Balsan Station eel restaurant, summer stamina unagidon: Ilpum Magok

The weather is so hot lately that it's the perfect time to feel run down, isn't it? And that's exactly when you should eat well! It had been a while since I'd had a proper stamina meal, so I went to Ilpum Magok (일품 마곡점), a well-loved kaisendon spot in Magok.

Ilpum Magok is also famous as a Magok kaisendon (sashimi rice bowl) restaurant, but this time I went for the overwhelming-looking whole-eel unagidon (eel rice bowl) to really recharge.

Where is Ilpum Magok, and what are its hours?

Ilpum Magok is a 7-minute walk from Magok Station and a 7-minute walk from Balsan Station, so it's easy to reach from either one.

There was a menu standee at the entrance, and the photos on it looked amazing!

Ilpum Magok was also featured on KBS's Baedal Wassuda, and the cast reportedly raved about it, so my expectations were even higher.

Hours are lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and dinner 5:30–9:30 p.m., and it's closed every Monday.

Waiting, reservations and seating at Ilpum Magok

Ilpum Magok is normally a place where you have to wait, but I went for a late lunch at 1 p.m. on a weekday and got in right away with no wait. Naver reservations are also available, so I'd recommend booking ahead~

Right as you walk in, you see signatures from celebrities, from TV personalities to musical actors. LG Arts Center is nearby, so maybe a lot of musical actors come here!

Just inside the entrance there's a counter where you sit side by side, and to the left is a larger table area for groups. I was shown to the counter, and there's a coat rack on the back wall, so in winter you can hang up your coat.

Ilpum Magok menu and prices of what I ordered

This is the Ilpum Magok menu. As a kaisendon place, the bowls piled with fresh seasonal sashimi caught my eye, but my goal today was clear: recharging my energy! So I ordered the whole-eel unagidon and half a futomaki (thick sushi roll).

• Whole-eel unagidon ₩40,000
• Half futomaki ₩17,000

There were also plenty of drinks that go well with kaisendon and unagidon, like sake, highballs and beer. The guest next to me was having an Asahi Super Dry draft beer even though it was lunchtime. I was so jealous 😭😭😭 Next time I'll come at dinner and have a draft beer with my meal!

If you write a Naver receipt review, you also get 2 croquettes, so everyone should take part~

Included dishes and the half futomaki

After I ordered, the included dishes came out: chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), soup and white kimchi.

The wobbly, silky chawanmushi was just right as an appetizer.

A little later the half futomaki came out first. Ilpum Magok's half futomaki is 5 pieces and is listed as a one-person portion.

But a single piece is seriously enormous. It's the biggest futomaki I've seen in my life! It's so big there's no way you can eat it in one bite!!!

Even though I couldn't fit it in one bite, it was packed with different kinds of sashimi, tempura, egg and vegetables, and the flavors worked together so well. Really delicious.

What does the whole-eel unagidon at Ilpum Magok look like?

Ilpum Magok's whole-eel unagidon (₩40,000) has one whole freshwater eel on top of the rice, with a thick tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) and seasoned rice underneath. And here it finally was! Wow, I gasped the moment I saw it.

One big, thick freshwater eel sat on top whole, so large it looked like it was breaking out of the bowl. The eel was glossy and looked so appetizing. I hear Ilpum's whole-eel unagidon uses one top-grade domestic freshwater japonica eel.

The eel was covered in plenty of green onion, and when I pushed the onion aside the eel looked even more radiant! Looking from the side, there seemed to be something under the eel, and when I lifted it there was a thick tamagoyaki. Under the tamagoyaki was seasoned rice too, and there was a huge amount of it.

Wasabi and pickled ginger also came out, good for when the eel bowl starts to feel heavy. Since a whole eel is on top, they also gave me tongs and scissors for cutting it. I cut the eel into bite-size pieces.

How to enjoy the eel in the unagidon

First I tried a piece of just the eel. The outside was coated in sauce and slightly crisp, while the inside was soft and moist. So, so good!

The eel alone is plenty tasty, but a thick piece of eel on a spoonful of well-seasoned rice, topped with a little green onion, wasabi and pickled ginger, was a fantastic combination. A staff member also recommended wrapping the eel in the tamagoyaki, and that pairs nicely too.

Cold udon and mango panna cotta to finish

At Ilpum Magok, once you finish the whole eel, cold udon comes out as part of the set, and mango panna cotta follows as dessert. I was so full that I only tasted the cold udon, but the noodles were springy and good, and the chill suited this weather perfectly. It was also unusual that the cold udon had karaage (fried chicken) in it.

And that's not all. Last came mango panna cotta for dessert. The main dishes are excellent, and even the included dishes are generous.

In the end I was so full that I took the leftover futomaki home.

Is Ilpum Magok's whole-eel unagidon a good summer stamina meal?

The whole-eel unagidon I had at Ilpum Magok was great in both taste and looks, a meal that delighted my eyes and my mouth. If you're looking for an eel rice bowl for a stamina boost, I recommend Ilpum Magok~ I'm planning to come back for the kaisendon next time!