Eel restaurant in Gwangyang with kids' eel tteokgalbi: Deokeun Jangeo

I normally love charcoal-grilled eel with my family anyway.

I kept thinking about grilling fresh eel over strong charcoal heat, so I went back to Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch after three months.

I happened to have errands near Jungma-dong on the weekend, so I dropped by right at the 11am opening for an opening-rush visit and got to enjoy it at a leisurely pace!

How it works: pick your eel at the ground-floor market, grill it upstairs

At Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch you first choose and pay for your eel on the 1st floor, then head up to the 2nd floor restaurant to eat with a table setting — think of it as the typical butcher-shop-style restaurant system.

I parked comfortably in the dedicated 1st floor lot and went straight to check out the display case.

This place sells 100% domestic Japonica river eel raised directly by the producer, so the freshness really stands out.

As of my visit date (26.09.12), live eel was priced at 35,640 won per kg (600g actual weight after trimming), the exact same price as three months ago!

Why lunch means 10% off your eel at Deokeun Jangeo

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch applies a 10% discount on eel for lunch visits. I'd only ever come for dinner before, so it was nice to catch the discount this time!

I picked a pack originally priced around 47,000 won, and with the discount it came to a nice 42,550 won.

The display case has packs wrapped in various weights, so it's easy to pick based on your headcount. Two adults, so we chose one pack in the 40,000-won range. For the kid, you just add tteokgalbi upstairs :)

Charcoal grilling at a wide-open window seat

Heading up to the 2nd floor, the atmosphere was much calmer than the dinner peak hours.

We were seated by the window and started our meal in good spirits, taking in the view outside.

Table setting fee: 4,000 won per adult / 2,000 won for elementary school age and under

Additional menu: eel soup 10,000 won / eel tteokgalbi 3,500 won / rice 1,000 won

Every table has kind instructions on how to grill the eel well. We grilled it up crisp outside and tender inside, nice and golden.

Eating with kids: eel tteokgalbi for 3,500 won

The eel tteokgalbi (grilled meat patties) we ordered for the kid also goes right on the charcoal grill with the eel.

It picks up a subtle charcoal aroma and my kid really ate it well!

What's at the self-serve bar: spicy sauce and wasabi

If the basic side dishes and wrap greens run low, you can use the self-serve bar.

Besides the basic table sauces, spicy sauce and wasabi are set up separately at the self-serve bar — be sure to grab some to pair with the eel!

Finishing the meal with rich eel soup

When you come to Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch, the one dish you must order even if you're full is the eel soup (10,000 won).

The broth isn't fishy at all — it's deep and rich, so mixing in a bowl of rice really fills you up and settles your stomach. I strongly recommend the course of oiling up with charcoal-grilled eel and finishing with hearty eel soup!

When you pay after the meal, join the review event to get an ice cream dessert too, so make sure to participate :)

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch: location, parking and hours

• Address: 101 Hangman 9-ro, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea (right next to Rakhee Hotel)
• Parking: Dedicated 1st floor lot, street parking
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 20:30)
• Break time: (weekdays) 14:00–16:00
• Check Naver/Kakao Place for temporary closures~

Thanks to the lunch discount, it was a satisfying weekend meal out that covered both value and nourishment. If you're looking for a clean, fresh eel restaurant in Jungma-dong, Gwangyang, I'd recommend visiting at lunchtime to enjoy it at a relaxed pace!