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.
Osaka
The Kansai Main Restaurant That Preserves the Culture of Eating Pufferfish
This is the original and flagship restaurant of a pufferfish specialty restaurant in Kansai Area with multiple locations both in Japan and overseas. The restaurant is approximately a 2-minute walk from Namba Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, and its large signboard will catch your eye. Highly regarded in Osaka, the city with the highest pufferfish consumption in Japan, the restaurant offers premium pufferfish year-round. While casual courses are available, a highlight is the course featuring over 3 kg of wild Japanese tiger pufferfish shipped directly from Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The firm texture and profound flavor unique to wild-caught fish are truly exceptional. From April to October, a variety of plump, fatty eel dishes are also available for a limited time.
Hyogo
A Sommelier’s Take on Wine and Traditional Japanese Dishes
Just a 17-minute walk from JR Kakogawa Station, Shun Ryori Rindō is a Japanese restaurant that highlights locally sourced ingredients, paired with carefully selected sake and wine. In 2017, the owner became the first Japanese recipient of a Gold Diploma in the international sommelier qualification exam, "International A.S.I. Sommelier Diploma", held by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), and has since achieved a refined harmony between Japanese cuisine and wine. As both chef and sommelier, the owner is also able to craft courses that complement wine pairings. When it comes to sake, the focus is on local brews that match beautifully with the region’s seasonal ingredients.
Gunma
Taste the Seasons in a Historic Meiji-Era Ryotei
"Ryotei Chojinso" was built in 1900 in Tsubaki Town, central Takasaki, as a businessman’s villa. It became a ryotei in 1955, named after the character "Chojin" from a calligraphy gifted by a visiting imperial family member during the Meiji era (1868–1912). The 1,000 m² garden is home to two free-roaming peacocks. The kaiseki course offers eight to eleven dishes using "Joshu beef" and local vegetables, updated every two months with occasional Western touches. All nine rooms are private and vary in size, making it ideal for celebrations, engagements, and family gatherings. Catering and lunch boxes are also available.
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.
Mie
A Japanese Restaurant Serving Eel in a Taisho-Era Setting
Founded in 1914, "Seifutei" is a beloved Japanese restaurant specializing in eel dishes. Its signature dish is "Grilled eel," made with a secret sauce that has been preserved since the restaurant opened. The eel is split open along the back in the Kanto style and grilled in the Kansai style without steaming until golden brown and fragrant, a method unique to the Nabari region, where the cultures of Kanto and Kansai blend together. Another specialty dish is "Koikoku (carp stewed in miso)." The carp is simmered for a week to remove the mud, resulting in a mellow flavor with no unpleasant odor. Enjoy a leisurely meal in a calm Japanese space that retains the atmosphere of the restaurant's days as a traditional inn, while taking in the view of the Nabari-gawa River.
Shizuoka
Enjoy Premium Eel Grilled by the Second-Generation Master
The owner trained at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Shimizu City and took over the business in 2020 as the second-generation owner of "Hirota Unagi". He sources live eels from areas in season, ensuring he uses the freshest and most delicious ones available. He values the knowledge acquired during his training, the techniques passed down from his father, and the traditional secret sauce, which together allow him to serve high-quality eel dishes every day. He emphasizes, "I want people to enjoy eel with peace of mind." As you pass through the noren curtain, you are greeted by a fragrant aroma that fills the air, and an irori hearth comes into view, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant also features a tatami room that can accommodate up to 20 guests, suitable for various occasions. Here, you can savor eel dishes at your leisure in a charming, rustic-style setting.
Okayama
Unhurried Meals in a Dedicated Unagi Restaurant
"Marukatsu" is an eel and sushi restaurant founded in 1974. Domestically caught eels from Kagoshima and Miyazaki are slowly grilled in a secret sauce that has been added to since the restaurant first opened. Eels caught from autumn to winter are characterized by thicker flesh and skin, which enhances their flavor. Eels are also believed to help prevent colds and restore physical strength. As part of their social contribution efforts, the restaurant is running a campaign to support pregnant women and new mothers. Discounts are offered on unaju (grilled eel over rice in a lacquered box) and unadon (grilled eel over rice in a bowl). The carefully prepared soup stock and house-pickled eel reflect close attention to flavor, while a consistent focus on taste and hospitality shapes a dining experience that encourages return visits to Marukatsu.
Aichi
Savor "Charcoal-Grilled Hitsumabushi, a Nagoya Classic"
This restaurant specializes in eel dishes and opened in July 2023 in Nishiki, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. You can enjoy a variety of dishes, including "Hitsumabushi, a Nagoya Classic", a luxurious "Unagi Don (eel bowl)", "Gokai!! Kaisen Don (hearty seafood bowl), and "Yakuzen Unagi Nabe (herbal eel hotpot). Located near a lively nightlife area, this restaurant also offers a wide range of seafood dishes, making it a great spot for casual evening drinks. Open until 10:00 P.M., it’s the perfect place to enjoy grilled eel even later in the evening. Hitsumabushi and sashimi are popular among international guests, offering with sake from the three Tokai prefectures. The menu is available in multiple languages, and there are staff who can speak English, Chinese, and Korean, making it easy for International guests to use.
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.
Ehime
Enjoy Authentic Eel with Carefully Selected Sake
An eel restaurant in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. Domestic eels are cooked plump in the Kanto style, and the skin is thoroughly grilled to bring out the fragrant aroma. The sansho pepper used is from Niyodogawa Town, Kochi Prefecture, and has a rich aroma that brings out the flavor of the eel. The restaurant stocks local sake from Ehime Prefecture's Toyo, Chuyo, and Nanyo, and the wines are carefully selected, focusing on natural varieties. The interior features a calm, modern Japanese atmosphere with table seating, making it perfect for dining together. There are also plenty of counter seats, so solo diners can easily stop by.
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.
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.
Kagoshima
Enjoy Exquisite Eel From Kagoshima Prefecture in Kirishima City
"Unagi no Ogata" is an eel specialty store located in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. They only purchase eels from Kagoshima Prefecture that are farmed in high - quality natural groundwater, and they carefully manage the water by exposing them to natural groundwater even after they arrive at the store. Each morning, the eel is prepared only for the amount that will be used that day, so they are able to serve the freshest eel. The eel, which is slowly grilled over charcoal without being steamed, is fragrant and has a firm texture, but the meat is soft and chewy. In addition to being available for take - out or delivery, we can also ship nationwide, so you can enjoy the taste of the famous restaurant at home.
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.
Kagoshima
Enjoy Exquisite Eel From Kagoshima Prefecture in Kirishima City
"Unagi no Ogata" is an eel specialty store located in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. They only purchase eels from Kagoshima Prefecture that are farmed in high - quality natural groundwater, and they carefully manage the water by exposing them to natural groundwater even after they arrive at the store. Each morning, the eel is prepared only for the amount that will be used that day, so they are able to serve the freshest eel. The eel, which is slowly grilled over charcoal without being steamed, is fragrant and has a firm texture, but the meat is soft and chewy. In addition to being available for take - out or delivery, we can also ship nationwide, so you can enjoy the taste of the famous restaurant at home.
Aichi
Savor "Charcoal-Grilled Hitsumabushi, a Nagoya Classic"
This restaurant specializes in eel dishes and opened in July 2023 in Nishiki, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. You can enjoy a variety of dishes, including "Hitsumabushi, a Nagoya Classic", a luxurious "Unagi Don (eel bowl)", "Gokai!! Kaisen Don (hearty seafood bowl), and "Yakuzen Unagi Nabe (herbal eel hotpot). Located near a lively nightlife area, this restaurant also offers a wide range of seafood dishes, making it a great spot for casual evening drinks. Open until 10:00 P.M., it’s the perfect place to enjoy grilled eel even later in the evening. Hitsumabushi and sashimi are popular among international guests, offering with sake from the three Tokai prefectures. The menu is available in multiple languages, and there are staff who can speak English, Chinese, and Korean, making it easy for International guests to use.
Shizuoka
Enjoy Premium Eel Grilled by the Second-Generation Master
The owner trained at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Shimizu City and took over the business in 2020 as the second-generation owner of "Hirota Unagi". He sources live eels from areas in season, ensuring he uses the freshest and most delicious ones available. He values the knowledge acquired during his training, the techniques passed down from his father, and the traditional secret sauce, which together allow him to serve high-quality eel dishes every day. He emphasizes, "I want people to enjoy eel with peace of mind." As you pass through the noren curtain, you are greeted by a fragrant aroma that fills the air, and an irori hearth comes into view, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant also features a tatami room that can accommodate up to 20 guests, suitable for various occasions. Here, you can savor eel dishes at your leisure in a charming, rustic-style setting.
Gifu
Delicious Fish Dishes Served by Professionals at a Long-Established Fish Store
A long-established fresh fish store in Gifu City featuring an eat-in space. Since its founding in 1902, the business has operated solely as a fresh fish store; however, the fourth-generation owner has recently begun serving meals on-site to showcase a professional approach to enjoying fish. Seasonal fish are expertly prepared before customers' eyes—a unique experience offered exclusively by a fresh fish store. Seminars and take-out services are also available for those wishing to enjoy delicious fish at home. To convey the thrill of encountering seasonal fish to children in oceanless Gifu and inspire a love for fish, bluefin tuna dissection shows are held at kindergartens, the Dosan Festival in spring, and the Gifu Nobunaga Festival in autumn.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Eel for Lunch by Area
