Gangnam Japanese restaurant for Kanto-style eel rice bowls: Manmok

Kanto-style eel rice bowls near Seolleung Station, Manmok

Kanto-style eel rice bowl specialist “Manmok” by Exit 2 of Seolleung Station

Today’s conclusion: This is better than the eel rice bowls I had in Fukuoka and Nagoya! Manmok! What great taste you have.

Today I visited an eel rice bowl specialist near Seolleung Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul! Manmok! If eel has always been something you force yourself to seek out as a health food, or you cannot eat much because of its characteristic richness, go here! It might completely turn your eel world upside down…

Come out of Exit 2 at Seolleung Station and it is an easy walk of about 10 minutes! It is also close to the Daechi-dong academy district, so it is really convenient to find.

I was totally satisfied with my visit to Manmok, the Gangnam Seolleung Station eel rice bowl gem. It works for solo dining and company dinners alike, everyone! Hehe!

You can watch them grilling eel right at the entrance! That says they are confident!

A calm, upscale dining room

Starting with the neat, stylish exterior, the moment I opened the door and walked in… the interior was just so calm and upscale. My first thought was, this would be perfect for a date or for bringing someone important.

You can get a sense of the atmosphere, right? I think this would be lovely for couples in their early thirties! It also looks great for a work lunch gathering.

A look at the menu

We have long learned that places with short menus tend to be the good ones!

Kanto-style eel rice bowl that melts in your mouth

Now then, the Manmok story that completely won me over today! Manmok says it uses only freshwater eel from Gochang, one of Korea’s most famous eel-producing regions.

Its cooking method is especially different! They say they stick to the Kanto style, which maximizes eel’s naturally tender texture and clean flavor. What is Kanto style, you ask? The eel is grilled once, steamed, then brushed with Manmok’s special secret sauce and grilled twice more over charcoal… apparently that is how it goes, and there is no way it could not be delicious.

With that much care going into it, all the unnecessary fat melts away, leaving only tenderness and deep flavor. The second it hit my mouth, it really did melt away like magic…

Choosing a whole eel over a half

The menu offers a half eel and a whole eel, so you can choose according to your appetite. Since I was there, I decided to enjoy it properly and ordered the whole eel!

When I lifted the lid of the square lacquered box, there it was: eel glistening with shine.

It was so fantastic that even thinking about it again makes my mouth water. The sweet-salty, umami-packed sauce had soaked deep into the eel, and when you scoop it up with rice, a smile just slips right out.

Side dishes and a perfect finish

Eel rice bowls can get a little heavy or rich as you eat, right? But at Manmok, no need to worry about that.

Between bites, have some crisp, tangy mu-saengchae (seasoned shredded radish) or cool, clean baek-kimchi (white kimchi), and your palate feels completely refreshed and reset.

The combinations with the assorted ingredients are wonderful too: pickled ginger, wasabi, and sansho berries, which add their distinctive aroma.

There is no chance to get tired of it until the very last bite. A half eel rice bowl is ₩26,000 and a whole eel rice bowl is ₩39,000. They also have special dinner-only dishes such as special eel hot pot and special grilled eel, so next time I am determined to come in the evening and enjoy them with a drink...

And do not forget the chawanmushi

Oh! Do not forget to slurp up the chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), either.

Conclusion

A perfect meal that makes both your eyes and your mouth happy. I approve! Recommended if you are near Seolleung Station on a weekend or a special day!

Matcha and hojicha ice cream for dessert

Matcha and hojicha ice cream for dessert