Unagi Restaurants(39)
COURSE MENUSumiyaki Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto Bettei
At Unafuji, only the best quality blue eels are used, chosen for their high fat content and creamy livers. These are then cooked over a blue-hot charcoal flame to seal in their natural flavor, then coated generously with Unafuji’s secret sauce.
COURSE MENUNyorosuke Roppongi
At Nyorosuke, you can experience authentic Kansai-style charcoal grilled eel dishes such as grilled eel skewers, unaju and unagi-don. Unlike most Tokyo-style eel restaurants, the eel here is not steamed—meaning it’s bursting full of flavor!
COURSE MENUAzabujuban Hanabusa
This Tokyo restaurant sources its eels from unagi farmers in Isshiki Town, who have raised them in an all-natural environment for over 100 years. The unagi are then coated in a secret sauce, before being grilled Kansai-style over a charcoal flame.
COURSE MENUUnagi Kappo Ooedo
Unagi Kappo Oedo repeatedly immerses whole pieces of eel within jars of their secret sauce, letting its flavor suffuse the meat entirely. It is then paired with sticky Yumegokochi rice for maximum texture.
COURSE MENUMARUICHI FUJI AKASAKA (formerly Nyorosuke Akasaka)
Rather than steam the eel first in Kanto style, this famed Akasaka unagi specialist upholds Kansai tradition by going straight into grilling the eel for a crispier, crunchier texture.
COURSE MENUUmaimon Yakiissho
This Gunma unagi restaurant not only sources its eels from Aichi Prefecture, but also grills them in Kansai-style, resulting in an extra-crispy texture not easily found around eastern Japan.
COURSE MENUToshima Manryo Ichigetsuan
Enjoy traditionally-prepared unagi dishes in this Odawara restaurant, housed in a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan uses exclusively blue-backed “ao-unagi” eels, said to account for only 10 percent of mature eels.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnagi Komagata Maekawa Marunouchi Branch
Located in the Shin-Marunouchi Building, Maekawa’s unagi is a delicacy that has been passed down for generations. The pairing of Spanish wine and sweet sauce-glazed unagi makes for a combination found in no other restaurant.
COURSE MENUUnagi Washoku Shirakawa Meieki
Unagi Washoku Shirakawa Meieki is a welcoming unagi restaurant in Nagoya offering Aichi prefecture’s specialty dish, hitsumabashi, just steps from Nagoya Station.
COURSE MENUHitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho Marronnier Gate Ginza 1
The increasingly popular Aichi unagi specialty of hitsumabushi (freshwater eel over rice prepared three ways) finds itself in the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza district, prepared flawlessly in Kansai style.
SEAT RESERVATIONIshibashi (Bunkyo)
Enjoy a taste of traditional Japanese food culture at a Tokyo eel restaurant with over 100 years of history.
SEAT RESERVATIONNodaiwa Azabu Iikura Honten
Centuries of honing cooking technique has resulted in this storied unagi restaurant receiving a Michelin star — and a reputation for being difficult to reserve.
SEAT RESERVATIONTakotsubo
Capture the authentic and traditional character of Hiroshima with every bite.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnagi Komagata Maekawa Asakusa Main Branch
Time travel with your taste buds to Komagata Maekawa, Tokyo’s legendary eel restaurant. Having been present in Asakusa since the Bunsei era, Maekawa serves up unagi perfection, each bite bursting with flavor thanks to a 200-year-old secret sauce.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnagino Toyokawa
If the saying holds true: three years to master the art of skewering the unagi, eight for the splitting and a lifetime for the grilling — then the chef of this restaurant is a true devotee.
SEAT RESERVATIONKanesho
A small establishment with a big legacy: Kanesho is the inventor of kinshidon, an unagi rice bowl dish topped with ribbons of egg omelet.
SEAT RESERVATIONIke Edoyakiunagi Asahitei
From its Edo-style unagi on Koshihikari rice to heirloom cedar furniture, every bit of this award-winning unagi restaurant in Nara breathes excellence and decades of legacy.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnagi Tomoei
Get the freshest eel you’ve ever had at one of the country’s most popular unagi shops.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnagiya
Dine at the restaurant that the late founder of Honda personally picked as his favorite unagi eatery.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnazen (Fukuoka)
A brilliant place to try unagi eel, right in the middle of sunny Fukuoka.
SEAT RESERVATIONMiyake Akira
Luxury unagi dining in Roppongi, with an omakase course meal prepared by Chef Miyake, who was recognized by the government as a “goodwill ambassador” for Japanese cuisine.
SEAT RESERVATIONHatsuogawa
Eel is cooked to order using time-honored classic grilling methods at the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded unagi restaurant Hatsuogawa, which has called Tokyo’s Asakusa district home for over 100 years.
SEAT RESERVATIONWatabe
Previously a fish wholesaler shop, Watabe evolved into an unagi restaurant under the helm of its third-generation owners with a menu and cooking methodology worthy of the Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade.
SEAT RESERVATIONMejiro Zorome
This Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient is only one of 40-plus restaurants across Japan allowed to serve Kyosui unagi, an extremely rare breed from Shizuoka Prefecture.
SEAT RESERVATIONKyogoku Kaneyo
The Taisho-era store continues to delight with its kinshidon — grilled eel rice bowl with a large blanket of tamago (omelet) — that is loved by both Michelin critics and locals alike.
SEAT RESERVATIONSumiyakiunagi Shun
Enjoy wide open space at this unagi fine dining specialist, just 30 minutes from central Shizuoka.
SEAT RESERVATIONKabuto
One of the best unagi restaurants in the whole country, easily accessible from anywhere in Tokyo.
SEAT RESERVATIONUnagi Uomasa
Boost your vitality with some of the best unagi eel in all of Tokyo, at a competitive price.
Recent Reviews from Guests
Welcome to the World of Unagi Delicacies
If you find yourself captivated by the unique charm of Japanese cuisine, then discovering the pleasures of unagi, or Japanese eel, should be high on your list. Unagi restaurants offer a delectable array of dishes centered around this savory delight. Grilled to perfection, unagi is typically served over a bed of rice, brushed with a sweet soy sauce-based glaze. This traditional dish is savored for its tender, delicate flesh and rich flavor, making it a staple in many Japanese culinary experiences.
Discover the Best Unagi Restaurants
In our curated list of unagi restaurants, each establishment brings its own variation of serving this beloved dish. Whether you're searching for a classic unadon, a bowl of rice topped with grilled eel fillets, or more elaborate set meals that include side dishes like miso soup and pickled vegetables, there is an unagi restaurant to suit your taste. Authentic unagi establishments often pride themselves on using charcoal grills to infuse the eel with a subtle smokiness that pairs wonderfully with the sweet-savory tare sauce. Enjoy the gentle care taken to prepare the eel, often live-caught, to ensure the highest quality and freshness.
Traditional Experiences with a Modern Touch
Many unagi restaurants seamlessly blend traditional approaches with contemporary touches, offering both cozy, traditional settings, complete with shoji screens and tatami mats, as well as modern, minimalist environments. You may even find some restaurants that add innovative twists to the classic eel dishes, serving them with ingredients like avocado or truffle, offering a fresh take without departing too much from traditional flavors. From the humble small eateries specializing in just a few cherished dishes to upscale establishments with varied menus, exploring the world of unagi can lead you to delightful new culinary adventures.
Enhance your dining experience by accompanying your meal with a selection of sake or green tea, which complements the flavors of unagi beautifully. Whether you're dining alone, with family, or with friends, these restaurants offer a wonderful setting to celebrate the art of Japanese cuisine. Dive into this delicious world full of rich, umami flavors and enjoy the incredible texture and taste of expertly prepared unagi.