Eel is delicious and good for the body, and it's a waste to just eat it on the Saturday of the Ox or as a measure against summer fatigue. There are famous eel restaurants all over the country, and you can find some delicious eel dishes. In addition to dishes such as kabayaki and hitsumabushi, we will introduce trivia about eel and how to enjoy it.
When you hear about eel dishes, the first thing that comes to mind is ``kabayaki.'' Shirayaki is grilled directly without adding any seasonings or sauces, and is further grilled with a sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. The difference is that in the Kanto region, Shirayaki is steamed and then kabayaki, while in the Kansai region, it is not steamed but kabayaki.
Hitsumabushi is a dish of chopped eel kabayaki placed on top of rice. It is known as a Nagoya specialty. First, taste it as is, then add condiments such as green onions and wasabi. At the end, you can enjoy it in a variety of ways, such as adding the soup stock that comes with it and making it ochazuke style.
Shirayaki, which is grilled eel without sauce, is characterized by its light taste and texture. You can enjoy the original flavor and aroma of eel better than kabayaki. We recommend eating it simply with salt, soy sauce, wasabi, yuzu pepper, etc.
A vinegared dish made with finely cut grilled eel and thinly sliced cucumber. The richness of the eel and the sourness of the vinegar are a perfect balance, making it easy to eat. At eel specialty restaurants, it is a standard menu item along with ``Umaki,'' an omelette stuffed with eel, and is also a popular dish as an accompaniment to alcohol.
Eel is often thought to be in season in summer because of the ``Doyou no Ushi no Hi'' (Doyou no Ushi no Hi). Delicious farmed eel can be eaten all year round, but wild eel is in season from autumn to winter, when eel accumulates fat in preparation for hibernation.
There are famous eel producing areas all over Japan, and there are many famous restaurants that serve delicious eel dishes. Particularly famous areas include Shizuoka Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, and Kochi Prefecture.
Japanese pepper is often eaten with kabayaki, and it is said that not only does the refreshing spiciness bring out the deliciousness of the eel, but also that the antibacterial properties of Japanese pepper are good for preventing food poisoning.
When you hear about eel dishes, the first thing that comes to mind is ``kabayaki.'' Shirayaki is grilled directly without adding any seasonings or sauces, and is further grilled with a sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. The difference is that in the Kanto region, Shirayaki is steamed and then kabayaki, while in the Kansai region, it is not steamed but kabayaki.
Hitsumabushi is a dish of chopped eel kabayaki placed on top of rice. It is known as a Nagoya specialty. First, taste it as is, then add condiments such as green onions and wasabi. At the end, you can enjoy it in a variety of ways, such as adding the soup stock that comes with it and making it ochazuke style.
Shirayaki, which is grilled eel without sauce, is characterized by its light taste and texture. You can enjoy the original flavor and aroma of eel better than kabayaki. We recommend eating it simply with salt, soy sauce, wasabi, yuzu pepper, etc.
A vinegared dish made with finely cut grilled eel and thinly sliced cucumber. The richness of the eel and the sourness of the vinegar are a perfect balance, making it easy to eat. At eel specialty restaurants, it is a standard menu item along with ``Umaki,'' an omelette stuffed with eel, and is also a popular dish as an accompaniment to alcohol.
Eel is often thought to be in season in summer because of the ``Doyou no Ushi no Hi'' (Doyou no Ushi no Hi). Delicious farmed eel can be eaten all year round, but wild eel is in season from autumn to winter, when eel accumulates fat in preparation for hibernation.
There are famous eel producing areas all over Japan, and there are many famous restaurants that serve delicious eel dishes. Particularly famous areas include Shizuoka Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, and Kochi Prefecture.
Japanese pepper is often eaten with kabayaki, and it is said that not only does the refreshing spiciness bring out the deliciousness of the eel, but also that the antibacterial properties of Japanese pepper are good for preventing food poisoning.
As the word ``eel streamer'' suggests, eel dishes have long been popular in Japan as an auspicious delicacy, and are the perfect food to decorate important occasions, hospitality, and important anniversaries. In addition to areas famous for producing eel, there are long-established and famous eel restaurants in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, which have been chosen for entertaining and anniversaries. It is rare to find a restaurant that sells rare wild eel, making it even more special.
Shizuoka
Hamamatsu Eel Dining Surrounded by Scenic Landscapes
An eel specialty restaurant located on the 18th floor of Hotel Concorde Hamamatsu near Hamamatsu Castle in Shizuoka. Carefully grilled eel from Lake Hamana, known for its thick flesh, rich fat, and consistent quality, is prepared to achieve a crisp exterior and tender interior. The sauce, based on a recipe inherited from the former luxury ryokan Hotel Kokonoe, which closed in 2021, offers a deep, sweet flavor that pairs well with Koshihikari rice grown in Hamamatsu City, noted for its firm texture and rich taste. A selection of local sake chosen by a certified sake sommelier is also available. In addition to table seating, private rooms are provided, accommodating occasions such as anniversaries and formal gatherings.
Aichi
Enjoy a Quality Time at an Elegant Restaurant From the Edo Period
Located just a 2-minute walk from Nagoya City Subway Kamiiida Station, "Okaiseki Shiratama" is housed in a relocated Edo-period building that preserves traditional architectural elements like tea rooms and shoin-style designs. Guests can savor seasonal kaiseki cuisine meticulously crafted from fresh ingredients. Dishes like sashimi served on lotus leaves are artistic masterpieces that engage all five senses. The restaurant pairs its delicate dishes with exclusive sake, such as the specially brewed "Hyakushun" from Kosaka Sake Brewery. The historic setting, combined with private tatami rooms, makes it ideal for gatherings, celebrations, or casual meals.
Nagano
The Ultimate Eel, Grilled With Expert Skill at a Long-Established Restaurant
"Kappo Maruitei" is located approximately a 6-minute walk from JR Iida Station. It is a prestigious restaurant that has been pursuing eel cuisine every day while preserving the taste of a long-established restaurant. Only the highest quality farm-raised eels are carefully selected, then grilled over charcoal by skilled artisans until the surface takes on a glossy amber hue. The flesh is plump and tender, while the skin offers an irresistible crispness. This exquisite eel is complemented by a rich, sweet sauce that has been nurtured and preserved for over a century since the restaurant's founding. Paired with rice from Nagano, grown in the abundant natural environment of Shinshu, the dish delivers blissful flavour from the first bite to the last.
Ishikawa
Long Established Ryotei Surrounded by Yamanaka Onsen Seasons
"Meigetsuro," a traditional restaurant located beside Korogi Bridge in Yamanaka Onsen, the inner retreat of Kanazawa. Founded in the Taisho era (1910s) as a river fish restaurant, the establishment features tatami rooms all facing the river, allowing meals to be enjoyed while taking in the flowing Daishoji River and the seasonal scenery of Kakusen Gorge. A detached building renovated from a traditional house includes a tea room. The signature eel dish is prepared with a sauce continuously replenished since the restaurant’s founding and grilled in a distinctive manner. Lunch features eel rice bowls and kaiseki cuisine, while dinner is served as a series of courses.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Eel for Entertainment or Anniversaries by Area
Although eel is known as a luxury ingredient, it was a dish loved by common people during the Edo period. Even now, in areas famous for eel and in downtown areas, there are restaurants where you can casually stop by and enjoy eel such as umaki, uzaku, and shirayaki, allowing you to experience the food culture that has been alive since ancient times. There are also restaurants that specialize in ``unagi skewers,'' in which each part of the eel is skewered and grilled. It tastes like yakitori and can be enjoyed as an inexpensive accompaniment to alcohol.
Gifu
Unagi Glazed in a Secret House Sauce
"Namazuya Marunouchi" is located an 8-minute walk from Hashima City Hall Station on the Nagoya Railroad. Set in a warm, wooden interior, the restaurant serves traditional river fish dishes made with eel and carp. The 45-year-experienced chef grills the eel using traditional methods and finishes it with a secret sauce that has been refined over time. The "unaju (Grilled eel and rice in a lacquered box)" is renowned for its exquisite balance of eel, sauce, and rice. Other impressive and hearty options include the oke-mabushi, a rice bowl containing five long grilled eels, and the hitsumabushi, a rice bowl containing so much eel that it almost spills out of the lid.
Mie
A Matsusaka Restaurant Specializing in Premium Eel Dishes Grilled Over Binchotan
This charcoal-grilled eel restaurant is located in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, just a short drive from popular tourist sites such as the Gojōban Yashiki (former samurai residence) and Ise Shrine. The owner carefully selects each eel, allowing them to swim in fresh well water on the premises for several days to tighten the flesh before preparation. The skin is grilled over binchotan charcoal until perfectly crisp, adding a rich, smoky aroma, while the meat remains tender and fluffy. The restaurant’s signature dish, "Hitsumabushi", features a perfect balance of eel, rice, and condiments that is simply irresistible. The rice is a specially cultivated variety, sourced directly from contracted farmers, enhancing the full flavor of the eel in every bite.
Osaka
High-Quality Grilled Eel at a Reasonable Price
Opened in July 2024, this eel restaurant is located approximately a 5-minute walk from Terachimachi Station on the Hankai Electric Railway. The owner, who has long supplied eel to department stores throughout Osaka Prefecture, is known for offering high-quality eel at reasonable prices. The signature kabayaki (grilled eel with sauce) is prepared with great care over two days before serving. Inside, the space features a stylish ash beige interior, yet maintains a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere - reminiscent of a casual diner - reflecting the owner's warm and welcoming personality and "desire to make delicious eel more accessible".
Gifu
A Restaurant Where Families Can Enjoy Meals Together With Smiles
Located in Takayama City, Gifu, with views of the Northern Alps, "Gyosai, a Japanese Restaurant" offers a full taste of the Hida Takayama region’s rich bounty. In addition to fresh seasonal seafood and its signature eel dishes, the restaurant features a variety of menu items made with "Hida Beef." The retro interior evokes a sense of nostalgia and calm, creating a relaxed setting that welcomes guests of all ages. It is a place where grandparents and grandchildren often share precious moments together. Thoughtful details such as a ramp at the entrance reflect the restaurant’s commitment to accessibility. With approximately 140 seats in total, the restaurant accommodates everything from intimate gatherings to large groups.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Casually Eat Eel by Area
Eel restaurants are loved by a wide range of generations, from children to adults to the elderly, and have been used since ancient times for gatherings of families and relatives, such as meals on the day of the ox. Perhaps for this reason, there are many restaurants where families can enjoy meals together. If you have a private room, you can eat with your family without having to worry about people watching you, and if you have a tatami room, you can feel safe even if you have a baby or small child with you. When you travel with your family to an area famous for eel production, be sure to try it.
Kyoto
Enjoy the Seasonal Scenery Along the Kamo-gawa River
This long-established Japanese restaurant is located in an alley in Pontocho, Kyoto. Its tasteful appearance blends in with the historic streetscape, further enhancing the atmosphere of its customers. Taking advantage of its location along the Kamo-gawa River, the restaurant offers a riverside terrace from May to September, allowing customers to enjoy their meal while feeling the cool breeze. The restaurant offers a wide variety of Japanese dishes, including eel dishes, which have been on offer since the restaurant's founding, as well as Kyoto kaiseki and sukiyaki. The restaurant is renowned for its delicate flavors that make the most of the ingredients' natural taste. In addition to tatami rooms, the restaurant also has private rooms with table seating, making it suitable for a wide range of occasions, including entertaining, business meetings, and family meals. It is also close to Shijo Kawaramachi and Gion, making it an easy place to stop by in between sightseeing.
Shizuoka
A Sought-After Unagi Dish with a Rich, Satisfying Flavor
"Shimizuya," an eel restaurant operated by three generations, is approximately a 5-minute walk from Kiga Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad and approximately a 15-minute drive from the Mikkabi Interchange on the Tomei Expressway. The restaurant is often already full when it opens at 11:00 A.M., and on holidays, the parking lot fills with cars bearing license plates from outside the prefecture. Reservations are not accepted, and numbered tickets are issued during busy periods. Skilled chefs assess the individual characteristics of each eel and carefully adjust the grilling, producing tender eel coated in a rich sweet-and-savory sauce. While waiting for each order to be grilled, the warm interior offers a setting filled with the appetizing aroma of eel and paintings collected by the previous owner.
Gifu
Binchotan-Grilled Specialties Crafted with Skilled Technique
Founded in 1931, "Sumibiyaki Unagi Uotora" has preserved its secret sauce and traditional techniques for more than 80 years. Skilled chefs carefully grill high-quality eel over specially selected binchotan charcoal, creating a crisp, fragrant skin and a juicy, tender interior that has earned praise even from diners who rarely eat eel. The sauce is carefully maintained every day to preserve its ideal flavor. The signature "Hitsumabushi" is served first with grilled eel and rice, followed by condiments for a change in flavor, and finally as ochazuke. The restaurant also attracts many visitors from outside the prefecture seeking its distinctive taste. Located in Hachiman, Gujo, Gifu, an area known for spring water selected first among Japan's "100 Famous Waters," the restaurant showcases a traditional flavor shaped by the local water.
Aichi
Savour Eel Casually at a Dedicated Eel Restaurant
This eel specialty restaurant sources high-quality eels from the Fisheries Cooperative Association in Mikawa Isshiki, Aichi, known for its eel production, and serves them fresh every morning. Grilling them over high-heat charcoal fire allows you to enjoy two different textures: crisp on the outside and plump on the inside. In addition to the popular "Jyo Hitsumabushi and Liver Soup Set" and "Special Unaju," they also offer à la carte dishes such as "Umaki" and "Unagi Mabushi Nigiri" that are easy for children to eat, achieving the satisfaction and reasonable prices that only a specialty restaurant can offer so that a wide range of people can enjoy authentic flavors. Bright and cheerful customer service is also part of the restaurant’s charm, and the space offers a relaxing atmosphere that is welcoming to families.
Search for Family-Friendly Restaurants Serving Eel, Categorized by Area
Even if you go to a well-known or long-established restaurant that is difficult to enter at night, for lunch you may be able to enjoy eel rice bowls, eel bowls, hitsumabushi, etc. at relatively reasonable prices. The eel is slowly grilled over charcoal with a secret sauce that has been passed down over time. There is no doubt that you will feel happy when you eat it. Recommended when you want to have a luxurious meal with friends, or when you want to recharge for work in the afternoon.
Yamanashi
Enjoy Seasonal Authentic Japanese Food at Reasonable Prices
A Japanese restaurant prepared by artisans using seasonal ingredients. We are proud of our dashi, which is made with the concentrated flavor of bonito from Yaizu and kelp from Rishiri. Focusing on local ingredients, you can also enjoy buckwheat flour and rice from Shinshu, Koshihikari "Pear North America" from Yamanashi Prefecture, which is highly rated in terms of taste, as well as fresh vegetables and seafood delivered directly from the farm. With a children's menu and a structure that eliminates steps, it's perfect for gatherings of a wide range of generations. Private rooms available. For take - out items such as bento boxes, please contact us directly.
Gifu
Unagi Glazed in a Secret House Sauce
"Namazuya Marunouchi" is located an 8-minute walk from Hashima City Hall Station on the Nagoya Railroad. Set in a warm, wooden interior, the restaurant serves traditional river fish dishes made with eel and carp. The 45-year-experienced chef grills the eel using traditional methods and finishes it with a secret sauce that has been refined over time. The "unaju (Grilled eel and rice in a lacquered box)" is renowned for its exquisite balance of eel, sauce, and rice. Other impressive and hearty options include the oke-mabushi, a rice bowl containing five long grilled eels, and the hitsumabushi, a rice bowl containing so much eel that it almost spills out of the lid.
Ishikawa
Long Established Ryotei Surrounded by Yamanaka Onsen Seasons
"Meigetsuro," a traditional restaurant located beside Korogi Bridge in Yamanaka Onsen, the inner retreat of Kanazawa. Founded in the Taisho era (1910s) as a river fish restaurant, the establishment features tatami rooms all facing the river, allowing meals to be enjoyed while taking in the flowing Daishoji River and the seasonal scenery of Kakusen Gorge. A detached building renovated from a traditional house includes a tea room. The signature eel dish is prepared with a sauce continuously replenished since the restaurant’s founding and grilled in a distinctive manner. Lunch features eel rice bowls and kaiseki cuisine, while dinner is served as a series of courses.
Iwate
Freshly Ground 100 Percent Soba Served in an Old Folk House
At "Juwari Soba Takara-ya," diners can enjoy aromatic 100% buckwheat soba freshly ground on a millstone daily. Located in a renovated old house that retains its traditional charm, the restaurant is popular among locals and tourists. The broth, made with soy sauce from Iwate's Kido Soy Sauce Shop, pairs perfectly with the soba. Plans are underway to offer online sales, making this delicacy accessible nationwide.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Eel for Lunch by Area
