A new eel restaurant opened, and I was thinking about when to go, but then I found out that it is also a participating store in the Nerima Ward PayPay campaign, so I had no reason not to go w (although it says on Tabelog that QR payments are not accepted, it worked!). There are both Nerima and Echika locations (the nearest station is Shin-Sakuradai? It's in Nerima Ward, so it's not wrong, but Nerima Ward is quite large). There are multiple stores with the same name on Tabelog, so it seems to be a chain, but from the friendly SNS posts, it seems more like a franchise! The new store seems to have an old-fashioned door, maybe because it's a takeover. The interior of the store was shiny and clean! When I entered, there were tables in front, a counter on the right, and a tatami room on the left. All seats had people, and although there was no line, there was a constant flow of customers coming in and out. I was guided to a tatami seat, so I took off my shoes and sat down. The menu only had eel rice bowls, with a choice of eel amount: Plum, Bamboo, and Pine. I was hesitating, but my husband quickly chose Plum, so I also ordered the same one (it's hard to order something better). While reading the instructions, I waited. The sauce is replenished, and it's a hybrid of Kanto style with a sear, and the eel is of high quality and large even though it's farmed. Looks promising. The young couple who seemed to be the owners were managing the place. I thought it might take a long time based on the number of customers, but surprisingly, the food was served quickly. A set meal was brought on a tray! When I opened the lid of the eel box and the soup, wow... this is definitely big. The eel was sitting heavily in the box. The staff explained. The sauce is already on it, but if it's not enough, extra sauce can be added separately (in the container on the top left of the photo), and you can add wasabi and green onions on top (there was powdered sansho pepper on the table). I started eating. It's definitely Kanto style. It's fluffy. It's been a while since I had eel. Delicious! Although the taste of the sauce was enough, I tried adding some more sauce since they provided it separately. The rice also tasted delicious with the sauce. The sauce was quite generous, and even though it was a replenished sauce, it felt luxurious w. The soup and pickles were a nice break (I almost didn't stop eating eel non-stop^^;), and it was nice to have them. The amount of rice was sufficient (you can also get a large portion for an additional fee). The amount of eel was also satisfying even with half a portion. If it was plum, I wonder how much the pine portion would be... as an eel lover, I still want to try it (when I looked at the reviews again, the pine portion seems to be a lot. Everyone seems to be doing well! w The pine portion was so big that you couldn't see the rice in the box, it was really impressive). Good value for money, and the luxuriousness of the eel rice was also well-balanced. Of course, I paid with PayPay. I want to come back at least once more during the campaign period (lol). The rule of being more lenient in rating when it's eel (favorite food) is still alive and well w, and it was a restaurant that didn't disappoint my expectations.

I visited for lunch. There was one other customer. The interior of the restaurant is clean and has a calm atmosphere. Eating eel can be a bit of a splurge, so I was happy to hear that it was reasonably priced here. I ordered the eel rice bowl with pickled plum (¥1,600) this time. It arrived in less than 10 minutes. It was unexpectedly delicious. The eel was plump and fragrant. There were some small bones, but they were hardly noticeable. The miso soup wasn't made with eel liver, but it was still tasty. I wondered why there was wasabi and green onions, maybe for sprinkling on top like with rice bowls. I had various questions like where to put the dashi, maybe in the soup? But when I tried putting it directly on the eel rice bowl, it wasn't bad. I see, there's a way to eat it like this too. For ¥1,600, being able to eat this was worth it, I think I will come back again. Thank you for the meal. I will visit again.

During a weekday afternoon, I visited the nearby restaurant "Unagi Nakaya" only to find out it was closed for the day. I decided to try the place next door instead. Despite it being close to closing time and no other customers around, the restaurant was clean and had a nice atmosphere. I ordered the middle option of their three-tiered unagi (eel) rice box, which included two large eel pieces for only 2200 yen. The cost performance was great. The taste of the eel was average, but what stood out was the option to customize the dish with wasabi and chopped green onions. It added a fun twist to the meal. Overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience. Thank you for the meal.

Recently, I visited "Unagi no Naruse Nerima Branch" which was featured on TV. It is located near Ekoda Station. I made a reservation and was seated right away when I arrived. I decided to order the signature dish, Unaju. The prices were 2,600 yen for a full-size Matsutake, 2,200 yen for a half-size Take, and 1,600 yen for a 3/4-size Ume. I added a large portion of rice for an extra 100 yen. The eel served here is Nihon Unagi, which has been enjoyed in Japan for a long time. It is raised in overseas farms that adhere to strict standards, and efforts are made to reduce costs in distribution, processing, and cooking, making it a high-quality yet affordable option. The eel was large, perfectly cooked, and offered at a great price. While wasabi with grilled eel is a classic combination, I also discovered that wasabi pairs well with kabayaki. I am grateful for Naruse-san's efforts to make eel more accessible to everyone. I highly recommend this place.

First visit to Mr. Naruse's eel restaurant. The menu is limited to keep costs down. Payment is accepted in cash or through PayPay only. The eel is farmed in China, but there is no unpleasant smell. The meat is thick and substantial. It is steamed in the Kanto style, but the grilling is well done, so even for someone like me who doesn't like Kanto-style eel, it was not off-putting. The extra sauce provided was a nice touch. The rice was of good quality, cooked just right, and very delicious. This is a good place to eat eel at an affordable price. Thank you for the meal!

I made a verbal reservation at the store on the 29th at the beginning of this month. They told me that if they have stock at the reserved time, they can provide the meal, but if they are sold out, they cannot. They also mentioned that even if you make a reservation, there may be times when they cannot provide the meal. I was confused by this explanation. Despite my concerns, I visited the store close to closing time, and as expected, they had a sign saying they were preparing and were sold out. When I asked the staff, they reassured me that my reservation was still valid, and I was able to enter the store slightly past the reservation time. The service was quite chaotic, with takeout orders taking priority and causing delays for dine-in customers. Even the takeout orders were delayed by over 30 minutes from the reservation time. Eventually, I received my order after about 45 minutes. The eel was served in a stacked lacquered box, with the wife's portion being half the size but still filling the box. The meal also included clear soup, pickles, green onions, and wasabi. I was unsure how to eat the green onions and wasabi, but when I tried putting them on the eel, it added a refreshing taste. The meal was accompanied by ground sansho pepper and extra sauce, which made the rice very enjoyable. The eel was tender and easy to cut with chopsticks, providing a satisfying and nutritious meal. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Today's review is about a restaurant called Naruse, which is becoming more popular recently. They source their ingredients from a central kitchen, lightly steam (warm?) them in the store, and then finish by baking them in a dedicated oven. This style is similar to chain restaurants like Yoshinoya. With the price of eel steadily increasing, there are now many more affordable options available besides Naruse. It seems to target those who prioritize price over taste. And the use of influencers for promotion is quite impressive, with appearances on TV and Instagram helping to rapidly increase their popularity. I wonder what the owner's strategy is... I personally don't have any negative feelings towards this type of restaurant, and I think it's good to have a variety of options for different target audiences. I prefer quality, so I don't usually eat at these kinds of places. However, since I often get asked about Naruse, I decided to try it out thanks to the PayPay campaign. Without the PayPay promotion, I probably wouldn't have come here. It was a busy lunchtime on a weekday in a residential area in Nerima. The restaurant is still new, so the interior is clean and the staff are very attentive. This time, I chose the Matsutake (1 eel) since it was a special occasion. Thank you, PayPay! At Naruse, they use Japanese eel, but it's actually all imported eel. I ordered the eel rice set for 2600 yen, which came with pickles, soup, wasabi, and green onions. It arrived in about 6 minutes. Wow, it's definitely a big portion. It's overflowing and the lid is squishing the edges. It looks like it's close to 2.5 pieces. However, the smell... oh no, it has a strong unpleasant odor like oxidized fat. Perhaps from being steamed and reheated, the meat is falling apart and soggy. The eel is quite well grilled though. At this point, my enthusiasm has dropped significantly, but I'll try to enjoy it. Hmm, it's not delicious! I was expecting more, but the quality is even lower than I thought. The meat is very thick, tender, and fatty, but that's about it. The surface has a dry and unique texture, and the feared strong odor of oxidized fat is present. It's exactly like eel from a supermarket. There's almost no umami flavor, and the eel taste is quite weak, making it feel more like eating a different white fish. I also detected a slight fishy smell, and there were quite a few large bones. And it lacks that nice charred flavor. The quality of the grilling and freshness is disappointing, and it's definitely not good quality eel. The sauce is sweet and savory, similar to store-bought sauce. The sauce dipping is not too strong, just right. It's a texture and sauce that would appeal to many. If you're used to eating supermarket eel, you might be satisfied with this. But for me, it's not up to par. The price of 2600 yen is quite high for what you get. The rice and soup were just average. I was expecting a bit more, but I was surprised by how disappointing it was. This time, thanks to the campaign, it was just over 2000 yen, but it's still quite overpriced in my opinion. I often see people saying it's good value, but I wonder if they're being serious... I didn't understand it at all. However, when you eat this kind of eel, you can appreciate why good quality eel is worth the higher price. Even if it's expensive, there's a certain level of deliciousness that comes with it. It was an interesting experience! It seems like the owner of this place is making quite a profit. Thank you for the meal!

I used the 20% cashback at a PayPay eligible store in Nerima Ward. It was crowded and I had to share a table, but I really wanted to eat eel so it was totally fine. I'm satisfied with being able to eat delicious eel at this price. The long bones got stuck in my teeth, but I guess that's normal. The taste was good.

This is a visit on a weekend morning. This summer, I wanted to visit a few eel restaurants, and I recently went to Unagi no Naruse, which is expanding its number of stores mainly in Tokyo and Saitama, at the Nerima branch. It was a surprise to see a line of over 15 people at the somewhat hidden restaurant, just a 3-minute walk from the newly opened Sakura-dai station. While waiting in line, I placed my order for the "Bamboo - half rice" set, but most people, regardless of age or gender, ordered the "Pine" set. After a 30-minute wait to enter and another 10-minute wait inside, the eel bowl was served. Even with the medium-grade "Bamboo" set, the rice was well hidden under the layers of eel, making it quite a substantial meal. The appearance was delightful, and the taste of the eel was decent. The steamed farmed eel was very tender overall. It had a decent thickness, no unpleasant smell, and although there were some small bones left, they added a nice texture. The sauce was slightly sweet, and additional sauce could be added according to preference. With plenty of sansho pepper, I enjoyed the generous portion of eel. Personally, I found it a bit too soft and would have preferred a firmer texture, but I believe that most people would appreciate its deliciousness. For 2200 yen, I could enjoy this eel dish, and this month, there is a limited-time offer of up to 20% points back when using PayPay. I am grateful to be able to enjoy such quality eel for less than 2000 yen. Thank you for the meal.

There are high-end and casual steak and sushi restaurants, but eel restaurants are relatively rare. Eel dishes are becoming more expensive each year. Some commercial facilities are not allowed to use direct fire, so they are increasingly using IH cooking facilities. Therefore, when non-specialty restaurants offer eel dishes, they often use frozen eel for commercial use. Eel Narse is a restaurant that processes eels farmed overseas in a central kitchen, uses rapid freezing machines, and reheats them at each store. While you may miss the freshly grilled aroma, texture, and fat adjustment, it is still delicious if you are aware of this. Some people prefer this because it has a lot of fat but lacks the fishy smell. Takeout eel dishes from specialty stores in department stores may be difficult to reheat at home, so it's nice to have a reasonably priced eel restaurant nearby for eel rice bowls.

I recently visited a popular restaurant that I often see in the media. When I arrived at the store around 12 o'clock, it was full so I had to wait a few minutes. The interior of the store had a deep layout like a bed of eels. I sat at the counter and ordered the middle-sized eel dish. After a short wait, the dish arrived and it looked good. The eel itself was soft and fluffy with no unpleasant smell, making it very easy to eat. However, it felt a bit heavy due to the high fat content of farmed eel. It may be perfect for those who want to eat a lot of eel, but personally, I don't plan to visit again.

I had the Una-don (grilled eel over rice) for ¥2600, and added extra rice for ¥100. It was my first time visiting this restaurant for lunch. I wasn't sure how much rice would be served, but I decided to go for the extra portion. About 10 minutes later, the Una-don arrived in front of me, and it was impressive! The grilled eel pieces were large and thick, exceeding my expectations in a good way! The eel was soft and tender, and the skin was also soft, giving a melt-in-your-mouth sensation. Everyone has their own preferences, but I think people of all ages and genders would be satisfied with the taste. The bowl also came with extra sauce and wasabi, allowing for flavor adjustments, which was a nice touch. I really enjoyed the meal. Thank you for the delicious food.

I checked if the restaurant is eligible for PayPay and heard that it is in Nerima Ward. I arrived at 12 o'clock and there were 6 groups waiting. When I entered at 12:30, the new interior had 5 counter seats, 2 tatami rooms for 4 people each, and 2 tables for 2 people each. Even though I entered alone, I shared a tatami room for 4 people with another person. They offered three types of eel rice bowls: Matsuya for 2600 yen, where the eel layers on top of each other in the bowl, Ume for 1600 yen, where the white rice peeks out from the gaps, and Take for 2200 yen, which fits perfectly in the bowl. The eel rice bowl was very satisfying with generous portions at a reasonable price. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Actually, when I visited the restaurant the night before at 7:30 pm, there was a "preparing" sign on the storefront. I wondered if they were actually preparing or if they had stopped taking orders. The next day, I revisited in the afternoon. I arrived at 11 am on Sunday, with about 10 customers ahead of me. I waited in the scorching sun for about 30 minutes. I had hoped for a 20% PAYPAY refund in advance and finally entered the restaurant. They had both counter and sunken kotatsu seats, and I was seated at a sunken kotatsu table that day. The menu offered three options: Matsutake, 2 pieces for 2600 yen, 1.5 pieces for 2200 yen, and 1 piece for 1600 yen. I ordered the Matsutake without hesitation. Although I knew beforehand, there was no smell of eel or smoke in the restaurant, which I assume is part of the reason for its affordability. After a 15-minute wait, the eel was served with green onions and wasabi. It wasn't liver sashimi, but it came with soup (which was lukewarm). The eel itself was tender, and the sauce was not overly sweet, allowing the eel flavor to come through. However, since the eel was not grilled in the restaurant, it lacked that grilled flavor. I wondered if they could at least toast it somehow. With a turnover rate of 15 minutes, I felt like they could afford to grill it. Perhaps it's just the nature of a chain business. Overall, it was decent for the price. It was better than eel at a beef bowl chain but not as good as a specialized eel restaurant, and the price reflected that. Considering it's half the market price nowadays, it might be worth revisiting. It was an enlightening experience. Thank you for the meal.

Unagi no Naruse @ Shin Sakuradai Unaju (Matsu) 2600 yen Today I went to eat eel in Sakuradai as I had some errands in Numabukuro, so I walked there. It's about a 3-minute walk from Shin Sakuradai, and around 5-8 minutes from Ekoda or Sakuradai. I arrived at 11:15 and got my eel bowl at 11:45! (Wait time was about 20 minutes) I was so hungry... Eel It's a Kanto-style eel that is fluffy and delicious. The fat is well-melted and it melts in your mouth. There is no smell or fish bones, making it easy to eat. The skin is thin, so even those who don't like the unique texture should be fine. They cook it with a machine, so there are no burnt parts. The Sauce The sauce is sweet and runny, enhancing the eel's aroma. It's not too strong, allowing the eel's flavor to shine. They serve it in small amounts, so you can ask for more sauce. It goes really well with wasabi and sansho pepper. The Rice The rice is cooked firm, so even when you pour sauce over it, it doesn't become too soft. Of course, it goes well with the sauce and makes you want to eat more. Overall It's really good value for money. The menu is limited to meals, and they have tatami seating. The service is fast, making it suitable for families with children. You can enjoy delicious eel at an affordable price, so I highly recommend it. Store Details Instagram: @unapapa30 Address: 1F, 21-10 Sakaecho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo SUNRISE Ekoda Business Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00 Closed on: None #UnaginoNaruse #ShinSakuradai #Sakuradai #Ekoda #Eel #UnagiDay #Unaju #SakuradaiGourmet #ShinSakuradaiGourmet #EkodaGourmet #NerimaGourmet #TokyoGourmet #SaitamaGourmet #Gourmet #InstaGourmet #FoodPorn #Foodstagram #TokyoFood #Foodie #FoodLover #FoodBlogger #FoodReview #FoodPhotography

I visited a popular eel restaurant rumored to be expanding its influence with its great cost performance and delicious food. The branch in Nerima opened just this April, with a bright and new interior. I was seated at the counter and quickly placed my order for the "Unaju Matsuri" priced at 2,600 yen with an additional 100 yen for a larger portion, and also ordered a bottle of beer for 700 yen. The eel dish arrived promptly, overflowing from the lacquered box. The eel was cooked perfectly in the Kanto style of "steamed grilling," and was soft and fluffy. With the addition of the special sauce and sprinkled with sansho pepper, it was a delightful experience. This restaurant offers a great value for its quality and taste, making it a new favorite in my list of eel restaurants.

I thought there was a lot of eel at the pine last time, so today the bamboo had just the right amount of rice. The white rice was a bit firmer and more delicious than last time. Lucky for me, I got a 20% points back when I paid with PayPay! The restaurant was full, so it seems like reservations are necessary for groups on weekends.

I arrived at around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and there were already customers, but I was seated promptly. I ordered the pine needle broiled eel, and for the amount of unagi-don you get for 2,600 yen, it is great value! The taste was also excellent. I was happy to see that there was extra sauce in a separate container. It would have been perfect if they had noticed my tea was empty and refilled it.

Lunch at Unagi Naruse Nerima Branch in Ekoda Shin-Sakuradai. Searched for lunch information on Tabelog as there was none. Ordered the Unagi Ju (Matsu) for 2600 yen, which was served in about 15 minutes. The fluffy and tender eel, sweet sauce, and firm rice complemented each other perfectly, making it incredibly delicious for the price. Good value for money. You can also add extra sauce, and there are wasabi and green onions as condiments. The menu only offers three types of Unagi Ju, with no skewers or appetizers. It's a quick and easy place to eat and leave. Although the restaurant seems to have just opened, it was already full of regular customers and families. Thank you for the meal.

I recently visited a popular eel restaurant. It was nearly full when I arrived. The menu only had eel rice bowls available. I chose the largest portion, called "Matsu," for 2600 yen. When it was served, I opened the lid to find a large eel staring back at me! It was huge, about one and a half times the size of a regular eel dish. The eel had no unpleasant smell, was fatty, and tasted delicious. For this price, being able to eat eel like this is sure to make the restaurant popular. Thank you for the meal.

qk Tokyo Gourmet! First impression... Eel is cheap...!? Unagi Ju Matsuri is only 2,600 yen for a whole eel, the volume is amazing, made with Japanese eel! The best part is that it comes with extra sauce, so you can pour on as much sauce as you want! (The sauce over rice is delicious too) Here are the prices: Unagi Ju Ume 1,600 yen, Unagi Ju Take 2,200 yen, Unagi Ju Matsuri 2,600 yen. It seems to be particularly crowded on weekends, so it's recommended to make a reservation in advance ⭐️ Fun fact about eel (from the restaurant's website): Although eel is often associated with stamina food, it actually contains a rich variety of nutrients that are beneficial for beauty and health! It can help with fatigue recovery and improve immunity. Thank you for the meal! Store: Unagi no Naruse Nerima Branch Tokyo, Nerima-ku Sakaecho 21-10 SUNRISE Ekoda 1F Access: 2 minutes from Shin-Sakuradai Station, 5 minutes from Ekoda Station Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00 Cash only. Rating: Taste ★★★★☆, Cost performance ★★★★☆, Atmosphere ★★★☆☆, Service ★★★★☆, Recommendation ★★★☆☆. (Personal opinions based on items ordered)