Seonleung Station eel restaurant with sofa booths for two: Manmok

Manmok is great for a meal that feels both special and filling 🍚 My friend and I had errands in Gangnam and were looking for a good spot nearby, and since I hadn't had a proper eel rice bowl in a while, we decided to check it out.

I love eel normally, but grilled eel can feel like too much for lunch — this is the perfect spot for those days when you still want to eat eel generously without the guilt 🩵

What is Manmok like, 5 minutes from Seonleung Station Exit 2?

Manmok is a Japanese restaurant on Seolleung-ro 82-gil, about 5 minutes from Seonleung Station Exit 2. The dark wood exterior alone sets it apart from your average rice bowl joint!

It really feels like a local restaurant in Japan — clean and upscale at the same time ✨

The calm wood-toned interior was the first thing that caught my eye! The lighting is soft too, making it a comfortable place to chat while eating.

Solo counter to group tables: the partitioned sofa booth we sat in at Manmok

Manmok has everything from solo dining seats to group tables..! Great for office workers around Seonleung and Daechi-dong who want to eat solo at lunch, and also a solid choice for team dinners.

I sat at a sofa seat with a spacious table and partitions between each spot, so we could chat comfortably while eating~!

Manmok's lunch menu is eel rice bowl only: two whole-eel bowls for two friends

The lunch menu is only eel rice bowl! You just choose between half, whole, or one and a half servings. (For dinner they also have eel nabe, hanwoo nabe, and grilled eel.)

We figured half would leave us wanting more, so since we wanted to really eat properly, we each ordered a whole serving haha

Couldn't help but lift the lid right away! The eel's shine was insane ㅠㅠ Such a good-looking bowl 🫠 Manmok apparently only uses Gochang freshwater eel, which is why the eel is thick and has such a nutty, savory flavor!

What comes with the bowl: soup, salad, chawanmushi, sansho pepper, wasabi, ginger and radish

The rice bowl doesn't come alone — it's served with soup, salad, chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), and sansho pepper, wasabi, ginger, and radish on the side, arriving as a neat, complete spread 🫢 It felt like eating a really upscale eel bento box!

Maybe because it's the whole serving, the moment I opened the lid the rice was completely covered with glossy eel..💛 Cut into perfect bite-sized pieces.

Manmok sticks to a 'Kanto-style' cooking method — grilling the eel once, steaming it, brushing on sauce, and then grilling it twice more over charcoal — which keeps the eel tender while cutting down on the greasiness, so you still feel clean after eating!!

The grilling is on point,,! The eel's naturally mild richness pairs so well with the sweet sauce that the rice practically disappears on its own,,

How much eel is in the whole-eel bowl, and which side suits it best?

The whole serving of Manmok's eel rice bowl is generous enough to satisfy even a grown man! The wasabi, sansho pepper, ginger, and radish you eat along the way are the real kicker!

Personally, I thought the ginger paired especially well. I want to keep eating it again ㅠㅠㅠ

The eel is cut into big, thick pieces so one bite fills your mouth with eel!! The eel itself at Manmok is so soft and delicious. Honestly the best ㅠㅠ It's light enough that you never get sick of eating just the eel.

Besides the sides that come with the eel rice bowl, you also get white kimchi and radish salad, which keeps things from ever getting boring till the end! Eating rice along with a bit of ginger or wasabi here and there changes the flavor completely,, it refreshes your palate so you enjoy every bite to the last.

Can you tell how moist and tender the eel is..! The sauce isn't too strong, and since it's charcoal-grilled it feels light, so eating the eel alone without rice almost feels like enjoying grilled eel on its own!

Dessert ice cream at Manmok: matcha or black tea

Once you finish your meal, Manmok gives you dessert ice cream. There are two flavors, matcha and black tea! Cleaned my plate and then had dessert ice cream haha

Even the dessert ice cream nails the Japanese feel. After eating a filling, neatly served eel rice bowl, finishing with cool, refreshing ice cream made me feel like I'd been properly treated to a full meal!

Overall Manmok left me satisfied, with a calm atmosphere and neatly served food. I always think the restroom matters a lot when picking a restaurant or café, and true to the store's vibe, Manmok's restroom was very clean too.

Who is Manmok best for?

Definitely for anyone who loves eel! Also for anyone near Seonleung Station looking for a lunch spot that's a little more special than usual.

It's great for solo diners who want a proper meal without feeling out of place, and also for anyone near Seonleung/Daechi-dong looking for a clean, well-put-together Japanese restaurant. On days when your usual lunch options feel boring, treat yourself here!

Parking near Manmok

Manmok has parking for 2 cars in front of the restaurant. If that's full, you can use the WeWork Seonleung Branch 3, Samjeong Building, Areumville, or Nice Park parking lots.