Gojan-dong eel buffet for team dinners with parking: Songnim Bok

On days when you need an energy boost like these, eel is the first thing that comes to mind. I always thought eel was too pricey to eat often, but then I heard there's a place in Gojan-dong, Ansan, where you can have freshwater eel all-you-can-eat, so I went to see for myself. The place I visited is Songnim Bok (송림복장어) Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat, Ansan City Hall branch.

Where is Songnim Bok Jangeo Ansan City Hall, and where do you park?

Songnim Bok Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Ansan City Hall is near Ansan City Hall (33 Danggok-ro, units 201 and 202 on the 2nd floor), and you can use the underground parking in the building. It's open from 11:20 to 22:00, with last order at 21:00.

Being near Ansan City Hall, the location is easy to get to. There's underground parking in the building for those coming by car, which made parking convenient. Group dinners and family gatherings often mean driving, so not having to worry about parking felt like a big plus.

Is Songnim Bok Jangeo roomy enough for a team dinner in Gojan-dong?

Inside Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall, there are lots of tables with generous spacing, which suits big company dinners or family meals. At the self-bar you can grab not just side dishes but also freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck yourself.

The whole place was kept clean and pleasant, with plenty of tables and generous spacing, so I could eat comfortably without worrying about bumping into the next table. The layout lets big groups relax too, and I saw lots of people there for family dinners or company gatherings. So I felt it would suit anyone searching for a recommended group dinner spot in Gojan-dong.

Fried eggs and kimchi pancakes at the self-serve bar

Another plus of Songnim Bok was the self-bar. Besides refilling side dishes, you can freely take freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck, and you can even make your own fried eggs and kimchi jeon (kimchi pancakes), which was a fun little extra.

What we ordered at Songnim Bok Jangeo

What I ordered at Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall was the all-you-can-eat set for 2 adults. There's a separate table setting fee, but considering you can eat as much of a variety of meat as you like, it felt like a very satisfying deal.

Side dishes and the quality of the freshwater eel

The basic spread at Songnim Bok came with sides that go well with eel, like white kimchi, pickled perilla leaves, ginger strips and green onion kimchi. The freshwater eel was plump and thick, and they say they use eel prepared fresh every day.

The basic spread was pretty generous too. Neatly prepared sides that suit eel, such as white kimchi, pickled perilla leaves, ginger strips and green onion kimchi. Eating the eel with ginger strips cut the richness and brought out the flavor, and it also paired nicely with the pickled perilla leaves. You could tell care went into every single side dish to help you enjoy the eel.

The eel stood out from the thickness alone. It was plump and hefty, and maybe because they say it's prepared fresh daily, the freshness really came through. Watching it turn golden brown on the grill made me even hungrier.

How does the all-you-can-eat freshwater eel taste?

The freshwater eel at Songnim Bok was crispy outside and moist inside, and even dipped in just salt, the eel's natural flavor came through. I'd worried about quality since it's all-you-can-eat, but the eel was in such good shape that I went back for refills several times.

Taking a bite of the properly cooked eel, the crispy-outside, moist-inside texture was really great. It wasn't tough but pleasantly chewy, with a rich, nutty flavor. Even with just a light dip in salt, the eel's own taste shone, and dipped in the eel sauce it turned sweet and savory, a different kind of appeal. I'd worried that all-you-can-eat would mean lower quality, but not at all. If anything, the eel was in such good condition that I ended up refilling several times.

Pork belly, chicken neck and the bokbunja wine promotion

Besides freshwater eel, the all-you-can-eat at Songnim Bok also includes pork belly and chicken neck, so you can alternate grilling them. At the time of my visit, they were offering bokbunja wine as a grand-opening event.

The pork belly was a good thickness, easy to grill, and not too fatty, so it was clean and light. Having a bite of pork belly in between eel, the two different charms blended well. The nutty flavor of the eel and the clean juiciness of the pork belly made a great pairing to alternate.

The chicken neck had a really appealing chewy texture. It wasn't greasy, so it tasted light, and wrapped in lettuce and other ssam vegetables it was even fresher.

At the time of my visit they were serving bokbunja wine as an opening event, and it went nicely with the eel. Events can change depending on the period, so it's worth checking before you go.

Is Songnim Bok Jangeo Ansan City Hall a good team dinner spot in Gojan-dong?

Thanks to the spacious, pleasant space, the underground parking, and the all-you-can-eat lineup of freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck, Songnim Bok Ansan City Hall was a satisfying choice for a Gojan-dong group dinner or family meal.

After the meal, I fully understood why this place is so often mentioned as a recommended group dinner spot in Gojan-dong. A spacious, pleasant space, convenient parking, a varied all-you-can-eat lineup, and fresh freshwater eel: nothing was lacking.

If you want to enjoy plenty of eel in Ansan without worrying about the bill, or you're looking for a spot for a family meal, a get-together with friends or a company dinner, I recommend Songnim Bok Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Ansan City Hall. Being able to enjoy fresh freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck all in one place, all-you-can-eat, made it very satisfying, and the relaxed atmosphere meant a good time all through the meal. If you're looking for a recommended group dinner spot in Gojan-dong, it's worth a visit.