Jijok-dong, Daejeon eel buffet with grilled white kimchi: Songrimbok

As the weather turned chilly lately, my energy dipped and I found myself looking for something restorative to eat. Just meat felt a little lacking, and I wanted a proper stamina food I could eat my fill of. While searching, I heard there was a good place in the Jijok-dong area, so I went! Today I'm introducing Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store (송림복장어), known as a go-to restaurant in Jijok-dong, Daejeon.

Where is Songrimbok and where do you park?

Songrimbok is on the 2nd floor of the Joeun Plaza building in Jijok-dong, Daejeon, and you can use the Joeun Plaza underground car park. The parking sign said the first 10 minutes per entry are free and it's open 24 hours, so we could eat at a relaxed pace. And parking is what matters most for people coming by car, right? The location was really easy to find too.

The signs at the underground car park entrance are big and clear, so even on my first visit I parked in one go without getting lost. Parking was satisfying from the very start, as you'd expect from a Jijok-dong favorite..>.<

The exterior of Songrimbok is clean, with a signboard that stands out. It takes up a big spot on the 2nd floor, so you can spot it quickly from far away.

Inside, a wide, comfortable space opens up, and I thought it would be perfect for group gatherings and company dinners.

Songrimbok eel buffet price and what's included

The unlimited eel buffet at Songrimbok is ₩29,900 per adult, with a ₩3,000 table setting fee added (children excluded). Looking over the menu first, the prices seemed reasonable! You get freshwater eel along with various meats and basic side dishes, so the value felt great. There were also plenty of meal items like eel soup, buckwheat cold noodles (memil makguksu) and spicy ramyeon.

What side dishes are at Songrimbok's self-serve bar?

At the Songrimbok self-serve bar you can take as much as you like of extra sides such as lettuce, garlic, chili peppers, shredded ginger, white kimchi and pickled onion. Along with the basic table setting, I went to check out the bar first, and it was kept very clean! Besides fresh vegetables, there were plenty of side dishes that go wonderfully with eel.

The pickled perilla leaves, kimchi, ssamjang and the rest were all neatly and cleanly laid out, which gave me confidence. There's plenty of ginger and pickles to cut the richness of the eel, and I loved that I could take as much as I wanted ❤️ The tidy hygiene was impressive, just what you'd expect from a Jijok-dong favorite.

Is the all-you-can-eat freshwater eel good quality?

The unlimited freshwater eel at Songrimbok was thick and fresh, and my worries about quality vanished. At last the eel and meats we'd been waiting for were placed on the grill! Some of you may worry because it's all-you-can-eat, but one look at the eel and that worry was gone. Besides eel you can also enjoy meats like pork belly and chicken neck, so there's no time to get tired of it.

I cut the golden-browning eel into bite-sized pieces and lined them up in rows. Crispy outside and moist inside, the look of it made my mouth water..>.< The heat of the grill was just right, so both the meat and the eel browned nicely.

How the eel tastes, plus free bokbunja wine

I dipped a nicely cooked piece of eel lightly in the sauce and ate it with shredded ginger, and the clean yet nutty flavor filling my mouth was just superb! There was no fishy smell at all and it was tender, so I kept reaching for more. And a tasty stamina meal can't go without a drink!! I had bokbunja wine (black raspberry wine) too, which we got as a service. A glass of sweet, rich bokbunja with nutty eel needs no words, it's simply the best pairing ❤️ I felt like I was really restoring my strength, and I couldn't stop smiling.

Downsides and a tip: eel wrapped in grilled white kimchi

If I had to name one small drawback at Songrimbok, the self-serve bar has so many sides that on a first visit you might wonder which combination to try! As a hands-on tip, I recommend putting a piece of well-cooked eel on grilled white kimchi, adding a little shredded ginger and the special sauce, and wrapping it up. It wipes out the richness and leaves only the nutty flavor, so you can enjoy it to the end without getting tired of it.

Who should try Songrimbok in Jijok-dong?

Songrimbok was a satisfying meal: fresh freshwater eel and a variety of meats, unlimited, at a reasonable price. With a spacious, comfortable dining hall and good parking, I think it's a good choice for anyone looking for a Jijok-dong favorite, a family meal or a place for a company dinner. Stop by when you need a boost and enjoy a generous feast!