Seoul eel restaurant with a 36-seat group room in Myeonmok

I recently went with my family to Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch, a well-known Sagajeong eel spot, partly for a bit of energy-boosting nutrition. The weather lately has been draining me somehow, so after some thought I decided on charcoal-grilled freshwater eel 😚

Where is Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch, and what are the hours?

📍 370 Myeonmok-ro, 1st floor, Jungnang-gu, Seoul

• ⏰ Hours: daily 11:30–21:30
• Weekday break time 15:00–17:00 / no break time on weekends
• ☁️ Reservations available — recommended in advance for family gatherings or group visits
• 🚗 No dedicated parking lot confirmed, so if you're driving it's best to call the restaurant first!

It's located between Sagajeong Station and Myeonmok Station, so it's an easy walk from either one.

Outside the restaurant on Myeonmok-ro

The restaurant is on the ground floor facing the main road, so it wasn't hard to find. From outside it just looked like a regular eel restaurant, but once we stepped inside the atmosphere was completely different.

Fish-trap lamps and a group room seating up to 36

The inside of Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch is warm wood-tone overall, with a design that channels a traditional wooden porch feel, plus lighting made from eel-catching fish traps — surprisingly atmospheric haha. There was almost none of the smoky haze typical of eel restaurants, and the tables were spaced generously, so it felt quite comfortable 👏🏻

With seating that ranges from 2-person tables to 4–6 person family tables, up to group seating for 36, it seems like a great fit for anyone looking for a place for a Jungnang family gathering or a Sagajeong get-together.

What comes with the seolhwa mushroom wild ginseng eel set for two?

What we ordered was the snow mushroom wild ginseng eel (설화산삼장어) 2-person set. It comes with domestic freshwater eel along with snow mushroom and cultivated wild ginseng root 〰️ Apparently the eel is domestic Japonica freshwater eel shipped directly from a farm in Jeolla-do.

Once you sit down, the basic table setting arrives. There were Korean side dishes that pair well with eel, like leafy wraps and pickled perilla leaves and peppers.

If you run out of any side dishes, you can just grab more from the self-serve bar. Being able to take as much as you want without feeling awkward was also convenient for a family meal.

The eel has arrived!!!! It was genuinely thick and the pieces were huge 🫢

Staff grill the charcoal eel from start to finish

At Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch, a staff member grills the eel completely from start to finish!!

Since the eel is so big and the charcoal heat is so strong, grilling it looked pretty tricky, but the staff member was so skilled that we just sat back and watched.. haha

Maybe because it's grilled over such high-heat charcoal, the outside came out slightly crispy while the inside stayed moist, so it wasn't the type that drips with excess oil when you bite into it.

The first bite I just dipped in a little salt, and it had a clean, savory eel flavor that really came through. Honestly the subtle charcoal aroma was so good that eating it plain, without piling on sauce, was the tastiest way lolol.

Eating the eel with seolhwa mushroom and wild ginseng root

True to its name, snow mushroom wild ginseng eel comes with white snow mushroom on the side.

The snow mushroom is also lightly grilled over the charcoal, and it has a crunchy yet chewy texture — surprisingly good paired with the eel 🙌🏻

Add a little cultivated wild ginseng root on top and it really feels like a proper health-boosting meal haha

Eating a piece of eel together with the snow mushroom and wild ginseng root made it taste less greasy and a bit fresher and more fragrant. This combination is one I think parents would especially love! 👏🏻

Doenjang stew, eel sushi and eoriguljeot (spicy salted oysters)

A doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) with tofu, zucchini, and onion also comes as part of the basic setup.

It's also great to put a piece of eel on the rice that comes with the meal and add a touch of wasabi, eating it like eel sushi. Brush on a little of the eel sauce, then rice + eel + wasabi in one bite — so good,, the eel sauce tastes kind of like teriyaki sauce.

The salted oyster jeotgal was especially a hidden gem — its salty, spicy kick cuts through the richness of the eel, so adding a little on each piece was seriously delicious!!! The salty flavor went surprisingly well with the eel 🤤

To finish: nurungji sungnyung (scorched rice tea) and a charcoal-roasted potato

For dessert, scorched rice tea (nurungji sungnyung) also comes. If you request it via the kiosk whenever you like, they bring it right over~

And then — the potato hiding in the charcoal!!!! Once we'd finished most of the eel, the potato had fully cooked, and staff pulled it out while clearing the charcoal 🙌🏻

A perfectly soft, fluffy potato haha, which I dipped into the salt served alongside. Which do you all dip your potato in, salt or sugar?! I'm team salt haha.

Is Cheonsangae Jangeoga a good place to take your parents?

Cheonsangae Jangeoga Myeonmok Sagajeong Branch isn't exactly cheap if you just look at the eel price, but considering the size of the eel, the quality of the charcoal grilling, the snow mushroom and wild ginseng root pairing, and the self-bar and spacious seating, it was worth coming for a proper family meal ➰

• Anyone looking for a place to take their parents among Sagajeong restaurants
• Anyone looking for a good eel restaurant in Myeonmok-dong
• Anyone looking for a family gathering or birthday dinner spot in Jungnang
• Anyone wanting a proper nutritious summer meal

Personally, I'd recommend this more for a meal with parents or a family gathering than for a date! Next time I want to try it during the weekday lunch special for a bit better value haha 😝 If you're ever craving a nutritious meal, this Sagajeong eel restaurant is worth saving! 🔥