This is a popular eel restaurant located in Torimachi Shokudo Street in Kokura. I stopped by for lunch on a weekday during a day trip to Kokura. The first floor has only counter seats, but since there were two of us, we were seated at a table on the second floor. The atmosphere is retro and Showa-era-like, fitting in with the Torimachi Shokudo Street vibe. I ordered the special eel bowl (tax included 2,700 yen) which comes with four slices of grilled eel, and asked for a smaller portion of rice. It came with miso soup and pickles. The eel was grilled to a crispy texture, although it didn't have the fluffy texture you might find at a famous eel restaurant in Hakata. However, this place has a casual atmosphere and reasonable prices, making it a great place to enjoy traditional eel without breaking the bank. It's a must-visit spot for travelers and business people looking to experience Torimachi Shokudo Street.

I couldn't find it last time because it seemed to be closed, so this time I went as soon as I found it. I had the regular size eel bowl set. The eel had a firm texture, which I think is a characteristic of natural eel. I'm not sure if it's steamed or not, but the texture is quite unique. The liver was also very delicious, and the pickles were tasty too. It's a bit pricey so I can't eat it all the time, but I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal!

If you slide in a little after 11 o'clock on a regular day, there will be one customer at the counter. I immediately ordered a beer at the counter, and there were about three different brands available. The ventilation fan was blowing vigorously with a fan, and the exhaust vent was placed very high probably because it's a crowded area. In about 20 minutes, the grilled eel arrived. It's crispy and hard to cut with chopsticks because it's thick. The rice has a crunchy texture, and the flavor of the river fish hits your nose first. The eel has a unique crispy texture, and the skin is slightly slippery, which becomes addictive. The sweet sauce is a bit light, allowing you to appreciate the deliciousness of the rice. It's a bit expensive, but considering the satisfying texture, it might be worth it. Liver sashimi would be a nice addition. The side dishes include daikon radish, carrot, pickles, and kelp, which is quite rare. The balance of all the dishes is well-maintained. However, the distance between the customers and the staff at the counter is too close, and the restaurant is a bit too small. Not much can be done about that...

I visited on Saturday afternoon and there was no wait. A few customers came in after I arrived, but it seems like it's okay to visit without a reservation. On the way here, I passed by Taneya which had a long line. I ordered the unagi bowl with bamboo. The size of the unagi varies depending on the price. Maybe because I'm used to eating steamed unagi, I found the texture of the unagi here lacking. I prefer places like Taneya, Munakata Rokki, or Kama Tatsu in Koga. The staff seemed to get along well and were chatting happily. I didn't get a bad vibe, but I think it's a matter of personal preference.

I always stop by when I return to the west. When I passed by the front of the shop around 1 pm the day before, they were already sold out for the day, probably because Unagi Day was approaching. I was surprised because they are open from 11:30 am, so I made a reservation for the next day. I have only ever ordered the grilled and white grilled eel set meals here, but everything from the rice to the taste is just right. The mother always kindly offers seconds with a smile, but I can never finish it. The grilling, the flavor, the cozy interior of the shop, and the father's hard work make this the best eel restaurant for me. I haven't had steamed eel since coming here. Mother, please stay healthy forever. I will definitely visit again. Thank you so much as always.

The atmosphere here is truly that of a long-established restaurant. I ordered the special eel dish for 3100 yen. The eel was carefully grilled and combined with a slightly spicy sauce, making it incredibly delicious. The off-menu dish of grilled eel liver for 800 yen was also amazing, with no unpleasant smell. There are many delicious eel restaurants in this area, making it a tough choice, but please consider this place as well.

Arrived on a sunny weekday just after 12pm. Managed to get a seat at the counter. Ordered a mini bottle of sake and eel sashimi, then consulted with the proprietress about the set meal. Decided on the eel bowl set meal, with the option of a large eel for the "pine" set or a smaller eel for the "bamboo" set. Enjoyed the sake and eel sashimi while observing the interaction between the proprietress and the Vietnamese staff. The Vietnamese staff member worked efficiently, showing concern for the proprietress. The eel bowl arrived, with a crispy exterior and tender interior, with a delicious sweet sauce. Finished it quickly, along with the sake, and drank cold tea before paying. It was delicious.

In a back alley in Kokura, there is an eel restaurant. It seems to be a popular local favorite that has been selected as one of the top 100 stores. I ordered the eel set meal with plum and beer. The eel is only grilled without steaming, right near the counter. It has a nice aroma. The eel seems slightly tough, perhaps due to not being steamed and cooked over high heat. Thank you for the meal!

Unagi restaurant "Unagi Kawayodo" is located a 3-5 minute walk from Heiwadai Station. Established in 1952, this longstanding unagi restaurant is tucked away in a narrow alley, resembling a traditional house. It has been selected as one of the top 100 unagi restaurants for three consecutive years since 2018. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance as they occasionally have temporary closures. The first floor has counter seats, while the second floor has table seats, making it ideal for small groups. I tried the Unagi Donburi Ume this time. The unagi donburi menu is divided into various levels such as regular, special, extra special, ume, bamboo, and pine, with Ume and above having 6 pieces of grilled eel, making it a luxurious choice. The well-grilled eel has a delightful texture without any fishy smell, complemented by the sweet and savory sauce, making it a perfect match with white rice. The creamy and flavorful liver is also a must-try. You can truly understand why this place has been beloved for many years, offering high-quality unagi dishes. Be sure to visit and enjoy! Thank you for the delicious meal!

When I visited Kokura, I came across this restaurant that caught my attention. It was quietly nestled in a small alley off the shopping street. The atmosphere was amazing! It was a charming eel restaurant where the owner grilled the eel right in front of you. I ordered the regular-sized eel set meal, and it was delicious! I would love to visit again if I have the chance.

With a strong eel flavor, Kawado-san is a must-visit spot in Torimachi Shokudo Street. The Showa-era atmosphere of this small restaurant is simply irresistible. I ordered the Eel Bowl Set Mats for 5200 yen, and the live experience of selecting and filleting the eel right in front of you is fantastic. With only 5 counter seats, you can get a close-up view of the action. The eel is grilled locally, with a perfect crispy texture and a generous amount of sweet sauce on the rice. The aged eel and rich liver sashimi complement the eel bowl perfectly. Yes, when it comes to eel in Kitakyushu, this is the place to go! Next time, I look forward to enjoying some grilled eel with sake. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I had a hard time finding the place. It was tucked away in a quiet corner of a bustling alley a 5-minute walk from Kokura Station, down a narrow alleyway. I climbed a narrow staircase to the second-floor table seating. It felt like stepping into the Showa era! I ordered the grilled eel set meal, which had a firm and chewy texture similar to Kaneyo in Otsu. The rice was served in a teacup, but they offered seconds if you asked. The fresh eel liver was delicious, with a rich broth. The pickled cucumbers, carrots, and radishes were incredibly tasty.

I ordered the eel bowl for 5,200 yen. It came with a huge amount of eel on top. I personally prefer eel with tender meat, but at Kawayodo, the eel is not steamed so the meat had a firmer texture. It was quite different from what I had expected.

On the final day of the Golden Week holiday, I had originally planned to do some sightseeing in Hakata, but the heavy rain made me decide to head back to the hotel early. I stopped in Kokura for lunch during my transfer. I wanted something hearty, but I had already eaten a lot of meat, so I found Unagi no Kawado, a place that serves eel dishes. It's located south of Kokura Station, about a 5-minute walk away, in a small alley. I arrived right when they opened and had to sit on the second floor since the counter seats on the first floor were already full of regular customers. I ordered the Unagi Donburi (bamboo box) for 4600 yen, which seemed a bit expensive, but looking at reviews online, it used to be 4000 yen a year ago, so maybe the recent increase in food prices is the reason for the price hike. It took about 20 minutes for them to prepare the eel after I placed my order. The Unagi Donburi was served in a shallow bowl with pickles and eel liver. The eel was on the smaller side, but the texture was firm and bouncy, as it was not steamed but grilled in the Kansai style. I prefer grilled eel over steamed, so I was happy with that. However, coming from Nagoya where eel dishes are sweeter and more flavorful, I found the sauce here to be a bit mild. The grilling was also not as deep, lacking the smoky aroma I'm used to. Overall, if you enjoy savoring the texture of eel, this place is good, but if you're used to stronger flavors, you might find it a bit lacking.

It's a bit hard to find, but no problem. I thought I had to wait about 10 minutes before opening, but it turned out to be Gyoza no Ohsho. When I entered, I was the only one there. I had the Donburi set meal (Matsu) for 5,200 yen. I took a bite with high expectations, but oh no, it was disappointing. It's tough to say, but it was rubbery. It's like the eel at Yoshi***ka in Hakata. Maybe people from Fukuoka like this kind of texture?

[Visit on April 21, 2023] - Eel Donburi Set Meal - ・Regular: 1700 yen ・Large: 2400 yen ・Special: 3100 yen ・Plum: 3800 yen ・Bamboo: 4600 yen ・Pine: 5200 yen Unagi Kawashido (Pine Donburi Set Meal) Phone: 093-521-2764 1-4-16 Uomachi, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture https://tabelog.com/fukuoka/A4004/A400401/40012535/

Visited based on a recommendation from a junior colleague. Located in Torimachi Shokudo Street, the restaurant is quite small and old inside. Ordered the "Take" donburi set. Apparently, the shiroyaki (grilled white fish) is also delicious, but I tried the unagi donburi for the first time. The balance between the thick slices of eel and the crispy grilled texture was excellent. The fat was also well-balanced, and the sauce was rich without being overpowering. It was delicious. Additionally, the set came with a proper miso soup with liver, which was a nice touch.

I had a bit of trouble finding the entrance to the shop and wandered around the area for a bit. The small shop along a narrow alley had a counter on the first floor and table seating on the second floor. The stairs were narrow and steep, so older customers may prefer to sit on the first floor. I ordered the medium-sized and large-sized eel rice bowls. The only difference seemed to be the amount of eel, but the pictures made it easy to imagine. After a short wait, the eel rice bowls were served as shown in the photos. The eel, grilled over charcoal, was fragrant and delicious. The liver and pickles that came with it were particularly tasty. That was the highlight of today. However, the eel itself was grilled a bit roughly. Personally, considering the taste and portion, I don't think it was a great value for the price, which was a bit disappointing. Thank you for the meal.

I had the grilled eel set meal at Matsuya. I was impressed by how delicious it was when cooked by a skilled professional. I sat at the counter on the first floor, so I could experience the owner cooking right in front of me. The aroma while cooking was also amazing. I would like to try Tanomiya as well, but if I go to Kokura, I think I will choose this place again. Since it was just after opening in the evening, the restaurant was not crowded.

I had yakisoba at Darumado in the Torimachi Shokudogai in Kitakyushu City, Kokura Kita Ward, Uomachi. Then, unexpectedly, I ended up doing a double restaurant visit. It's hard to believe even for myself. One of the most famous and popular eel restaurants in Kitakyushu is Kawatoyodo, located near the Kawatoyodo main store. As mentioned earlier, this restaurant is located in the Torimachi Shokudogai, a dining street. Please make sure not to confuse the two. The interior of the restaurant has a nostalgic old-fashioned feel, which I love. I ordered the regular size eel bowl set. Since I had just eaten yakisoba, I opted for the regular size. The eel was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, served with hot rice drizzled with sauce. They use Yumehime rice from Yamagata. The soup with eel liver was served hot and had a surprising yuzu peel flavor, which was delightful but quite hot. It was incredibly delicious, and I thought the atmosphere created by the owner and the hostess was great. I will definitely go back!

I have been trying various eel restaurants recently. This place had very friendly service from the older lady, and it seemed like there were many regular customers. Unfortunately, the eel wasn't as soft as I had hoped, but that could just be a matter of personal preference. I still enjoyed it.