Ilpyeon Eel RestaurantㅣHongdae Branch

When you think of Korea, delicious food is a must. Today, I want to introduce you to Ilpyeon Eel in Hongdae, a restaurant that specializes in premium Korean freshwater eel, prepared fresh upon order. With expertise from Ilpyeon Sirloin, which has five branches in Seoul, they promise an exceptional eel experience. Ready to explore this special culinary spot?

Ilpyeon Eel Hongdae Branch

Reserve Here

Information

Hours: Monday-Sunday 12:00-23:00; Break time 15:00-17:00; Last order 22:00)

Reservation available: Monday-Sunday 12:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00 (reservation is available in 30-min intervals)

Languages: Korean, English, Chinese

Address: 15, Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 2F, No: 201

Why We Recommend It

Only in Korea: Freshly prepared premium Korean eel, grilled perfectly by the staff.

Warm, traditional Korean interior with a spacious setting, perfect for groups and families.

Enjoy unique flavor combinations with eel, paired with Korean sides like grilled scallions, perilla leaves, and spicy gochujang sauce.

Conveniently located in central Hongdae, easy to add to your travel itinerary.

Get a free dish when you write a review on Google or Creatrip after your meal!

Benefits

* This is a first-come, first-served event and it may end without any prior notice.

Price

* The reservation service fee is 10,000 KRW per table.
* Please make full payment for the menu during your visit.

Menu

* As of September, 2024.
* Only popular beverages are listed above for reference.
* Prices above may change without any prior notice.

Refund Policy

Things to Keep in Mind

Please make sure to reserve your desired date and time accurately on the reservation page.

Please make sure to visit on your reserved date and time.

The reservation service fee is 10,000 KRW per table. Please make full payment for the menu during your visit.

For the first order, please order 1 eel per person.

If you are more than 10 minutes late, your reservation will be automatically canceled.

Outside food is not allowed.

If you have any inquiries, please contact us at help@creatrip.com.

How to Reserve

1. Please fill in all the required information accurately on the reservation page.
2. Proceed with the reservation service fee.
3. Once the payment is completed, your reservation will be confirmed within 1-2 business days. If there is a need to change the reservation date or time, you'll be contacted via email or messenger app.
4. During your visit, show your reservation details to the staff.
5. During final payment, show the total amount excluding the reservation service fee you've already paid.

Our Visit

Today, I checked out Ilpyeon Eel in Hongdae, a specialty freshwater eel restaurant. It's the second brand from Ilpyeon Sirloin and just opened in August 2024.

The restaurant features a traditional Korean interior, giving it a clean and sophisticated vibe. With plenty of space and tables, it's great for groups or company dinners.

Ilpyeon Eel in Hongdae offers only the finest Korean freshwater eels. Their standout feature is serving freshly prepared live eels, ensuring maximum freshness with every order.

Ilpyeon eel (2 pieces)

Two of us visited today and ordered Ilpyeon Eel for two, Fish Roe Rice, and Cold Spicy Noodles in Broth. Just a heads-up, it's one eel per person when you order. After the meal, we joined the review event and got to choose a free Fish Roe Rice or Cold Spicy Noodles in Broth.

The basic side dishes are served neatly, including eel-friendly sauce, kimchi, ginger, wasabi, and various wraps. Before grilling the eel, make sure to heat up the charcoal and grill pan so it's ready for immediate grilling.

The staff grills the fresh eel right on the hot grill. It’s longer than you might expect and looks plump and fresh at first glance. The eel is so fresh, it’s still squirming on the grill!

Place the green onions on the grill as well. The grill is very hot, so be careful not to touch it.

The eel might shrink a bit as it grills, but just looking at it makes my mouth water—I can't wait to dig in!

Once the eel is fully cooked, cutting it into pieces makes it easier to eat. Even the tail was cooked to perfection!

When the eel was ready to eat, the staff moved it to the side of the grill to keep it from burning. Once it’s cooked and ready, just let the staff know you’re ready to eat.

Now, it's time to dig in! For the first bite, I tried it on its own. The eel is rich and perfectly oily, with an amazing chewy texture. The outside is crispy, while the inside stays moist, melting softly in your mouth.

Next, I paired the grilled eel with roasted green onions. The sweet, savory flavor of the onions cuts through the rich, oily taste of the eel, balancing it perfectly. The subtle sweetness and aroma of green tea blend with the deep umami of the eel, creating a delicious harmony of flavors in every bite.

Now, let me share how to enjoy eel even more deliciously! Start by placing a pickled perilla leaf on top of the lettuce. If you prefer a more fragrant bite, you can skip the lettuce and just use the perilla leaf instead.

Next, place a juicy piece of eel on top and, if you like, dip some ginger in the sauce for an extra kick.

Finally, lightly dip some garlic in ssamjang and add it to your wrap. Roll it up and eat it in one bite to enjoy a clean, balanced flavor, with the freshness of the perilla leaves and garlic perfectly cutting through the richness of the eel.

Dipping the eel in the spicy gochujang sauce adds a unique, bold flavor, blending the rich taste of the eel with a spicy kick. The spicy gochujang with a touch of sweetness elevates the savory, clean flavor of the eel perfectly.

When paired with salad, the fresh, crunchy texture and savory aroma perfectly complement the eel. The refreshing taste of chives cuts through the richness of the eel, balancing the flavors and reducing any greasiness.

Fish roe rice

When you're craving some rice, the Free Fish Roe Rice is a perfect match with the freshwater eel. It’s loaded with roe, just as the name suggests. Be careful, though—the iron pot is hot!

This dish brings together an unbeatable mix of flying fish roe, pickled radish, kimchi, and more. Just mix everything evenly. It’s served in an iron bowl, so it's fun to scrape up the crispy nurungji at the bottom.

A big spoonful of well-mixed rice, packed with flying fish roe, creates a fun popping sensation as you chew. The pickled radish adds a sweet touch, giving it that unique flavor. The eel pairs perfectly with it, making this a highly recommended combo!

Cold spicy noodles in broth

As part of the review event, I also received cold spicy noodles in broth . These noodles come with a refreshing, cool secret sauce that has been perfected over years of research.

The dish is topped with plenty of egg custard and other ingredients like cucumber. To enjoy the noodles fully, make sure to mix the broth, noodles, and toppings well.

When paired with the eel, the chewy noodles blend perfectly with the smooth texture of the eel.

Ilpyeon Eel in Hongdae offers it all—premium freshwater eel with a chewy yet soft texture, a clean and spacious setting, and friendly staff. The employees grilled the eel for us from start to finish, making it easy to enjoy our meal. With its great location, it’s definitely a spot we’d love to revisit. If you’re looking to enjoy the best freshwater eel in Korea, Ilpyeon Eel in Hongdae is a must-visit!

How to Get There

Come out of Hongik univ. station Exit 9.

Go straight.

Cross the street at the traffic light and go straight.

Go straight.

Turn left into that alley if you see MEGA COFFEE.

Go straight.

When you see this sign, find the entrance on the right side of the building.

Go inside and go up to the second floor.

You've arrived at Ilpyeon Eel Hongdae Branch!

Ilpyeon Eel Hongdae Branch

Reserve Here

If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!