Siheung charcoal-grilled eel restaurant: Songrim Bok Jangeo

When I’m craving eel, the price is always the first thing I think about. A typical serving of freshwater eel, around 200–350 g, seems to cost an average of ₩30,000 to ₩50,000. At upscale restaurants, it can go as high as ₩60,000–₩80,000. So eel was something I only had once in a while, on a special day I’d deliberately set aside.

But I found this incredible restaurant where, for less than the average price, you can have unlimited freshwater eel as well as pork belly and chicken neck meat. At a price this low, you might wonder whether the quality and taste would be cheap too—but not at all.

At Songrim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill Jeongwang Direct Branch, eel lovers can eat as much eel as they want, while companions who can’t eat eel can have pork belly or chicken neck meat instead. I love how many options there are.

Why I visited while looking for a great eel restaurant in Jeongwang-dong

I’d been craving eel so badly lately and had been eyeing nearby eel restaurants. But it was expensive, and I kept thinking, “For this price, shouldn’t I just have something else?” so I never quite went. Then I was heading out to Oido and looking up restaurants nearby when I found an unlimited eel place at such a low price?! I was worried it might taste bad or leave me with an unpleasant experience, so I looked through tons of reviews. In the end, I thought this one would be worth trying.

That’s how I ended up having eel on a whim, completely unplanned—and it was so delicious that I was really happy with it. From now on, when I want eel, I think I’ll head to Songrim Bok Jangeo’s unlimited refill restaurant without hesitation.

Unlimited eel in a spacious dining room

Songrim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill Jeongwang Direct Branch is quite large. It can seat up to 100 people, so it’s a good place for a group dinner. Eel has such a strong image as a premium, stamina-boosting food, so I think it would be satisfying whether you come with family, on a date, or for a company gathering.

Especially at this affordable price, after filling up on everything from freshwater eel to chicken neck meat and pork belly, hearing the person you came with say, “That was delicious,” somehow makes you feel proud too! The restaurant was spacious and comfortable for dining, and parking was easy as well, which made it even more satisfying.

Freshwater eel, plus pork belly and chicken neck meat

What was really remarkable about Songrim Bok Jangeo was that it isn’t just unlimited eel—you can also eat pork belly and chicken neck meat at no extra cost. Honestly, I could eat a huge amount of freshwater eel alone, but I like having variety, so grilling pork belly or chicken neck meat in between was a nice change.

You can get tired of eating just one thing over and over, but having different choices somehow makes it easier to keep eating.

Even when I’m craving eel but the person I’m with isn’t really in the mood for it, this place is perfect because everyone’s needs are covered.

The eel lovers can focus on eel, and anyone who finds a lot of eel a bit much can have pork belly or chicken neck meat! The more people you gather, the more different tastes there are, and it can be hard to find common ground. This place was so good in that respect.

Take as much as you want from the self-service bar

At unlimited refill restaurants, you usually help yourself at the self-service bar, right? Here too, you can take whatever you need comfortably, and no one makes you feel awkward no matter how many times you go back. Still, I recommend taking small amounts at a time so food doesn’t go to waste.

Along with eel and meat, there were lots of wrap vegetables and assorted accompaniments. You can enjoy eel with the essentials—ginger, garlic, wrap vegetables, and pickled sides—which makes it even tastier.

Since eel is a rich, oily food, I think it tastes even better with sides like ginger and pickles that freshen up your palate. I tend to eat a lot of side dishes, but normally I feel self-conscious about asking for refills, so I ration them.

That can make the meal a little less satisfying, but at a place like this where you serve yourself, you can eat comfortably without worrying about it. I loved that.

At first, it’s nice to take a little of many different things and taste them all. Then from the next plate onward, you can focus on the foods that suit your taste best.

Eel grilled right over charcoal

Eel really tastes best grilled over charcoal.

As the eel turns golden on the grill, its fat rises and a savory aroma fills the air. Grill it for a while, cut it into bite-size pieces, then cook it a little more until it’s nicely browned and crisp—there’s no way it could taste bad!

The eel was thick and had such a springy texture—really delicious. I also liked that it didn’t have much of that earthy or fishy eel smell.

The taste and texture of eel can vary depending on how much you grill it, so rather than cooking it all at once over very high heat until it’s dry, it’s better to keep an eye on it and turn it as it cooks.

Songrim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill Jeongwang Direct Branch is a wonderful restaurant where you can enjoy not only freshwater eel, but also pork belly and chicken neck meat to your heart’s content.

Whenever I want to eat as much eel as I like without worrying about the price, enjoy eel alongside pork belly, chicken neck meat, and other options, or visit a spacious, comfortable restaurant with family or a larger group, this is a place I’d want to return to again and again!