2-hour unlimited eel self-bar prices in Byeongjeom: Songrim Bokjangeo

What is Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch, the all-you-can-eat eel place in Byeongjeom?

Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch (송림복장어) is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant on Byeongjeom-jungang-ro 156beon-gil in Hwaseong, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Takeout, baby chairs and group seating are all listed as available. I ended up here while searching for all-you-can-eat eel in Byeongjeom.

With the year-end coming up, I started looking for a place for a get-together or team dinner. I wanted proper meat at a price that doesn't hurt, and that's how I got to Songrim Bokjangeo in Byeongjeom. Since it's open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., it looked fine for a lunch gathering or an evening company dinner.

The banner out front said in big letters: all-you-can-eat ₩29,900, freshwater eel + pork belly + chicken neck. The line "fresh work at the direct market every morning" caught my eye too. Eel buffet at this price? My expectations shot right up.

How much is Songrim Bokjangeo's all-you-can-eat, and how long can you stay?

The all-you-can-eat at Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch has a 2-hour limit, and leftovers can't be taken home. It's ₩29,900 per adult and ₩14,000 per child (elementary school), plus a ₩3,000 table setting fee (not charged for children).

Once I walked in to enjoy the eel, a big sign on the wall said "all-you-can-eat time: 2 hours." It also noted that leftover food can't be packed to go.

On the menu board, all-you-can-eat is ₩29,900 for adults and ₩14,000 for children (elementary school), and the table setting fee is ₩3,000 (children excluded). The table setting fee covers the freshwater eel, a variety of meats and basic side dishes. There are also meals like eel soup (jangeotang), galbitang (beef short rib soup) and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) in the ₩10,000 range, plus drinks like Iljum Jinro and Hwayo.

There's also takeout eel (₩35,000), which is nice if you'd rather enjoy it at home. For families or groups looking for all-you-can-eat eel in Byeongjeom, the pricing looked easy on the wallet.

Is it OK for team dinners or with kids?

The hall at Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch has round tables and 4-person tables spaced generously, with a ventilation hood at every table, so it looked roomy enough for a group dinner. There was also a baby chair near the entrance.

The hall has an industrial feel, with gray brick, wood accents and shiny ventilation ducts. Numbered hoods come down over each table, so I worried less about smoke. Round tables and 4-person tables are spaced out comfortably, and with a baby chair by the entrance, I figured families with kids would be comfortable here too.

At this size, even a big year-end party or company dinner looked fine. There were opening congratulation wreaths outside, so it seems to be a fairly new place, and the interior was clean.

What's at the Songrim Bokjangeo self-bar?

The self-bar is the heart of Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch. At the corner labeled "SELF BAR, take just what you'll eat," plates were neatly stacked, and on one side sauces and extras like shredded ginger, garlic and ssam (wrap) vegetables were set out in compartments.

Next to that, the fresh freshwater eel was piled up already prepped. The color looked clean and fresh, so "not frozen" felt believable. Whole pork belly and chicken neck were generously stocked too. Signs everywhere said an environmental fee applies if you leave food, so I didn't get greedy and went back for small portions several times.

Basic side dishes and the eel grilling guide

Basic sides at Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch include kimchi, pickled radish, jangajji (pickles) and perilla leaves, and a how-to-grill-eel sign on the table makes it easy for beginners to follow. I also got a small bokbunja wine (Korean black raspberry wine) as an opening event gift.

Back at the table, I spread everything out: eel, pork belly and chicken neck piled on plates, and basic sides like kimchi, pickled radish, jangajji and perilla leaves neatly served in black bowls.

The table also had a sign on how to grill eel well: start skin-side down, cook both sides, cut into bite-size pieces, then brown the cut sides. Following the instructions, even a beginner can't really go wrong.

• Grill skin-side down first
• Cook both sides well
• Cut into bite-size pieces
• Brown the cut sides

And of course, we can't skip a drink! A tiny, adorable bottle of bokbunja wine comes as an opening event gift.

Deep purple, sweet yet clean, it went really well with the meat. It was exactly the kind of drink that lifts a year-end party mood.

How was the grilled eel at Songrim Bokjangeo?

The fresh freshwater eel at Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch was slightly crisp outside and soft and moist inside. Topped with shredded ginger, it was rich without feeling greasy.

When I laid the eel on the grill, it sizzled and a delicious smell spread.

The golden-grilled eel was slightly crisp outside yet soft and moist inside. One bite topped with shredded ginger cut the greasiness while keeping the eel's nutty richness. Really good.

For all-you-can-eat eel in Byeongjeom, the quality at this level really surprised me, and the value is clearly great. Cutting the eel into bite-size pieces before grilling made it easy to eat, and it stayed chewy to the end.

Are the pork belly and chicken neck good too?

The whole pork belly included in Songrim Bokjangeo's all-you-can-eat had a subtle herb aroma, and the chicken neck was chewy and nutty, great with drinks. With spicy ssamjang (wrap sauce) and kimchi, alternating with the eel never got boring.

I worried that eel alone might leave me wanting more, so I grilled pork belly and chicken neck next. The whole pork belly had a subtle herb scent, and grilled golden on the grill it was crisp outside and moist inside.

Dabbed lightly in the spicy ssamjang, it was sweet and fiery and really woke up my appetite, and topped with kimchi the savory depth doubled. The chicken neck was chewy and nutty, perfect with drinks. A bite of eel, a bite of pork belly, a bite of chicken neck in turn, and there was no time to get tired of it.

Eel essence gift sets and the snack corner

Near the exit of Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch, eel essence gift sets and snacks like nurungji (scorched rice) and crackers are on display. I thought the eel extract would make a nice gift for parents.

On my way out after the meal, I saw eel essence gift sets and snacks like nurungji and crackers on display. A note said the owner personally prepares live eel every morning from the farm and the direct market, which made me trust the place more. I didn't try the eel soup they say they boil in-house this time, but I thought I'd definitely like to next time.

Is Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch good for year-end parties and team dinners?

Fresh freshwater eel, thick pork belly and chicken neck, a convenient self-bar and a 2-hour all-you-can-eat: I was satisfied with all of it. For ₩29,900, a lineup like this works for a family meal, a year-end get-together or a company dinner. If you're looking for all-you-can-eat eel in Byeongjeom, I recommend Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch. It's open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., so time your visit accordingly.

• Address: 1F, 5-5 Byeongjeomjungang-ro 156beon-gil, Byeongjeom-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30 a.m.–11:00 p.m. (all-you-can-eat 2 hours)
• Price: adult ₩29,900 / child (elementary school) ₩14,000 / table setting fee ₩3,000 (children excluded)