Dog-days eel buffet for couples in Anrak-dong, Busan: Songnim Bok

Why I chose Songnim Bok Jangeo in Dongnae for Chobok

For Chobok (the first of the three hottest days of summer, when Koreans eat stamina food), my husband and I went to Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel, Busan Dongnae Branch (송림복장어), which newly opened in the Anrak-dong area of Dongnae, Busan. Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) is nice on these days, but I love eel so much that I decided to recharge with eel this time. I heard it was a brand-new place, and it was far better than I expected, so I wanted to introduce it haha

It's newly opened, so some of you may not know it yet, but I could see why local residents already come here a lot. A clean restaurant, fresh eel, the satisfaction of all-you-can-eat, and even free bokbunja wine, so overall I was really happy with it haha

What are the atmosphere and service like?

Being a new restaurant, the inside was clean and the tables were spaced widely, so it looked good for a family meal or a group gathering too. The whole place felt tidy and pleasant, and the staff were so kind that it made the place even more memorable!

It was Chobok on the day we visited, so there were really a lot of customers, and most seemed to be local residents coming for a meal. Even though it's new, it felt like word of mouth had already spread, which made me even more excited.

As soon as we sat down, a staff member guided us kindly and even brought us a free bokbunja wine. It was an unexpected treat, so my husband and I started our meal happily with a drink. Even one small gesture like that makes a meal feel nicer.

Unlimited eel: is the refilled eel still fresh?

Because it's all-you-can-eat eel, the biggest plus was being able to eat as much as I wanted without feeling self-conscious. Eel prices are so steep these days that it's hard to eat it often, so it was nice to enjoy it without worry. People who eat a lot will be really satisfied, I think.

I worried that quality might drop because it's all-you-can-eat, but not at all. The eel we brought for refills was as fresh as the first round, and I was happy the whole meal. It's not a one-and-done thing; my hand kept reaching for more. Even my husband said, "This place is really good."

Self-grilled eel, like a date for two

The eel here is grilled yourself, so you can cook it to the doneness you like. We like to grill it slowly until the outside turns golden, so we cooked it to our taste. Grilling is fun, and eating eel fresh off the grill tastes much better. My husband was in charge of grilling and I was in charge of eating deliciously, and chatting while slowly grilling felt like a date, which I loved.

Worried about a fishy smell?

What satisfied me most at Songnim Bok Jangeo was that the eel had almost none of its characteristic fishy smell. Some people love eel but hesitate because of the smell, right? Maybe because it's fresh, there was no off-putting odor at all here, only rich, nutty flavor. I think even people who usually can't eat eel could try it without worry.

How to eat eel: a pinch of salt, a lettuce wrap

When I bit into the golden-grilled eel, the outside was slightly crisp and the inside moist, with a really nice texture. The meat was plump and tender, and the nutty flavor got stronger the more I chewed. Wrapping the eel in lettuce with shredded ginger and seasoned scallions cut the richness and was delicious. Personally, just dipping it lightly in salt was my favorite, because you really taste the eel itself.

Is Songnim Bok Jangeo worth going back to?

The staff were busy but still served us kindly, which made the meal even more pleasant. They helped right away whenever we needed something, and I was impressed by how they kept the restaurant tidy throughout.

If you're looking for a great eel restaurant or a stamina meal in Dongnae, Busan, I recommend Songnim Bok Jangeo. If you want to eat eel until you're full, or need a spot for a family meal or a date, give it a visit. When eel crosses our minds next time, this will be the first place my husband and I come back to.