Songjeong Station eel restaurant in Gwangju: salt-grilled eel, eel
In short
Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch is a charcoal-grilled freshwater eel restaurant 298 meters from Exit 2 of Gwangju Songjeong Station in Gwangsan, Gwangju. Two portions of the (special) salt-grilled eel came with charcoal-grilled deodeok (mountain root, 6,800 won), eel soup (9,800 won) and clam kalguksu (noodle soup, 6,800 won); the eel arrived pre-grilled over charcoal, crisp outside and tender inside with no fishy smell, and the chive-onion soy sauce was a first. Grilled eel plus eel soup makes Ppaksen a solid pick for a group dinner near Songjeong Station.
Good to know
- Location
- 14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 1st floor (298m from Exit 2 of Gwangju Songjeong Station)
- Hours
- 15:00 – 24:00 (last order 23:30)
- Parking
- 4 spots available in front of the restaurant
- Kids' chair
- Available
- (Special) Salt-grilled eel
- 180g per portion, ₩12,800
- Charcoal-grilled deodeok
- ₩6,800
- Eel soup
- ₩9,800
- Clam kalguksu
- ₩6,800
- Weekday event
- Free eel portion with Naver reservation, visiting weekdays 3:00–5:30 PM
- Review event
- Free scallops (8pc) or beef brisket portion
- Price reference
- ₩12,800 ≈ $9.5 · ₩6,800 ≈ $5 · ₩9,800 ≈ $7.3 (2026-09-15)
as written by the visitor on Sep 5, 2026
Found a great spot near Gwangju Songjeong Station. Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch.
Where is Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch, and when is it open?
Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch is 298 meters from Exit 2 of Gwangju Songjeong Station, at 14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 1st floor. It's open 15:00–24:00, with last order at 23:30.
- 📍 Location: 298m from Exit 2 of Gwangju Songjeong Station / 14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 1st floor
- ⏰ Hours: 15:00 – 24:00
- ⛔ Last order: 23:30
- 🅿️ Parking: 4 spots available in front of the restaurant
- Kids' chair ⭕
✔️ Easy walking distance from Gwangju Songjeong Station. Good to drop by before or after a train, and also good for anyone looking for a group dinner spot in the Songjeong-dong area.
Weekday-only event: one free portion of eel
Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch runs an event where, after booking on Naver, you get a free portion of eel if you visit on weekdays between 3:00 and 5:30 PM. There were quite a few people eating that early, and it turned out to be because of this event.
I arrived at an awkward time and missed the free eel portion, but if the timing works for you, I'd definitely recommend visiting within that window.
Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Gwangju menu and what we ordered
We ordered two portions of the (special) salt-grilled eel, charcoal-grilled deodeok (₩6,800), eel soup (₩9,800), and clam kalguksu (clam noodle soup, ₩6,800).
There's also a review event — free scallops (8pc) or a portion of beef brisket.
Korean freshwater eel, charcoal pre-grilled the moment you order
Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch uses only carefully selected domestic freshwater eel, pre-grilling it the moment it's ordered. Once you order, they bring out the eel already partially grilled.
Eel with pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi) is such a great combo.
Check the self-serve bar for wrap veggies and side dishes. Staff quickly checked whether any side dishes were missing from the table.
How do the (special) salt-grilled eel and charcoal deodeok taste?
The (special) salt-grilled eel is 180g per portion for ₩12,800, and I ordered two portions. Since it comes pre-grilled, you only need to finish it off briefly over the fire before eating.
While the eel was grilling, I tried the charcoal-grilled deodeok. Oh, it was much tastier than I expected. The sweetness builds as you chew, along with deodeok's characteristic gentle bitterness, giving it real range. Great alongside eel, but also fantastic on its own — as a drinking snack or a side with rice!
Slightly charred and crisp outside, moist inside. Grilling over charcoal seems to leave no fishy smell at all — just a nutty flavor.
You can see the eel turning golden brown here. That golden, plump visual.
Chive-onion soy sauce: an eel sauce we'd never tried
A tangy sauce with chives and onion. An eel sauce unlike anything I've had before. But it works so well. Chive-onion soy sauce, with a refreshing kick.
Eel really seems to taste good no matter how you eat it. With pa-kimchi, wrapped in perilla leaf, whatever combo — it never fails to be delicious. Dipped in the soy sauce, it was clean and tasty too.
Finishing with eel soup and clam kalguksu
You need some carbs to properly finish a meal, right? I couldn't decide, so I ordered both to try everything — eel soup (₩9,800) and clam kalguksu (₩6,800).
Eel soup with real depth of flavor. It had a bit of a spicy kick too. The kind of taste that makes you want to mix it with rice. Warm and filling — proper nourishment.
I tried mixing the hot eel soup with rice, like a doenjang-guk (soybean paste soup) style rice bowl. It was good enough to give doenjang-sulguk a run for its money. Also paired it with the leftover charcoal deodeok — one more bite.
If you want noodles instead of eel soup for dessert, there's clam kalguksu too. Eel first, then clams to cleanse the palate.
How to order at Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch
Eel soup was really my style. I'd recommend the grilled eel + eel soup combo. I ordered the soup like dessert after finishing the grilled eel, but ordering both together from the start and taking sips of soup between grilled bites would probably work great too.
If you're stuck deciding on a spot near Gwangju Songjeong Station, or looking for a group dinner place near Songjeong Station — there's finally an eel option! What do you think about Ppaksen Freshwater Eel near Gwangju Songjeong Station?
Where it is
14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 1st floor전남광주통합특별시 광산구 송정로30번길 14 1층
