Anrak-dong, Busan eel buffet with yakitori-style chicken neck: Songnim

What is Songnim Bok Jangeo Dongnae Branch like?

Songnim Bok Jangeo (송림복장어) Dongnae Branch is a charcoal-grill freshwater eel buffet on Myeongjang-ro in Anrak-dong, Dongnae, Busan. I found it from the sign that says eel buffet, and the word "unlimited" really jumped out at me.

Once inside, I had a look around. The tables are nice and wide, so it feels relaxed to sit there, and I was happy with how comfortable it was to eat. If you're hunting for a good place in Dongnae, put this one on your list. You can enjoy eel, pork belly and chicken neck all-you-can-eat. Once I had my seat, I was ready to dig in.

How much is the buffet at Songnim Bok Jangeo Dongnae?

The buffet is ₩29,900 per adult. They said a table setting fee of ₩3,000 is added on top. I took a photo of the menu board to bring along too.

The menu also explains how to grill eel well. You just follow the steps in order, and it was easy. Even first-timers won't get confused.

What are the side dishes and self-bar like?

As soon as I sat down, they brought out the side dishes first. They went well with the eel, which I liked. A whole line of sides that are great to eat alongside were laid out.

There's also a separate self-bar on one side. If you run short of side dishes, you just grab more from the self-bar. It was handy to refill whenever I needed.

The self-bar has freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck too. I could take as much as I wanted without feeling awkward about it, and it was nice to go back for more with no worries. Since it's an unlimited freshwater eel buffet, I brought as much as I wanted. Even among Busan buffets, the lineup is solid. I ate my fill of eel, pork belly and chicken neck alike.

One bottle of Sejong bokbunja wine per table

Here they also give out one bottle of Sejong bokbunja wine (black raspberry wine) per table. It's a freebie, so we drank it with the meat. It was great to get a perk like this on top of an all-you-can-eat deal.

How is the charcoal freshwater eel grilled and eaten?

The eel is grilled directly over charcoal. The charcoal looked top quality, so my expectations were high. Seeing the coals burning so well gave me confidence. The look of it made me eager to try eel grilled over open flame.

Eel, pork belly and grilled chicken neck came out on one plate. A staff member brought the first plate to us. As you'd expect from an Anrak-dong favorite, the plate was generous.

I cut the grilled eel into bite-size pieces with scissors. The plump eel really caught my eye, and my anticipation grew from the moment I started cutting. I tried charcoal-grilled eel at this Busan eel spot, and they said the eel is prepared fresh every morning. It isn't frozen, so I felt good about eating it.

The cut eel was stood upright so both sides get grilled. That way both sides turn golden. I thought it was a slightly different way of grilling.

Next I picked up a piece of eel with chopsticks, dipped it in the sauce, and popped it in my mouth in one bite. It's the kind of taste where you keep reaching for one more piece.

Eel in lettuce wraps and pickled perilla leaves

I put eel, garlic, chili and ginger on a lettuce leaf, wrapped it up big, and ate it in one bite. You can load in all sorts of things and enjoy it in lots of ways.

Then I tried putting eel in pickled perilla leaves (kkaennip jangajji). I tucked the eel between the leaves and rolled it up to eat. There are so many ways to eat it, which makes it fun.

How are the pork belly and grilled chicken neck?

Songnim Bok Jangeo Dongnae lets you have pork belly along with the eel. I tried the golden, nicely grilled pork belly too. I think meat lovers will like it.

This is the chicken neck grilling over the charcoal. Maybe because it's charcoal-grilled, it tasted like yakitori (Japanese grilled chicken skewers). It has a different charm from the eel, so I kept reaching for it.

Can you get spicy ramyeon to finish?

I got the spicy ramyeon (instant noodles) here by writing a receipt review. The spicy noodles went nicely with the rich eel, and they were just right as a finish after the meat.

Songnim Bok Jangeo Dongnae: overall verdict

I cleaned every plate without leaving a bite. True to an all-you-can-eat, I left completely full. I had a really good meal at Songnim Bok Jangeo Dongnae. If you're looking for a good place in Anrak-dong, I'd recommend it. It's at 146 Myeongjang-ro, 1st floor, Dongnae-gu, Busan, so save it ahead of time and head over easily.

If you're curious about eel buffets in Busan, give it a try. I've shared my honest impressions from eating there myself.