The doenjang (soybean paste) stew arrives right on time. It's included in the set, but steamed rice isn't, so if you want rice you have to order it separately! Rice for the eel sushi does come included though.

Even eogul-jeot (raw oyster jeotgal, salted seasoned raw oysters) is included as a side dish — I'm touched.

They grill the eel tail and place it on top of rice for you. Add wasabi to taste and eat.

How does the eel taste? No fishy smell, and perfect with ginger

Okay, time for the real eating now. So good!@

It goes well dipped in the eel sauce, but it's also delicious eaten plain with zero fishy taste.

Eating it like this makes it even better. I don't usually like ginger, but now I understand why everyone eats eel with it. Such a good match ;

I went full flex and topped my eel sushi with oyster jeotgal. Don't be too jealous.

This oyster jeotgal is so good... salty with great umami depth, it's a real rice-thief — steals bite after bite.

Adding kimchi in between totally cuts through the richness.

Put soy-marinated perilla leaf on lettuce, then eel, then ginger, then garlic — pure bliss.

Receipt-review sausage, charcoal-roasted potato and nurungji to finish

If you do the Naver receipt review event, they give you a sausage — do this. This is no ordinary sausage, is it handmade?????? Bouncy, salty, and really delicious.

Once we finished all the eel, they suddenly pulled a potato out of the charcoal. What a surprise.

A perfectly roasted potato, yum yum yum. It's really hot so be careful, but the texture is so fluffy and delicious.

An endless blessing of carbs. How can you resist the rice tea (nurungji)? Nutty rice tea topped with sausage and soy-marinated perilla leaf — that's when your stomach explodes.

A Sagajeong Station and Myeonmok Station restaurant where you can eat domestic Japonica freshwater eel — Cheonsangae Jangeoga. I ate so, so well!!~!