Bonchon-dong self-grill eel restaurant & ₩9,000 soup: Deokeun Jangeo

The weather is getting hot, and this is exactly when you need to recharge, right? When it comes to stamina food, freshwater eel is the number one thing that comes to mind. But honestly, eating eel makes you worry about your wallet first, doesn't it? This time I found an all-time-great Gwangju eel restaurant where you can stuff yourself with domestic wild-style eel (pungcheon jangeo) for less than the price of pork belly!

It's Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch (더큰장어 본점) in Bonchon-dong. It has even been on TV shows like KBS 2TV's Saengsaeng Jeongbo, so it's already proven, and once I went in person I understood right away why it's so popular. Here's my detailed visit review, packed with good tips!

Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch: location, hours and facilities

Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch is on the 1st–2nd floors at 596 Haseo-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (Bonchon-dong 484), open daily from 11:00 to 22:00 (last order 20:30). There's a large parking area, and high chairs are available too.

Why is it so cheap? Direct-sale shop and self-grill system

The reason Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch has such overwhelming value is that it runs as a direct-sale shop with self-grilling.

They say they cut distribution margins sharply because they run their own antibiotic-free fish farm in Muan, Jeonnam.

There's a set way to use the restaurant, so if it's your first time, read up beforehand!

Choosing your eel at the 1st-floor distribution center

When you walk into Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch, you first pick neatly prepared, packaged freshwater eel with your own eyes on the 1st floor and pay in advance. Checking the freshness yourself really builds trust.

Heading up to the 2nd-floor dining hall

After paying, you carry your eel up to the 2nd-floor dining hall. A huge space with 49 tables opens up, and the staff are friendly and quick to seat you.

Self-grilling over charcoal

Each table is set with strong charcoal and the basic table setting. You grill the eel yourself while following the "how to grill eel well" sign attached to the table. It's a lot of fun adjusting it to exactly how done you like it.

Eel prices and table setting fee at Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch

The freshwater eel here is around ₩29,000 per 1kg (about 600g boneless). The price may change with the market rate, but basically it's incredibly cheap!

Calculated per 100g of boneless eel, it comes to roughly ₩4,830, which is among the best value around.

• Freshwater eel 1kg (about 600g boneless): around ₩29,000
• Table setting fee: adults ₩4,000 / children ₩2,000 (charcoal and side dishes included)

How does the eel soup (₩9,000) taste?

Another specialty of Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch in Bonchon-dong is the eel soup (jangeotang, ₩9,000). Domestic freshwater eel from their own Muan farm is simmered long with the bones and ground smooth, so there's absolutely zero fishy smell, and the thick, rich broth tasted like a health tonic!

Radish greens (siraegi) that melt in your mouth and nutty ground perilla seeds go in generously, giving it a clean yet deep flavor. Drop a bowl of rice into the bubbling hot stone pot, top it with well-fermented kimchi, and it's a perfect refresh that cuts through the oiliness. I highly recommend it as a hearty finishing dish after grilled eel, or for a family meal with your parents.

Honest review of the grilled eel at Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch

I put the eel I had paid for on the charcoal, and maybe because it comes from their own farm, it was really plump and full of meat, which made me exclaim out loud. Grilled golden brown, it had zero fishy smell, crisp outside, chewy and tender inside. The texture was a work of art.

I think this is honestly the first time in my life I've seen eel this big and this high quality at this price!

Self-bar: side dishes and wrap vegetables, free refills

The self-bar set up on one side of Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch is amazing too. The side dishes are generous and kept clean, and you can refill wrap vegetables and sauces freely without feeling awkward, which was really convenient.

Receipt review ice cream event at Deokeun Jangeo

If you write a Naver receipt review after eating at Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch, they give you an ice cream bar for free, one for each person who dined, which is perfect for cooling your mouth on the way out! It's a perk that lets you get dessert too, so definitely take part!

Why Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch suits family meals and group gatherings

Thanks to its big, spacious restaurant, Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch in Bonchon-dong has a relatively fast table turnover, and with facilities like parking and high chairs fully in place, I strongly recommend it for families or group gatherings.

The staff were all quick and kind too, so even though it's a self-grill restaurant, I had a very comfortable and totally satisfying meal.

If you want to enjoy good-quality domestic wild-style eel hearty and without worrying about the price, don't hesitate, just run to the Gwangju eel restaurant Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch!

That was my 100% honest review of a place that nails both taste and price!