Cheongju eel restaurant with a ₩4,000 table charge: Samhwa Susan

I've been feeling low on energy lately and craving something hearty. And what's the classic dish for that but eel? So this time, while hunting for a good eel restaurant in Cheongju, I visited Samhwa Susan in Nami-myeon, Cheongju. They serve Grade-1 Japonica Gochang river eel known for its chewy, springy texture, so I was looking forward to it even before I arrived.

Where Samhwa Susan is, plus hours and parking

Samhwa Susan is located at 청주시 서원구 남이면 석판리 145. It's open Tue–Sun 11:10–21:00 and closed every Monday. There's a large dedicated parking lot right in front of the store.

• 📍 Address: 청주시 서원구 남이면 석판리 145
• ⏰ Hours: Tue–Sun 11:10–21:00
• 😴 Closed: Every Monday
• 🅿️ Parking: Large dedicated lot in front of the restaurant

When I got to the restaurant, parking was plentiful and the interior felt comfortable for a relaxed meal. There were tables set up nicely for larger groups, making it a good spot for family outings or gatherings. Eel is often something people eat on special occasions or when treating their parents to something nourishing. So when looking for a good eel restaurant in Cheongju, parking and the size of the place matter as much as the food, and this place made visiting easy on both counts.

Here's the menu, for reference. We ordered the chewy, springy, juicy Gochang river eel (1 kg).

What the ₩4,000 table charge brings: sushi rice and clam soup

Samhwa Susan charges a separate table fee of ₩4,000 per person, but in return you get sushi rice, clam soup, kimchi, dressed chives, and more, all laid out nicely. A spicy clam soup made fresh with clams every day!

Gochang river eel, 1 kg — about 600 g of thick fillet

Finally, the Gochang river eel I'd been waiting for. They use Grade-1 Japonica eel from Gochang, and 1 kg of eel trims down to roughly 600g of plump fillet.

The first thing that caught my eye when the trimmed eel arrived was how thick the fillets were. Just looking at them made me start salivating before they even hit the charcoal.

Staff grill the eel over charcoal for you

How eel is grilled really changes its flavor and texture. At Samhwa Susan, the staff grill the eel over charcoal themselves, so all I had to do was wait comfortably and then dig in.

Sizzling away on the grill, the eel turned golden brown while a savory smell drifted up... haha, this waiting time felt less like waiting and more like grilling up happiness.

How the eel tasted: springy outside, juicy inside

For anyone hunting a good eel restaurant in Cheongju but not wanting the hassle of grilling it themselves, having staff grill it made things easy. I tried a piece cut into a bite-sized portion first, plain, with nothing added. From the first bite, the chewy, springy texture came through, and the more I chewed, the more the eel's savory flavor spread through my mouth.

The outside was grilled golden over charcoal with a nicely springy bite, while the inside stayed moist and tender — the texture was great.

Eating it with ginger, aged kimchi and dressed chives

I also tried it with ginger. A piece of plump eel with a bit of ginger on top, one bite! The ginger's sharp, refreshing note layered onto the savory eel, making it taste even cleaner. It was also great paired with aged kimchi and dressed chives, and with the faint smoky charcoal aroma on top of it all, the eel's savory flavor really came through. I'd definitely recommend trying it with the different side dishes.

Making your own eel sushi at the table

A delicious extra: enjoying eel with sweet-and-tangy, fluffy rice. One bite of chewy eel, then another bite piled onto rice — the DIY sushi was a real treat.

I topped a piece of golden charcoal-grilled eel with a touch of ginger — my own eel sushi, complete! One bite in, and the sweet-tangy sushi rice paired perfectly with the savory eel. Eating the eel alone gave a clear sense of its chewy, springy texture and savory juices, while eating it with rice made the meal feel a bit more filling.

When is Samhwa Susan worth a visit?

With staff grilling the eel for you, families can chat comfortably through the meal without worrying about the grill. If you're looking for a good Cheongju restaurant to bring your parents to, a spot to nourish the family together, or specifically craving a good grilled eel restaurant in Cheongju where someone else does the grilling, give this a try. I recommend this Cheongju restaurant, Samhwa Susan.