Seonleung eel rice bowl a first-grader begged for, 39,000 won: Manmok

My first-grade son has had one dish on repeat for days: eel rice bowl. "Mom, let's go eat eel rice bowl!" he kept saying, so I figured I'd better take him over the weekend.

Then it turned out we had volunteer work near my husband's office on the weekend. We both work near Seonleung Station, so it's a familiar area for us. My husband had already booked Manmok, an eel rice bowl restaurant he'd been wanting to take our son to. After finishing the volunteer work, the three of us went off happily to have lunch.

Where is Manmok, and what are its hours and parking?

Manmok is an eel rice bowl restaurant near Seonleung Station, located at 9 Seonneung-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor. It's about a 4-5 minute walk from exits 1 and 2 of Seonleung Station. Hours are 11:00-22:00, with a break time from 15:00-17:00. You can book ahead through apps like Catch Table.

• Address: 9 Seonneung-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
• Location: About 4-5 minutes on foot from Seonleung Station exits 1 and 2
• Hours: 11:00-22:00 / Break time 15:00-17:00
• Reservations: Available in advance via Catch Table and similar apps
• Parking: Nearby paid parking lots (about 2 spots in front, inquire first)

Parking in front of the store is limited, so if you're driving, it's a good idea to check availability first. We parked in the building with the nearby sauna!

Also worth double-checking the hours and menu prices on the reservation page before you go.

Eel rice bowls at lunch, grilled eel and nabe hot pot at dinner

Manmok has different menus for lunch and dinner. Lunch centers on the eel rice bowl, while dinner offers grilled eel and hanwoo (Korean beef) nabe as well. So it's a great spot for a hearty daytime meal, or for a dinner with coworkers or friends in the evening.

We came for weekend lunch this time, specifically for the eel rice bowl our son had been craving.

What comes with the 39,000 won whole eel rice bowl at Manmok?

We ordered Manmok's whole eel rice bowl (₩39,000). You can choose among half, whole, or one and a half eel depending on how much eel you want. Since our son had been waiting days for this, we went with the whole eel.

Eel rice bowl is usually a single-bowl dish with eel over rice, but what I liked at Manmok is that it comes as a full spread with side dishes. Between bites of eel, the white kimchi (baek-kimchi) or seasoned radish refreshed the palate, and the warm soup rounded the meal out nicely.

At ₩39,000 for a whole eel rice bowl, it's not a light price for a regular lunch. Still, since it was a day when we were sharing the dish our son wanted, it suited a slightly special weekend lunch.

The lunch tasted better because our son chose it

What stands out most about this visit to Manmok is that our son was the one who wanted eel rice bowl in the first place. Usually it's the adults who pick the restaurant and the kid tags along, but this time our weekend wrapped up around a dish he chose.

Sitting down as a family for lunch right after the volunteer work made what could have been a rushed weekend feel a bit more special. It also helped that my husband had booked ahead, so we didn't have to wander around looking for a table.

Is Manmok worth it for a Daechi-dong lunch date or family meal?

Manmok is within walking distance of Seonleung Station, so it's convenient to stop by when you have plans nearby, like we did. Lunch means a hearty eel rice bowl, while dinner offers grilled eel or hanwoo nabe, so you can pick based on the occasion — which I found appealing.

If you're looking for a Daechi-dong lunch spot or want something a little different near Seonleung Station, Manmok is worth considering.

For our family, this will stick in the memory as a satisfying, happy weekend lunch.