Unagi Tomoei

※ Please note that a successful reservation at Tomoei means that will guests still have to wait for an available seat. A successful reservation simply ensures that the guest has secured a meal, and that there will be no risk of the restaurant selling out before their turn is reached. When guests arrive at the restaurant, they are requested to inform the staff that they have a reservation with byFood, and to take a queue number. The restaurant staff will notify them when it is their turn to be served. ——— The Japanese are crazy about eel, so much so that 70% of the freshwater eel eaten worldwide is consumed here. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, a great place to find out is at Tomoei in Odawara. This unagi (freshwater eel) restaurant cooks every one of their dishes fresh, keeping the eels in spring water tanks with a strictly controlled temperature, until they’re ready to cook. After anything from a ten minute to one hour wait (on account of the store’s wild popularity, which peaks on weekends) you’ll be seated and presented with a rectangular red box. Open it up to be hit with the aroma and the sight of perfectly cooked, lightly glazed golden strips of eel on a bed of rice. Other eel dishes feature on the set-course menu, as do some seasonal additions which keep things fresh for regulars.