17/09/2026
This is an Eel. Korean grilled eel (장어, jang-eo) and if you've never tried it, let me walk you through what makes it so special.
Unlike Japanese unagi, which is steamed before grilling and glazed with a sweet tare sauce, Korean eel is often grilled whole over charcoal. The skin blisters and crisps. The inside stays silky and rich.
The Korean way to eat it:
- Dip a piece in coarse salt and sesame oil — simple, clean, perfect
- Wrap it in a perilla leaf with a thin slice of garlic
- Or go bold with a spicy dipping sauce on the side
- Always with soju — this is stamina food, traditionally believed to restore energy
