Seolleung Station eel bowl for a quiet late lunch date: Manmok

Where is Manmok near Seolleung Station, and what are the hours?

Manmok is an eel bowl Japanese restaurant at 9 Seolleung-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Daechi-dong 897-11), about 270 m on foot from Exit 2 of Seolleung Station. We had decided to have a lunch date in Seolleung, and Manmok was where we ended up.

• Address: 9 Seolleung-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Daechi-dong 897-11)
• Transport: about 270 m on foot from Exit 2, Seolleung Station
• Hours: daily 11:00–22:00 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 14:20 / 21:20)
• Reservations available
• Parking: 2 spots in front (small, call ahead) / paid lots nearby
• Groups welcome, separate men's/women's restrooms, waiting area, mobile payment

I had saved Manmok after walking past because the place looked so pretty. We came a little after the lunch rush, so the mood was even more relaxed and we could enjoy our meal at ease.

Is Manmok a good spot for a lunch date?

Manmok isn't flashy. The natural texture of wood comes through, which felt comfortable, and with the soft lighting it was lovely for eating quietly and talking. The interior has plenty of breathing room, so nothing felt stuffy, and the tables are spaced generously, which made for a cozy lunch.

I thought it would be good for bringing parents, and it suits a date or an important meal too. The phrase "a place where quiet hospitality dwells" also seemed to fit the restaurant's mood well.

Manmok's menu illustrated with pine trees and old-time figures

Even a small detail caught my eye as I looked through the Manmok menu. It had drawings of pine trees and people of old Korea, and that made the whole space feel more serene. It's a Japanese restaurant, but it seemed to carry Korean sentiment too, which I really liked, and little touches like this add to the restaurant's class.

The menu, set neatly on a wooden stand, was clean with nothing superfluous, and holding only what's needed made it feel all the more upscale.

Manmok eel bowl sizes and what we ordered

Manmok's eel bowl comes in three sizes: half eel, whole eel and 1.5 eel. We ordered two half-eel bowls. The menu isn't complicated either.

There was a drinks list too, and they were running a lunchtime alcohol discount. We had to drive in the afternoon, so we saved drinks for next time.

According to the notice in the restaurant, a new hanwoo nabe (hot pot) has also launched, dinner only. It's described as top-grade hanwoo (Korean beef) grilled once over charcoal, served with a clear broth and fresh vegetables, so next time I'll visit in the evening.

How did Manmok's half-eel bowl taste?

The half-eel bowl at Manmok was really soft in texture, and the sauce wasn't too sweet or salty. Soon after, a neat tray was set before us.

Alongside the eel bowl came a salad, soup, soft steamed egg, white kimchi, seasoned bellflower root (doraji), pickled ginger, fresh wasabi and sansho pickles, so there were lots of ways to mix and match. The glossy eel looked delicious just sitting there.

Manmok uses Gochang freshwater eel and, as I understand it, cooks it the Kanto way: grilled once, steamed, then grilled again over charcoal. Maybe that's why the texture was so soft. It was clean-tasting without the heaviness eel can have, and a faint charcoal aroma brought out even more flavor.

The sauce wasn't overly sweet or salty either, so the eel's own flavor came through. Eating it with fresh wasabi or with the sansho pickles had its own charm, and it went well with the rice, so I enjoyed it to the very end.

Best pairing: fresh wasabi and sansho pickles

Personally, my favorite was putting fresh wasabi and sansho pickles together on top of the eel. It brings out the eel's clean taste even more and leaves the mouth feeling refreshed, so I kept eating it that way.

Chawanmushi and ice cream for dessert

The fluffy, moist chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) went nicely with the eel bowl.

After the meal, Manmok also prepared dessert ice cream for us. We got one matcha and one black tea, traded bites, and ended the meal on a happy note.

I'd wanted a leisurely lunch date in a quiet atmosphere, and both the space and the food suited the day well.

Is there parking at Manmok?

If you're driving, you can park up to 2 cars in front of Manmok. There isn't much space, though, so if it's full, use a nearby parking lot.

I felt really good about this place. It's close to home too, so I'm putting my name down as someone who'll be coming often ♥