Family eel buffet with baby chairs in Jijok-dong, Daejeon: Songrimbok

All-you-can-eat is always fun, right? This was my first time at an eel buffet. Apparently there are places where you can eat not just eel but pork belly and more, without limit. So today I'm introducing Songrimbok Jangeo (송림복장어, official name: Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store), a Jijok-dong restaurant in Daejeon where you can stuff yourself with eel and pork belly.

Where is Songrimbok Jangeo, and is there parking?

Songrimbok Jangeo is in Jijok-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, at 60 Jijokbuk-ro 66beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea (1st floor, units 106 and 107), and you can park in front. For parking registration, just tell the counter your license plate number when you pay. There aren't a lot of spaces, but it was roomy when I visited in the afternoon.

Is Songrimbok Jangeo good for company dinners and family gatherings in Jijok-dong?

Songrimbok Jangeo is a big restaurant with plenty of room for groups. I think it's a good recommendation for group gatherings and company dinners (hoesik). It works for family get-togethers too, and since the menu covers eel, pork belly and chicken, which pretty much everyone likes, it suits group meals well.

They even thoughtfully have baby chairs ready. Family gatherings with a baby should be no problem.

Songrimbok Jangeo all-you-can-eat prices and menu

The buffet at Songrimbok Jangeo is ₩29,900 per adult and ₩14,000 per child, the same on weekends and weekdays. The main menu lets you eat pork belly, eel and chicken neck without limit.

There are also single items like eel soup (jangeotang), galbitang (beef short rib soup), yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and makguksu (buckwheat noodles), so they'd be good to add if you want a finishing dish or still need some rice. Three kinds of food at this price, what a bargain, right?

They say the live eel arrives every morning from a direct market, so it's very fresh. The buffet is limited to 2 hours. From what I found, 2 hours is plenty to eat until you're full.

How do the first tray and the self-serve bar work?

When you order at Songrimbok Jangeo, the basic side dishes are set out, and after that you can bring as much as you like from the self-serve bar.

At first, they bring you one tray of pork belly, eel and chicken neck like this. After you finish it, you can keep bringing more from the self-serve bar.

Shredded ginger, green onion kimchi, perilla leaves, white kimchi and pickled onions are set out as the basic side dishes.

The self-serve bar for extra side dishes is also nicely laid out.

The fresh-looking eel, pork belly and chicken neck are self-serve refills too.

How do the eel and pork belly taste at Songrimbok Jangeo?

I started grilling with the first tray they gave us.

Maybe because it's live eel, the eel here was really, really fresh. I don't usually eat much eel, but this one was so fresh that I kept eating it. You know those foods that you keep reaching for because they taste so fresh? The eel at Songrimbok Jangeo was exactly that. I got hooked on the freshness of the ingredients, kept eating, and ended up with a truly full meal.

Pork belly needs no words, right? Grilled golden brown and wrapped in lettuce, it was heavenly. The ingredients were so fresh that I couldn't stop, and I honestly can't remember how many plates I grilled. I think the charm of Songrimbok Jangeo is that you can eat a lot without worrying about the price.

Songrimbok Jangeo opening event: a free bottle of bokbunja wine

When I visited, Songrimbok Jangeo was giving away one bottle of bokbunja wine (Korean black raspberry wine) free as an opening event. Everybody knows eel and bokbunja go great together, right? After a glass of bokbunja, I felt healthier for no reason, haha.

With the bokbunja bonus, I feel like I had a hearty, healthy and delicious meal.

If you're looking for a group gathering or company dinner spot, or an eel buffet, in Jijok-dong, Daejeon, I recommend Songrimbok Jangeo. I hope you enjoy fresh, tasty eel and have a great time. 💛