Seongsu eel BBQ buffet with salt-grilling tips: Songnim Bok Jangeo

Unlimited eel, pork belly and chicken neck!

Why I came back to Songnim Bok Jangeo in Seongsu

The Seongsu branch of Songnim Bok Jangeo (송림복장어) is an unlimited eel place I revisited because the eel is so plump. Songnim Bok Jangeo has several branches, and Seongsu is the closest one to me, so off I went!

Unlimited freshwater eel for ₩29,900? How could I not go?!

How much is the unlimited eel at Songnim Bok Jangeo in Seongsu?

The buffet at the Seongsu branch is ₩29,900, and there's a separate ₩3,000 table setting fee.

The eel at the self-bar

The self-bar! Wow... yes, THIS is the eel look I mean!!! Every time I come, the eel looks so fresh that I think, this unlimited spread is seriously high quality!

Why the eel is cheap and plump

Here's the reason the eel at this Seongsu unlimited place is cheap and plump!

Freshwater Eel Aquaculture Fisheries Cooperative / Songnim Bok Jangeo Seoul Seongsu branch / Partner of wholesaler No. 8 of the Freshwater Eel Aquaculture Fisheries Cooperative

Shops with a sign like this really do seem to have fresher ingredients.

Eel takeout and origin labeling

Takeout is available too, so if you finish the buffet and still want more, or you think of family or someone you love, I totally recommend packing some to go.

The country of origin is clearly labeled too.

No daytime drinking today! I'm the one grilling the eel, so I'm basically the chef, right? haha

Time limit and house rules at Songnim Bok Jangeo Seongsu

Your time here is limited to 2 hours. There's also a notice asking you not to waste food.

Eel is precious food. Please take only what you can eat. An environmental charge may be imposed for leftover food. Leftovers cannot be packed to go.

How to grill freshwater eel

The wall at Songnim Bok Jangeo has a 3-step guide for grilling raw eel.

How to grill eel well — Step 1: Grill raw eel skin-side down first. Step 2: After cooking both sides well, remove the middle of the back fin, the side fins and the head fin. Step 3: Cut into bite-size pieces, stand them up and grill the cut sides until golden, and you can enjoy it deliciously.

Let's follow it exactly!

Basic table setup and self-bar side dishes

What they bring you by default is pork belly, eel and chicken neck. Then from the self-bar you can grab pickled perilla leaves, white kimchi and green onion kimchi! When it starts to feel a little greasy, pick up one of the side dishes and you can honestly eat forever!

Skin first, flip when golden

Now I grill the eel skin-side down just like the wall guide says. Just look at the color on this eel!!! If you're thinking of eating eel at Songnim Bok Jangeo, please do check out the raw eel in the video.

When it turns a bit golden, flip it. Ahh, the grill marks are seriously mouthwatering.

Carefully flipping again.

Now I line them up neatly on the side, haha.

Wow, look at that eel oil! Sizzling away, grilling up so nicely!!!

How does the eel taste at Songnim Bok Jangeo?

The eel at the Seongsu branch is thick, full of eel flavor and chewy. Time to eat!!! I take one bite and

'Wow... it tastes like eel!!!'

What I mean is, at some eel restaurants the eel has no taste at all. I don't know why. Every fish has its own distinct flavor, and I never go back to a place where I can't taste the eel. Even though this is unlimited, the eel quality at Songnim Bok Jangeo in Seongsu is really good. That's why I came back.

I wanted to have eel soup too, but they didn't have it that day.. They said it was coming in the next day, so I had to skip it. If you love eel soup, I recommend calling Songnim Bok Jangeo ahead of time.

Pork belly with ohdolppyeo and chicken neck

The pork belly at Songnim Bok Jangeo isn't just any pork belly. It has ohdolppyeo (crunchy cartilage) right in it. Dip it in ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste) and it feels like you're hopping between a BBQ restaurant and an eel restaurant. The chicken neck is just tender, tasty chicken.

Mild ginger and white kimchi combo

The ginger here isn't harsh either. They soak it in water for a long time, so it isn't strong and goes nicely with the eel. Personally, my favorite combo is white kimchi, ginger, eel and the sauce.

Halfway through: refill please!!! haha This is a taste you absolutely have to refill!!!

Does sprinkling salt make grilled eel taste better?

One way to enjoy the eel at Songnim Bok Jangeo is to sprinkle salt while grilling. The salt even takes care of a slight fishy taste, and the seasoning comes out just right.

I'm really bad at this kind of thing, but whenever I go to Songnim Bok Jangeo I feel like a grill master?! You even get to feel proud of yourself at this Seongsu unlimited eel place, haha

A 2-hour buffet: how much do you actually eat?

At the Seongsu branch, you eat and eat and eat, and well before 2 hours, about 1 hour in, you're totally stuffed. I had a great meal again this time! I can vouch that there's a reason this unlimited eel place in Seongsu is famous! Please keep this taste and this price just as they are!!!