2-hour eel buffet with a grilling guide in Incheon: Songrim Bokjangeo

Songrim Bokjangeo Inha Univ. Hakik-dong branch (송림복장어 민물장어 무한리필 인하대학익동점) is at 248 Soseong-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on the 1st floor.

Today I'm introducing a restaurant in Hakik-dong, Incheon. It's a newly opened all-you-can-eat eel place, great for group dinners or family gatherings. You can enjoy not just eel but also other meats like pork belly and pork neck, so even though it only just opened, quite a lot of people are already coming! Let me start my honest review of this great-value buffet where adults can have eel for ₩29,900~

Where is Songrim Bokjangeo Hakik-dong branch, and where can you park?

Songrim Bokjangeo is a newly opened all-you-can-eat eel restaurant in Hakik-dong, Incheon. The Incheon District Court and Inha University are nearby, so I think a lot of people will come here for group dinners.

There is a dedicated parking area behind the restaurant, and when it's full you can park in the alley or in front of the restaurant.

Besides the main hall, there's a separate area inside for group dinners, so it's easy to visit with a large party.

Songrim Bokjangeo all-you-can-eat price and time limit

For ₩29,900 per adult, you can eat eel and pork all you want, which is great value. There's also a wide variety of drinks, so I bet it's really popular for group dinners and family gatherings.

Lately at buffets and all-you-can-eat places, the 1 hour 30 minute limit has felt far too short, so I liked that Songrim Bokjangeo gives you a generous 2 hours.

What's at the Songrim Bokjangeo self-service corner?

We ordered all-you-can-eat for 2 adults plus the table setting fee for 2, so let's go on an eel feast today!! Right after we ordered, they set out the eel and the basic side dishes,

and you can help yourself at the self-service corner to anything you run out of, like wrap vegetables, plus eel, pork belly, pork neck and other meats.

Lettuce, perilla leaves, pickled onion, scallion kimchi, pickled perilla leaves and more were all kept neat and tidy,

and right next to them are the eel, pork belly, pork neck and so on, ready for you to take freely.

Can an eel beginner grill eel well at Songrim Bokjangeo?

Songrim Bokjangeo has instructions for grilling eel printed on the table, so even beginners can follow along. The only eel I'd ever had was when I tagged along with the grown-ups, so I thought, how am I supposed to grill this? I fumbled a little at first, but the how-to on the table made it easy to pick up.

Just learn the eel-grilling guide stuck to the table and even a first-timer can grill and enjoy it!

After grilling the eel well on both sides, I removed the fins, cut it into bite-size pieces and grilled it once more until golden brown.

How did the all-you-can-eat eel taste?

The eel at Songrim Bokjangeo was mild and clean, not tough or fishy at all. It was my first time eating eel at an all-you-can-eat place, and my first time eating such big eel, so I worried the quality might be poor, but it was delicious. Next time I visit, I think I'll grill it golden brown, brush it with eel sauce, and grill it over the charcoal once more haha.

Oh! And since it was my first time grilling eel myself, I wondered what if the fins or bones don't get removed properly? But no bones or fins got chewed, which was nice. If it's your first visit, just follow the method the restaurant shows you and you'll be fine!

Are the pork belly and pork neck worth eating?

I also grilled the thick pork neck and pork belly from the self-service corner, and the meat was decent too haha. Oh, right! The charcoal fire is strong, so rather than grilling a lot at once, I'd recommend grilling only as much as you'll eat.

The restaurant has separate men's and women's restrooms, which was convenient, and they were clean, which I liked.

Short verdict

Songrim Bokjangeo Inha Univ. Hakik-dong branch, a great-value group-dinner spot in Hakik-dong, Incheon, where adults can eat eel and pork all they want for ₩29,900 each.

*This post records my visit and is a purely personal, honest review, not a general evaluation.