Unagiya

This unagi specialty eatery has accumulated quite a reputation for itself, especially with its past history and present visits by distinguished people — among them is the founder of his eponymous automobile company, Mr. Soichiro Honda. Unagiya is a classic yet reasonably priced unagi specialty restaurant that has never dropped in the quality of their offerings. They specifically serve Kansai-style grilled eel, where the eel is sliced along the belly and grilled immediately, skipping the Kanto-style step of steaming prior to grilling. Despite the shorter process, the grilled eels at Unagiya are just the right level of crispiness on the outside without overcooking the inside. There are different grades of the signature dish, and all vary in price: sho (pine), chiku (bamboo), bai (plum), and the popular one, toku (special). There's even a grade higher than toku and that's toku jo (more than special). This is the grade the late Honda ordered every time he dined here. Unagiya may close early when the restaurant runs out of eel for that day — it happens more often than not. Guests are advised to visit earlier so as to not miss out on a great grilled unagi dish.