Songjeong Station eel restaurant, eel picked by headcount: Yuil Jangeo

Why I came back to Yuil Jangeo

Yuil Jangeo (유일장어) is an eel grill restaurant in Gwangsan, Gwangju, that says you can enjoy freshwater eel raised at its own farm at direct-sales prices. There are days when eel just pops into your head and there's one place you naturally end up at. This time too, while looking for a good restaurant in Gwangsan, I went back to Yuil Jangeo. The price isn't a burden and the eel quality satisfied me, so I returned.

Parking available

Location and parking

Yuil Jangeo is on the first floor of a building on Donggok-ro in Gwangsan-gu, with a large private parking lot right next to it. Being on the ground floor, it was easy to find even on a first visit. There was plenty of parking space, so it was easy to come by car, and it's fairly close to Songjeong Station, so access was great too.

How do you order?

When you walk into Yuil Jangeo, you first pick eel according to your headcount and then move to your table. If you're looking for an eel place in Gwangsan, I think you'll like the location and parking right away.

If you can't decide how much to order, the staff will suggest a suitable amount, so even first-timers can order without trouble.

Basic table setting and the self-serve bar

Once you sit down, the basic table setting is ready, and you can freely grab more side dishes from the self-serve bar. There's a good variety, and the lineup goes well with eel, which I liked.

The self-serve bar had spicy sauce, eel sauce, onion and ginger, plus lettuce, perilla leaves, pa-kimchi (scallion kimchi) and other things that go well with eel.

It was even more convenient that you can take as much of whatever side dish you want.

As a Korean restaurant in Gwangsan, the basic side dishes were neat overall, and the self-serve bar was well kept, so I could enjoy my meal comfortably.

Pre-grilled eel: how long do you grill it at the table?

The eel at Yuil Jangeo comes out pre-grilled, so you only need to grill it a little more over the table charcoal and it's ready to eat.

I liked that you don't have to wait long to eat. Finishing it over the charcoal left the outside chewy and nutty, while the flesh inside was moist and tender. The texture really satisfied me.

The fat level is just right, and it's clean-tasting yet rich and nutty, so my hand kept reaching for more.

Combinations that make the eel even better

The grilled eel at Yuil Jangeo is delicious just dipped in sauce, and it also went well wrapped in lettuce and perilla leaves.

Adding ginger or onion cuts the richness of the eel, so I could enjoy it to the very end without getting tired of it. You can mix the sauces however you like, which made eating even more fun.

Maybe because they run their own farm, the eel tasted fresh too, and after the meal I understood why so many people come to Yuil Jangeo for eel in Gwangsan.

Is it good for family meals and company dinners?

Yuil Jangeo is fairly spacious inside, so it's good for a family meal, and it looked suitable for meals with friends or company dinners too. There are also separate private rooms, so it seems convenient for quiet gatherings or group meals.

If you're looking for a Korean restaurant in Gwangsan, or you're craving a hearty stamina dish, Yuil Jangeo is a place where you can enjoy fresh freshwater eel to your satisfaction.

The big parking lot, the convenient self-serve bar and the quick pre-grilled eel made it satisfying overall, so I'd like to come back next time eel comes to mind. I recommend Yuil Jangeo to anyone looking for a meal in Gwangsan, Gwangju.