Eel barbecue restaurant in Cheongju: Samhwa Susan's 1 kg meal

My husband and I visited Samhwa Susan (삼화수산), a charcoal-grilled freshwater eel restaurant in Nami-myeon, Cheongju. We ordered 1 kg of eel, which was a suitable amount for the two of us, and a staff member grilled it for us so we could eat comfortably.

Is parking convenient, and did I make a reservation?

Samhwa Susan is at 269 Daerim-ro, Nami-myeon, Seowon-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. The hours listed in the original post were 11 AM to 9 PM, with last orders at 8 PM. It is regularly closed every Monday.

There was a dedicated parking lot in front of the restaurant. It was spacious, with plenty of room, so parking was easy.

We reserved for 6 PM on Sunday, and the restaurant was full. Our reserved table had been prepared in advance, and judging by the atmosphere that day, I thought it would be a good idea to reserve ahead for a gathering too.

What are the side dishes and self-service bar like?

The table was set with accompaniments for the eel, including ginger, teriyaki sauce, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), and pickled onions. We could get more side dishes from the self-service bar, and alcohol and drinks were also self-service. The bar was neatly organized.

We also received fresh kimchi, chive salad, sushi rice, and ssam vegetables. The clear broth had plenty of clams and was pleasantly spicy and refreshing, so I ate almost all of it as soon as it arrived.

There was also self-service ramen that we could cook ourselves if we wanted a little more to eat. The self-service ramen was an additional ₩4,000.

How much is 1 kg of eel, and how much remains after preparation?

According to the original post, the eel was ₩50,000 per 1 kg. It was introduced as premium freshwater eel from Gochang, and I was told it would be about 600 g after preparation.

We ordered 1 kg. The eel had thick flesh, which caught my attention even before it was grilled.

Does a staff member grill the eel?

During my visit, a staff member grilled the eel for us. Since we did not have to focus on grilling, I could wait while chatting with my husband.

While the eel cooked, I shaped the sushi rice that came with it into bite-size portions.

The staff member turned the eel as it cooked it to a golden brown. They looked practiced at turning several pieces at once.

Once it was partly cooked, they cut it into easy-to-eat pieces and told us to wait a little longer before eating.

How did the eel taste, and which side dishes went well with it?

For my first bite, I placed a piece on the sushi rice I had prepared.

Among the side dishes, the chive salad stood out most. It felt fresh, as if it had just been mixed, and its sweet-tangy flavor made me want it as a rice side dish at home too.

I do not usually eat eel often because of its richness and fishy taste. But the eel I had that day did not taste fishy or have any off odor to me, and it became nuttier as I chewed, making it easy to enjoy through to the end.

It was crisp outside and tender inside. The spicy sauce from the self-service corner cut through the richness nicely, and I alternated it with teriyaki sauce.

Was it enough for two, and how was it for a family gathering?

Just as we had nearly finished the first batch of grilled eel, a staff member put the remaining eel on the grill. I liked that they kept an eye on things so our meal did not lose its flow.

After we ate the second batch as well, 1 kg was exactly right for the two of us.

I especially liked wrapping the eel with plenty of chive salad. The charcoal-scented eel and side dishes went well together, and I kept reaching for more even when I was full.

At the end, we shared the tail portion between us.

The tail was crisp and nutty, and I found it tastier than the thicker middle portion. With ample parking and staff grilling the eel, it was easy to talk while eating, so I felt it would also suit a special occasion or family gathering.