Yeoksam eel bowl restaurant with self-refill dashi broth: Chisot

Hi, this is Sun ☀ It was one of those days when I was so worn out from work that I decided I needed to eat something good to get my energy back, so I went out to eat alone! I'm introducing a place known for solo dining near Yeoksam Station — Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch (치솟 역삼본점), a Japanese restaurant famous for its eel rice bowl, somewhere I'd been curious about for a while.

Where is Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch and when is it open?

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch MON-FRI 11:00 ~ 21:30 B.T 15:00 ~ 17:00 Regular closed days: Sat, Sun

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch was easy to find since it's close to Yeoksam Station. It's near GS Tower and GS Art Center, so I imagine it's convenient for people working around here to pop in even for lunch.

Inside Chisot Yeoksam: open kitchen where the eel is grilled

I saw reviews saying a lot of people come by for takeout at lunchtime. It seems to be a takeout favorite in Yeoksam too. Great option for ordering as a group at the office!

The moment I walked in, what caught my eye was the layout that lets you watch the eel being grilled directly. It had that full-on specialist eel-restaurant feel — like, this is exactly why it's known as an eel rice bowl favorite,,!!!!

I saw someone really disappointed that the yaki-udon was sold out ••• must be a yaki-udon favorite too!!!!! The secret behind Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch's fame for hitsumabushi is written right on the wall. And the eel is freshwater eel••• ♡

Bar counter for solo diners, plus tables for groups

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch has bar counter seats, so eating alone felt totally comfortable, and the 2-tops and 4-tops were clustered cozily together. I went a bit past 6pm and it was already full! There were reserved seats too, and a group table for around 6 people, so it also looked like a solid spot for evening work dinners near Yeoksam Station. In fact, I saw a team gathering there.

Most of the customers seemed to be office workers from nearby, and since it was a weekday evening, a lot of them came with coworkers or friends — but thanks to the bar seating, solo diners like me could sit comfortably without feeling out of place haha. Honestly, even better this way

What I ordered at Chisot: hitsumabushi set and vegetable croquettes

Ordered: Hitsumabushi set Vegetable croquettes

A full table packed with dishes — that's the charm and beauty of an eel rice bowl set •••• haha. Mal-bok (the last of Korea's three dog days) is this week, so Gangnam office workers, go get your energy fix at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch!

There's ginseng root on top too, so it's a proper energy-boosting meal, right? Chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) and a broth soup also come along, and the soup was a bit sour, which felt refreshingly new.

As I mentioned, Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch uses domestic grade-1 japonica freshwater eel, so the eel is thick and generously sized! I filled up pretty quickly.

Hitsumabushi is the Nagoya-style way of eating an eel rice bowl, so there are several ways to enjoy it, which makes eating alone more fun.

Four vegetable croquettes: the right side dish for one

The vegetable croquettes at Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch come in a set of 4, which made them a great side dish to order alongside a solo meal. If you're coming with a group, definitely order these haha. I also had the salmon salad I got from a review event on the side, and altogether it was a satisfyingly full spread for a solo meal.

The croquette-and-chili-sauce combo was great, and the filling was substantial, so I'd recommend it as an evening drink pairing too. It also makes sense as a spot for a Yeoksam Station work dinner or a first round of drinks, since they sell eel soup and grilled eel separately too — great for pairing with a drink.

72-hour aged tare sauce and self-refill dashi for ochazuke

It comes coated in Chisot's own 72-hour aged tare sauce — not too salty, but well seasoned into the eel, so it was satisfying to eat just with rice alone. Eel rice bowl flavors really do differ by region. Kanto-style is lighter and the sauce is comparatively less intense!!! It's fun to try different styles here and there!!

Still, personally I like it best with a small dab of wasabi on the eel, and finishing it off as ochazuke haha. Wasabi fan club

The dashi broth wasn't too salty or fishy, so it was warm and comfortable to eat all the way through! And since refills are self-serve, of course I refilled.

Mix in the chopped scallion and seaweed and it's a true energy-boosting meal.

Is Chisot Yeoksam worth it for a solo dinner?

• Recommended if you're deciding between lunch or dinner near Yeoksam Station
• Recommended for Yeoksam office workers looking for a solo dining spot
• A solo-dining favorite or eel rice bowl favorite in Yeoksam
• A Yeoksam Station restaurant near GS Tower and GS Art Center
• Great to enjoy eel rice bowl in various ways through hitsumabushi
• Good for pairing with a drink too, thanks to the eel soup and grilled eel on the menu