Self-refill eel, pork belly & duck neck buffet in Jijok-dong, Daejeon

Where to go in Daejeon for a truly full-up eel meal?

When I wanted to really stuff myself with eel in Daejeon, I headed to Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store (송림복장어 민물장어무한리필 대전직영점) in Jijok-dong, Yuseong. I was searching around for where to go and this time ended up here, haha. Eel is pretty pricey these days, right?

But I heard Songrimbok lets you eat domestic freshwater eel all-you-can-eat, so I got curious and went. It turned out to be much better than I expected.

Songrimbok Daejeon Direct Store: location, hours, parking

• Parking available
• Address: 60 Jijokbuk-ro 66beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
• Hours: daily 11:50 - 23:00

It seems to be quite well known among people looking for all-you-can-eat spots in Jijok-dong, or eel buffets in Daejeon.

Is Songrimbok good for a group dinner?

Songrimbok's Daejeon Direct Store is a huge place, around 130 pyeong, so it has plenty of room for company dinners or family meals. The first thing I noticed walking in was how big it is, haha. The tables are spaced widely and it doesn't feel stuffy at all, which I liked.

It looked good for group gatherings and family outings, and quite a few people were there for company dinners. Parking was easy too, so driving there wasn't a worry.

What's included in the unlimited menu: eel, charcoal pork belly, duck neck

That day I had the unlimited eel, and the nice thing about Songrimbok is that it's not just eel: you can have domestic freshwater eel, charcoal-grilled pork belly and duck neck, all unlimited.

At buffets, usually only the main item is good and the rest disappoint, right? Here the pork belly was decent quality and the duck neck was chewy, so we kept grilling them together, haha.

How does the charcoal-grilled eel taste?

Grilled over charcoal, the eel came out crisp outside and tender inside. I grilled the eel first, and the smell rising off the charcoal was really good.

The flesh was thick with a moderate amount of fat, crisp outside and soft inside. From the first bite I thought, okay, this eel is good.

I'd expected an unlimited deal to taste frozen or low quality, but not at all. I found out they bring in live eel every morning and prep it themselves.

Maybe that's why there was almost no fishy smell and the flesh was springy, not mushy.

The eel's nutty flavor came through well too, and dipped lightly in the sauce it just kept going down, lol.

How were the charcoal pork belly and duck neck?

Songrimbok's pork belly had a strong charcoal smoky aroma and tasted pretty good. It was great grilled alongside the eel.

I didn't expect much from the duck neck at first, but it was surprisingly chewy and clean-tasting, nice to eat between bites of eel.

How do refills and the self-serve bar work?

Even though it's all-you-can-eat, you don't need to ask for more at Songrimbok's Daejeon Direct Store. You can just get it right away, so I could eat comfortably without feeling awkward. The self-serve bar was kept clean too, which I liked.

I could grab wrap vegetables and side dishes at the self-serve bar whenever I ran out, with no awkwardness, which made things much easier. Wrapping is half the fun of eel, and with lettuce, garlic and side dishes it tasted even better, haha.

Is Songrimbok Daejeon Direct Store worth a visit?

Overall, Songrimbok seemed pretty good quality among Daejeon's all-you-can-eat places, and worth a visit especially if you're looking for an eel buffet in Daejeon. It's good for family meals and looked fine for group gatherings and company dinners too.

Eel prices have kept me from eating it often lately, so being able to eat my fill here at an unlimited price made me really satisfied, haha.

If you're looking for an all-you-can-eat place in Jijok-dong or you love eel, Songrimbok Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store is worth stopping by 😊

Opening event: free bokbunja wine

When I visited, the Daejeon Direct Store was running an opening event and giving out bokbunja wine (Korean black raspberry wine). Hurry over before it ends.