Unazen (eel restaurant) in Sumida-ku, Tokyo offers delicious and fluffy eel grilled by the 76-year-old owner using a gas stove. The restaurant is closed every Monday, as well as on the second and fourth Thursdays. Menu items include eel rice bowl (4,500 yen), grilled eel (4,000 yen), bottled beer (600 yen), and cold sake "Kamitsuru" 300ml (1,400 yen). On this day, it took about 30 minutes for the grilled eel to be served. The owner works all day without taking a break, standing and grilling eel continuously. By evening, his body becomes stiff and he cannot move, so he rests lying down on the counter before going home. I hope he can continue running the restaurant energetically and healthily for as long as possible. One of the top eel restaurants that I highly recommend. Thank you for the delicious meal!

How are you? This is Little Tooth, the North Walking Man. Today, I visited this place. You cannot make reservations at this shop. Since it's Saturday, I arrived about 5 minutes before the 11 o'clock opening time. There were about 16 people waiting in front of me, so I thought I would be able to get in on the first round, but I ended up waiting for an hour right at my turn. Too bad. (The number of seats displayed on Tabelog doesn't seem to match, huh?) Since I couldn't wait inside the store, I received a call to come in an hour later. I had ordered eel in advance and it was delicious, fluffy and matched well with the sauce. (Maybe the sauce was a bit too much.) The rice was just right, making a well-balanced eel bowl. There are many foreign customers here, so it seems to be very popular. Thank you for the meal. Bowing.

I went at 10:50 this time to secure a spot in the first round, as last time I had to wait on the phone until 12 o'clock. I was fifth in line when they opened at 11 o'clock, and I was able to get a seat. Most people ordered the "upper" option for beer and eel. There was one Asian foreigner at first, and later two more foreigners came in. It seems that in this day and age, word spreads quickly about good places through the internet. When you order alcohol, you get eel head and liver tsukudani, as well as eel rolls, which are all exceptionally delicious. I highly recommend it. The eel bowl came about 30 minutes later. The eel was delicious, but the rice was also outstanding. I wish I knew how they make it taste so good.

The eel dish was priced at 5000 yen and it was fluffy and melted in the mouth. The flavor was just right, not too sweet or salty, and the rice was delicious too. I usually prefer Kansai-style eel dishes and have never thought that Kanto-style grilled eel was delicious, but this was the first time I found it tasty. Upon entering the restaurant, I had to write my name, phone number, and order on a piece of paper for reservation. They called me when a seat was available, and even though they said it would take about 1.5 hours, I received a call in just 1 hour. It was not necessary to write the number of people in my party, but it would have been better to do so for future reference.

I visited around 10:20 on Saturday and it was the best. People started gathering around 30 minutes before opening, and after the first round of customers were seated, the second round was told to wait for about an hour. Those in the second round and later had to write down their name, order, and phone number, and they would be contacted on their mobile phone when their turn came. The ordered menu was 'top' fluffy and the sauce was not too sweet, very delicious. The woman, possibly the landlady, had a cold attitude, making customers feel like they had to be careful. (Is it because she's from Edo?)

I had always wanted to go to this eel restaurant. I arrived around 10:40 on a Sunday and there was already a line waiting. Luckily, I was able to enter the restaurant a few minutes before it opened at 11. Although I managed to get a seat after one round, it seemed like they might not have had enough eel ready for everyone because my eel dish didn't arrive until around 12:30! By that time, the people at the front of the line had already finished eating, so the eel dishes probably came out much earlier for them. For those who couldn't get a seat right away, it seems like they can leave their phone number and wait to be called when a seat becomes available, so waiting outside isn't necessary. As for the taste, it was delicious! The eel was soft and tender, both on the outside and inside. Even though I usually find the sauce to be lacking, the eel itself was fatty and flavorful, so I was satisfied even with less sauce. The sauce had a hint of ginger, I think? It was really tasty. I ordered the larger size this time, but they mentioned that they couldn't get the regular size eel that day, so they had to cut the larger eel into smaller pieces. I would definitely want to go back again!

This is my second visit this year. Eel is in season in autumn and winter, but I especially crave it in the summer. Today's order: beer (medium bottle), chilled sake, Kikumasamune nama-zake, two-tiered eel dish, pickles, and eel liver. I started with beer as usual! When you order alcohol, you get eel helmet tsukudani and eel fin with green onion roll as a side. It's so delicious that I want to order more. The eel today was incredibly delicious! The fluffy texture and perfect grilling timing are spot on. The banter between the master and the hostess was entertaining as always. I hope they continue to run this shop for a long time while taking care of their health. I will visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I came to Unagi Zen, located right near Honjo-Azumabashi Station. During weekends at lunchtime, you need to provide your name and phone number and wait to be called. They offer three types of eel dishes: regular for 4,500 yen, premium for 5,000 yen, and two-tiered for 9,500 yen. I ordered the premium one for 5,000 yen. They said it would take 1 to 1.5 hours, so I went to a nearby cafe to kill time. I was called after only 30 minutes, so I hurried back. The eel arrived in about 10 minutes. The steamed eel was fluffy and tender, falling apart easily when picked up with chopsticks. The sauce was not too sweet, which I liked. The only downside was that they put too much sauce on the rice. Overall, I think it's a great restaurant that serves delicious eel dishes that bring out the flavor of the eel. Thank you for the meal!

I arrived at the restaurant at 12:00 on Sunday prepared to wait in line. But to my surprise, there was no line. The staff asked us to decide on our order and provide our phone number, then they would contact us when a table was available. The wait was about 1 hour. Since the Skytree was nearby, we decided to explore it while waiting. We quickly received a call around 12:40 and were seated on the second floor. We started with beer and ordered eel liver and head simmered in soy sauce as a snack. The flavors were subtly bitter and sweet, showing the chef's great sense of seasoning. We had another round of beer and tried the eel fin roll, which was not too sweet, had a nice aroma, and was delicious. Then the main dish, the "Jou" (premium eel), arrived. It had a hint of soy sauce and allowed us to fully enjoy the flavor of the eel. It melted in the mouth after just three bites. The rice was also outstanding. This dish truly represents the pinnacle of steamed and grilled eel in the Kanto region. I will definitely come back for more.

I chose a restaurant in advance for the midsummer day of the ox, woke up early, and arrived at the restaurant at 10:30. They had a system where you had to write down your name, phone number, and order on a piece of paper, and they would call you when your table was ready. It was a hot day outside, so I was glad to be inside. The eel liver, pickles, and eel rice bowl were all of high quality. The eel was steamed to be fluffy, but also crispy in some parts. It was delicious. It's nice to indulge in this kind of luxury once in a while. I would love to go back again.

Unagi Zen at Honjo Azumabashi is my go-to place for eel in Tokyo. The highlight here is the wait for the eel to be grilled. The bitterness of the liver tsukudani served as an appetizer is a surprising delicacy. The grilled eel is unparalleled in its milky texture and melts in your mouth. The simmered helmet of sansho pepper is also a top-notch accompaniment to sake. Despite the emphasis on the wait, happiness is truly found in these moments. The presence of many foreign customers was noticeable, and it was shocking to see the mother serving them in English.

Unagi Zen offers an eel rice bowl for 5,000 yen. Located a minute's walk from Honjo-azumabashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, the restaurant starts preparing the eel dish as soon as you order. They skewer, grill, steam, dip in sauce, grill again, and serve on rice. While waiting, you can enjoy their delicious eel liver rolls. The aroma of the eel dish is unique to this restaurant, with its fatty and sweet sauce. The taste is fluffy, rich, and full of flavor. Unagi Zen is truly the place to enjoy eel. Note that they do not take reservations in July and August.

There is a restaurant near Honjo-Azumabashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line. I came to Unagi Zen for my mother's birthday, as she loves eel. It has become a yearly tradition now. I made a reservation for 11 o'clock even on a weekday because it tends to get crowded. When we arrived, we were seated at a table. It takes about 30-40 minutes for the eel to be prepared, steamed, and grilled after ordering. Since it takes time, I ordered my usual bottled beer. As a side dish for the alcohol, they serve eel head and liver with sansho pepper. If you order another bottle of beer, they also bring out a complimentary eel fin and scallion roll. It's really surprising that they don't charge extra for these. It's worth paying for these amazing dishes. The Hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl) costs 5,000 yen, including liver sashimi and pickles, and a medium-sized bottle of beer costs 600 yen. The eel is incredibly tender and melts in your mouth. The sauce is subtly sweet with a refreshing taste, which I personally love. The rice is firm and complements the eel perfectly. It's truly delicious. The pickles are also tasty and have my favorite flavor. When I told the waitress that it was delicious on the way out, both the landlady and the landlord were delighted. My parents also enjoyed it and said, "It's delicious, it's delicious." I'm really glad I brought them here. And they finished everything, which made me even happier. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

On the eve of the Day of the Ox in 2023, I went to Unagi Zen for the first time in a while. Today's order: bottled beer, fresh sake "Kikumasamune", 2-tiered eel box, eel liver, pickles. I started with a bottle of beer. The sake accompaniment was eel head tsukudani and eel fin with green onion. Just these alone were so delicious! The flavor is rich, so I enjoyed the sake little by little without worrying about the waiting time. After a while, the eel box arrived. The eel was fluffy and perfectly cooked. With two tiers, there was eel on the bottom too! The rice was firm, balancing well with the eel. The sauce was spicy, allowing me to truly savor the taste of the eel. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I visited "Unagi Zen," which was selected as one of the top 100 eel restaurants in the "Tabelog Eel Top 100 2022." This restaurant has been selected three times in 2018, 2019, and 2022. In 2019, it also received "The Tabelog Award Bronze." I arrived at the restaurant around 1:00 p.m. on a weekday and was seated immediately without waiting. Initially, I was seated in a tatami room on the second floor, but later I was moved to the counter. I ordered the "Unaju (eel over rice) - large." It took about 1 hour and 10 minutes for the dish to be served. The eel was steamed well and was so fluffy that it was hard to pick up with chopsticks. Although it was not very thick, it was rich in flavor due to the fat content. The sauce was generously applied but not too strong, which was just right. The portion of eel and rice was on the smaller side. I visited the restaurant with some reservations after reading other reviews, but the staff were very friendly and provided great service. Even when leaving the restaurant, they smiled and wished me well. They seemed very busy, which may have made them appear less friendly to some. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. Menu Ordered: Unaju (eel over rice) - large 5,000 yen (tax included) Rating Criteria: 3.5 - Very delicious restaurant Visit Date: June 6, 2023 (Tuesday) #46

When you're young, it's better to be a bit aggressive! It's better to be a bit wild than to be weak and passive, right? But once you pass a certain age, being too aggressive is not good! After you turn 50, you need to look at things from a broader perspective. If you push yourself too hard, you won't be able to see what's happening around you. You need to act according to your age. It's quite difficult, though, haha. Anyway, I visited a popular restaurant around noon. It's a place that doesn't take reservations. I walked east on Asakusa Street and arrived. I was taking a photo of the exterior when a couple cut in line and entered before me, haha. Still, I waited a bit and managed to get in. Since I was alone, I ordered the following at the counter: - Unagi (eel) rice box (regular) 4,500 yen (tax included) - Bottle of beer 600 yen - Cold sake (Makimizu) 500 yen x 2 They start grilling the food after you order, so I knew it would take some time. Not being able to make reservations is quite straightforward, isn't it? The lively exchange between the couple was quite entertaining. While waiting, I passed the time with beer and cold sake, which is the essence of sophistication. Typing on a phone is not sophisticated at all, haha. The clientele is mostly Asian here! There is also a second floor for groups, and I ended up helping a customer who didn't know how to order upstairs, haha. I noticed that the regular size is 4,500 yen, while the large size is 5,000 yen, so many people end up ordering the large size. I made a mistake and ordered the regular size, haha. Experiencing such minor setbacks, about 30 minutes passed. First, they served helmet-shaped wasabi soy sauce soup and grilled liver as appetizers. The flavors were quite intense! But it was perfect as a drinking snack for a sake lover like me, haha. The liver roll was also served. No more beer, let's go for sake! How about a bottle of Iwako Makimizu from Nagano? It goes down smoothly. In the end, I ended up ordering another one, haha. The eel is from Ichishiki in Mikawa and the slightly firm Koshihikari rice is from Iwafune in Niigata. The combination of these two was outstanding. The eel was not grilled over charcoal, but when it tastes this good, it doesn't matter. The sauce was slightly on the dry side, which made the sweetness of the eel stand out even more. Honestly, it was delicious! They start closing the curtains at 3 p.m. on weekdays, so it's recommended to visit early. Don't push yourself too hard, that's an essential element for longevity. I hope you do your best within your limits. Thank you for the meal.

I heard about this restaurant specializing in eel from a regular customer, so I decided to give it a try since it seemed to have good access. The restaurant starts preparing the eel only after you place your order, so it takes about an hour for your meal to be served. While waiting, you can enjoy complimentary eel head simmered in soy sauce and grilled eel fin, which was a nice touch. Surprisingly, my meal arrived in about 40 minutes. When I opened the lid, a delightful aroma filled the air. The eel was incredibly tender and cooked to perfection, requiring almost no effort to chew. The sauce was refreshing with a hint of spiciness from the sansho pepper. The rice was slightly firm, but it complemented the fluffy eel very well. Overall, the restaurant lived up to its reputation of serving delicious eel dishes. I felt grateful to the person who recommended it to me and I also wanted to recommend it to others.

I was intrigued by the reviews and decided to line up early (although it still took about an hour) before the opening time. I was able to enter the restaurant during the first round of seating. Before entering the restaurant, I was asked what I wanted to order, and I chose the eel rice bowl. They said it would take time to prepare as they cook it fresh, but the aroma of grilling inside the restaurant made me eagerly anticipate the meal. After about an hour inside, the eel rice bowl, liver sashimi, and pickles arrived. When I opened the eel rice bowl, a warm aroma of eel and sauce filled the air. I started with the liver sashimi, which had a gentle flavor that warmed my body and filled me with joy in anticipation of eating the eel rice bowl. Next, I took a bite of the eel and rice. The eel was soft and melted in my mouth, and the rice mixed with the sauce had an unmistakably delicious taste. When I sprinkled some sansho pepper on the remaining half of the eel rice bowl, the strong aroma of the pepper, reminiscent of herbs, perfectly complemented the eel. The pickles were also delicious and matched my taste preferences. If I have the chance, I would love to eat the eel rice bowl again. However, I personally felt that the service could be a bit hit or miss...

Even on a regular weekday, there was information about waiting, as the eel is prepared after the order is placed, so I visited on a weekday with plenty of time before noon, but the restaurant was already full with few seats available. The owner provided contact information and said they would start cooking according to the arrival time. Enjoying a beer while waiting for the eel rice (large), it only took 20 minutes because they were preparing it according to the time. When I opened the lid, there was a nice smell of eel. This moment was irresistible. The eel, cooked fluffy and thick, was delicious and refreshing. It came with a skewer of eel fin, and the cost performance was great for the price. The eel simmered in soy sauce served as a snack with beer had a delightful bitterness. Eating eel while listening to the pleasant banter between the owner and his wife is highly recommended.

I arrived at the restaurant at 11:10, 10 minutes after it opened. It was full with a line of 5 people. The restaurant is run by a veteran female floor manager and a veteran male chef, and they seemed very busy. I was told by another customer that if you check in inside the restaurant, they will call you when your table is ready. I checked in around 11:30 and ordered the Unagi-don for 4500 yen. They told me it would be about an hour, so I left the restaurant for a while. I received a call from the restaurant at 12:30 and hurried back to be seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant, where I waited for about 60 minutes. The Unagi-don arrived around 1:30, served with pickles and eel liver. The small, fluffy eel was warm and fragrant, spreading its delicious taste in my mouth. The rice was thinly spread with just the right amount of sauce, making it delicious when eaten with the eel. Eel truly is the taste of happiness. I was hungry, so I could probably eat about three of them.

Located just outside the exit of Honjo-Azumabashi Station, right under the Skytree, is this eel restaurant with a reputation as one of the top 100 in the area. I visited for the first time attracted by the promise of a fluffy and reasonably priced eel dish. I made a reservation for 11 o'clock. As soon as I entered the restaurant with the curtain hanging, I was greeted with a delightful banter between the proprietress and the head chef, typical of Edo culture (laughs). It was a comforting exchange, not tense at all, which put me at ease. I had pre-ordered the Eel Rice Bowl, premium grade, for 5000 yen. While waiting, I enjoyed a beer. Each drink came with a small dish, starting with homemade eel simmered in soy sauce and followed by grilled eel fin skewers. These paired perfectly with the alcohol! Although beer was good, sake would probably be the best match. After 50 minutes from entering, the Eel Rice Bowl was served, along with eel liver and a generous portion of pickles. Opening the lid revealed a tantalizing aroma! The eel, cooked to a fluffy texture that didn't resist the chopsticks, made me appreciate once again how delicious eel can be. The rice was light, making it just the right amount when paired with alcohol. In the midst of rising eel prices, the fact that they have raised their prices as well, I still felt that this quality and taste were valuable. Enjoying a drink while listening to the banter of the Edo couple as background music, waiting for the eel, was quite a pleasant time!