# Soy-wasabi sauce combo at Ppaksen, an eel restaurant in Gwangju

- By Hyunseo Baik (https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-noon-jeotgarak/)
- Written Sep 17, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Gwangsan, Gwangju
- Sponsored: This post was written as part of a store visit sponsorship.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-noon-jeotgarak/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@yangnim-noon-jeotgarak/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/index.md)

## In short

Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch is a grilled freshwater eel restaurant near Songjeong Station in Gwangsan, Gwangju, where salt-grilled eel costs 9,800 won per portion and the basic side dishes come with unlimited refills from a self-bar. On a weekday at 6pm the visit covered 3 portions of premium eel grilled over white charcoal, and the best bite was eel dipped in soy sauce mixed with wasabi, onion and Asian chives, followed by a bowl of eel soup to finish. Ppaksen Songjeong Station Branch is a great-value grilled eel spot worth booking for a family dinner or a work gathering near Songjeong Station.

## Good to know

- **Salt-grilled eel**: 9,800 won per portion
- **Table setting fee**: 1,900 won
- **Basic side dishes**: Unlimited refills at the self-bar
- **Order unit**: First order from 3 portions, extra orders in 2-portion units
- **Premium eel**: About 30g larger per portion than regular eel
- **Hours**: Daily 15:00–23:00 (until midnight Fri, Sat, Sun)
- **Parking**: 3–4 cars in front of the restaurant, plus nearby parking
- **Address**: 1st floor, 14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju
- **Price reference**: ₩9,800 ≈ $7.1 · ₩1,900 ≈ $1.4 (2026-09-18)

*as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026*

If you're looking for proper grilled freshwater eel in Gwangju, this place was pretty great! This time I visited Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong branch, near Songjeong Station in Gwangju.

![Exterior of Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong branch near Songjeong Station in Gwangju](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-01-1vcu2-900.webp)

I like eel, so I'd been looking for a good grilled eel spot, and this one was pretty satisfying — from the price to the eel quality! 🩷

## Where is Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch, and when is it open?

- Recommended eel restaurant near Songjeong Station in Gwangju: Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch
- 📍14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
- ⏰ Daily 15:00–23:00
- ✔️ Until midnight Fri, Sat, Sun
- 🅿️ 3–4 spots in front of the restaurant, plus nearby parking

![Interior of Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch with spacious table spacing](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-02-1ynns-m-900.webp)

## Inside Ppaksen Songjeong Station Branch: a wide hall that fits big groups

I visited around 6pm on a weekday and there were already quite a few local older folks eating. When there are a lot of local regulars, what does that mean? It's a good restaurant!!! That alone boosted my trust in the place 🤭

The interior was pretty spacious and the tables were spaced comfortably apart, so it seemed good for family dinners as well as gatherings or work dinners near Songjeong Station. In fact, the table across from us had a group of more than 10 people eating together.

![A spread of side dishes including green onion kimchi, ginger, and perilla leaf pickles](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-03-1l2u3-966.webp)

## Unlimited side dishes at the self-bar, with green onion kimchi the standout

Once seated, the side dishes come out neatly first — tasty green onion kimchi, plus ginger and perilla leaf pickles that would be a shame to skip with eel, spicy seasoned pepper, garlic scape muchim (seasoned side dish), and white kimchi! Every single one had just the right seasoning, not overdone, and went well with the eel.

![Green onion kimchi side dish served with eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-04-8h83y-900.webp)

The green onion kimchi in particular was so good I kept reaching for it, haha ❣️

![Menu board listing the price of salt-grilled eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-05-1iyi3-900.webp)

## How much is the eel, and how do you order it?

Looking at the menu, the prices at this Songjeong-area eel restaurant in Gwangju were genuinely good 👀 Salt-grilled eel is ₩9,800 per portion! Given today's prices, I had to double-check that, haha.

On top of that, the table setting fee is a manageable ₩1,900, and side dishes can be refilled unlimited at the self-bar. The first order has to be a minimum of 3 portions, and additional orders come in 2-portion units.

![Tablet ordering screen showing premium eel and regular eel options](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-06-1h5sj-900.webp)

### Premium eel vs regular eel: what's the difference?

When I went to order on the tablet at the table, I saw there was a separate option for premium eel and regular eel. Premium eel is about 30g larger per portion than regular eel, so we ordered 3 portions of premium eel. 👍 Bigger is tastier, yummy 😍

![Table set after ordering 3 portions of premium eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-07-1hfxx-900.webp)

![Side dishes laid out on the table after ordering eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-08-2ypmu-900.webp)

Right after ordering the eel, a doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) came out too. Bubbling hot and lightly seasoned, it had exactly the flavor that makes you crave rice. It was also good to spoon up in between bites of eel.

![Bubbling doenjang jjigae served at the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-09-uczjv-900.webp)

![Table with doenjang jjigae and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-10-gfnbh-900.webp)

After grabbing perilla leaves, lettuce, and peppers from the self-bar, a full spread was suddenly complete!

![Perilla leaves, lettuce, and peppers brought from the self-bar](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-11-18z8l-900.webp)

## 3 portions of premium eel, pre-grilled and finished over charcoal

Soon the charcoal fire was lit and the pre-grilled eel appeared. Wow... 3 portions is about one and a half eels, and seeing it up close, the eel was genuinely plump.

Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong branch reportedly only uses eel that's been raised for 14 months or less from when the fry were stocked, with firm flesh — and maybe that's why the eel meat itself was so springy. A staff member cut it into bite-sized pieces and placed it on the charcoal for us 👍

![Pre-grilled freshwater eel placed on the charcoal grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-12-zumg4-900.webp)

![Plump grilled eel cut into bite-sized pieces](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-13-1kq93-900.webp)

Since it comes pre-grilled, it was much easier than grilling from scratch. Once it's golden brown on both sides, it's ready to eat!

![Salt-grilled eel browned golden on both sides](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-14-1bn7q-900.webp)

![Fully cooked grilled eel from Ppaksen Freshwater Eel over charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-15-fd5xm-1200.webp)

I tried a piece of the plump, well-cooked eel right away. The flesh was light yet savory, and above all, the springy, chewy texture was insane. There was barely any of that fishy taste eel can have, and the savory flavor really came through — delicious.

![Picking up a springy piece of grilled eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-16-h4enu-900.webp)

![Close-up of savory grilled freshwater eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-17-1wa8c-900.webp)

## The tastiest combo: soy sauce with wasabi, onion and chives

Of course eel has to be wrapped in perilla leaf! Dipping the eel in the eel sauce, placing it on a perilla leaf with ginger, and taking a bite — that combo speaks for itself.

![Perilla leaf wrap with eel and ginger](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-18-zhczq-900.webp)

![Eel dipped in eel sauce paired with perilla leaf](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-19-1jp81-900.webp)

But there was one more combo I genuinely loved here. It's a sauce of soy sauce mixed with wasabi, onion, and chives, and it really went well with the eel. The savoriness of the eel plus the sharp kick of wasabi plus the crunchy texture of onion and chives — I kept reaching for more! This was hands-down number one... incredibly good.

![Soy sauce mixed with wasabi, onion, and chives](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-20-1rdjm-900.webp)

![A piece of eel dipped in the soy-wasabi sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-21-1j399-900.webp)

They also give you healthy ginseng to eat alongside the eel — the staff suggested trying it together. Eating a piece of eel with ginseng gave me the feeling of getting healthier, haha. I really got a proper health boost that day.

## Finishing the meal with a bowl of eel soup

After eating your fill of grilled eel, there's an unwritten dessert rule — eel soup! It felt like something was missing if I didn't have eel soup after grilled eel, so I ordered a bowl.

![Eel soup served bubbling in a stone pot](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-22-14yn1-900.webp)

The eel soup came out bubbling in a stone pot, and since the eel was finely ground into it, the broth had a thick, rich feel. I mixed in a bowl of rice and topped it with the delicious green onion kimchi from earlier — that combo was another treat.

![A bowl of eel soup with rice and green onion kimchi mixed in](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-23-fx6lu-900.webp)

![Leftover grilled eel dipped into the eel soup broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce-24-301ma-900.webp)

I even dipped the leftover grilled eel briefly into the eel soup broth and ate it that way... that was an absolutely perfect meal, haha. Walking out full, I really felt like I'd had a proper health boost!

## Is Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch worth it? Final verdict

> Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch: overall review

The plump, springy grilled eel combined with prices that don't feel burdensome made for a satisfying meal. The eel itself was chewy and savory enough to enjoy on its own, and it could also be enjoyed in different ways depending on whether you paired it with perilla leaf, ginger, or the wasabi sauce.

The spacious layout also seemed good for family dinners as well as work gatherings near Songjeong Station. Above all, finishing off eel with eel soup made for a hearty, satisfying meal! I highly, highly recommend this great-value grilled eel restaurant!!! 😍

## Where it is

- Ppaksen Freshwater Eel Songjeong Station Branch (빡센민물장어 송정역점)
- 14 Songjeong-ro 30beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea, 1st floor
- 전남광주통합특별시 광산구 송정로30번길 14 1층
- 35.1358431, 126.7937032
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%B9%A1%EC%84%BC%EB%AF%BC%EB%AC%BC%EC%9E%A5%EC%96%B4%20%EC%86%A1%EC%A0%95%EC%97%AD%EC%A0%90/@35.1358431,126.7937032,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@yangnim-noon-jeotgarak/gwangju-songjeong-eel-wasabi-soy-sauce/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt