On Sunday at 11:15 am, my wife and I entered the restaurant with no other customers. Later, two more people arrived. It's nice to come early and enjoy a calm lunch. Since it's payday and we have some extra money, we decided to indulge a bit! I ordered the most expensive dish, the Unagi (eel) set meal for 4,950 yen with extra rice. My wife chose the Grilled Mackerel set meal for 1,040 yen. Let's also have two skewers of grilled eel liver for 300 yen each! The dishes were served simultaneously within 15 minutes, which was thoughtful. The eel had a nice aroma and delicious flavor, not too strong, with a good sauce infusion. Although it's farm-raised and not wild eel, the taste was still good. The grilling was done perfectly and the rice was cooked well. They provided a spoon for easy eating. They also gave us a generous amount of extra sauce in a container. Adding some table-side sansho pepper elevated the flavor even more! The grilled eel liver had a nice bitterness, and the texture was chewy and flavorful. It really boosted my energy level! The liver soup had a light taste, which felt refreshing after eating the eel. Since the eel was served in two layers, using a spoon ensured you got all the eel in each bite. It's a luxurious Unagi meal, although the appreciation for the eel might diminish as you eat through the layers. I left the restaurant feeling very satisfied and full. It seems like the restaurant has improved from its past reputation of being strict, at least based on my experience this time. It's a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Gathered at a restaurant in Sugamo for a work celebration. It's been a while since we had a gathering with colleagues due to the pandemic, usually only 3 or 4 people. We ordered an eel rice bowl, tempura, and sashimi set. The tempura had a light, crispy batter and tasted great with just salt. The eel was soft and well-grilled, with a flavorful sauce that had a hint of soy sauce and sake. It started off a bit spicy, but as we ate, we got used to it. Towards the end, it left a lingering taste that made me look around to see if anyone didn't finish theirs. There were some who didn't like raw fish, but everyone seemed to enjoy the eel. That's why we chose this restaurant.

I had some errands in Sugamo and went out. During the day, Sugamo Jizoson Koshindo Street is bustling, but as the sun sets, the area becomes less crowded. I wanted to have dinner and head back. I decided to visit "Unagi Nagashima," a restaurant located in the arcade between Sugamo Station and Jizoson Shopping Street. The entrance with a Shigaraki ware raccoon dog is a landmark. The menu with photos in the showcase makes it easy to choose. The restaurant is long and spacious, with a cozy izakaya atmosphere. I ordered a bottled beer and started thinking about some appetizers. The eel rice bowl varies in grade based on the weight of the grilled eel. There are various interesting menu items such as Yanagawa-style dishes, set meals, and appetizers. The liver skewers, grilled with a refreshing sauce, go well with the eel head. After a 10-minute wait, the eel rice bowl arrived. They use eels from Isshiki for their grilled eel. The eel meat is tender with a nice texture, soaked in sauce, making it a great appetizer. The layer of fat under the skin is good. The soy sauce-based sauce is not too strong, and there is no spiciness. The grilled eel is a great appetizer, and the sauce rice is perfect for finishing. The third-generation owner mentioned that there used to be more eel restaurants in the Sugamo area, but due to the rise in ingredient costs, about three of them closed down. The fluffy egg omelet, Umaki, is a comforting dish with a soft texture. Somehow, this fluffiness makes me want to have another drink. It's rare to find Hoppy at an eel restaurant.

Located about a 3-minute walk from the north exit of Sugamo Station on the JR Yamanote Line, there is a popular eel restaurant called "Unagi Nagashima" known for its eel and loach dishes. Despite passing by it often, it took me 4 years to finally visit. I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu, which included not only eel and loach dishes but also sashimi and tempura. After much deliberation, I ordered the chicken bowl and some fried chicken. The fried chicken arrived first, and it was delicious with its juicy meat. The chicken bowl was beautifully presented and tasted amazing with its special sauce. I regret not visiting this place sooner!

Just across the street from Sugamo Station, right before entering Jizo Street Shopping Arcade, there is an eel restaurant. I remember visiting here a long time ago and not having a great impression, but I decided to drop by again after a while. The menu is extensive, with not only eel dishes but also a variety of set meals and izakaya-style dishes. In other words, it seems like it's not a specialized eel restaurant. I ordered the following: [Unagi-ju Tsubaki] (3,300 yen + tax). It comes with one eel, and it's considered to be above the "Tsubaki" class. You can also get a large serving of rice. It arrived in about 7 minutes, not a long wait for eel. However, the eel itself had a smell reminiscent of mackerel, almost like grilled fish. It felt more like grilled fish than eel. While the price reflects the quality of eel, eel enthusiasts might be disappointed. Perhaps other dishes on the menu are delicious, even if eel is not their specialty. It seems like it's better to think of this place as a set meal or izakaya rather than an eel restaurant, despite the eel sign outside.

"Sugamo Station" is a Japanese restaurant located about a 2-minute walk from Grandma's Harajuku direction, on the 1st floor of Nagashima Building, specializing in eel, tempura, and Yanagawa hot pot. The restaurant has a total of 12 seats, with 2 staff in the kitchen and 1 staff in the hall. The dishes ordered this time and their evaluations are as follows. [◎, 〇, △] Potato salad 150 yen 〇 A cold salad served quickly with a pleasant chunky texture w/ Carrots, green beans, and pepper Tori tsukune (chicken meatballs) 300 yen 〇 Chicken meatballs with a sweet sauce and a mild flavor, with a mixed opinion on the amount of binding Tororo (grated yam) small dish 250 yen 〇 w/ Wasabi Eel rice box with plum 2400 yen Eel △ Thin eel with a strong impact of sauce... Firmly cooked with a finish close to Kansai style Liver sashimi 〇 Large liver with Mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley) and wheat gluten, very tasty Pickled vegetables 〇 Sweet and common taste of pickled radish Beer Sapporo Black Label Medium bottle 650 yen 〇 BGM is terrestrial TV! The customer base is local residents. The restaurant was about 30% full. The ratio of female customers is about 70%. The restaurant had multilingual menus (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean). The location was good, attracting inbound tourists, but the restaurant seems to be struggling due to the impact of the new coronavirus. We shall overcome! Thank you for the meal."

The sauce was too salty! This was the first time I had eel like this (tears). The rice was dry and the grains were split, making it very dry. It wasn't tasty at all. Unaju Chrysanthemum 2900, Asahi Extra Cold draft beer 650, tax 355, total 3905.

Located about a 2-minute walk from Sugamo Station, in a calm shopping street, is a long-established eel restaurant exuding a sense of tradition. I entered around 3 PM on a weekday, with no other customers present. The interior was spacious, filled with colorful signboards, and the menu was extensive. I asked for their recommendation and ordered the grilled eel set for 3,800 yen. I also tried the pickled vegetables, spicy konjac, and shiso miso, each priced at 105 yen. The eel in the set was thin but flavorful and generously portioned. The simmered dish and miso soup were decent. The sashimi was surprisingly good quality. The shiso miso was delicious and went well with rice. The pickled vegetables and spicy konjac were as expected, simple but tasty. Local eel restaurants like this may not always have many customers, but it would be a loss if they were to disappear. I personally like these traditional establishments and wish them all the best. The staff were friendly and provided good customer service, and the interior was clean and inviting.

I had the Nikudofu set meal! I chose the spicy version, which had a nice balance of sweetness in the broth. I visited during lunchtime, and the place wasn't too crowded. It had a nostalgic atmosphere, and I would like to go again.

It suddenly got hot, so I need to energize myself! That's why I went to a casual eel restaurant in Sugamo called "Nagashima". The grilled eel was fragrant and really boosted my energy. The price of the eel dish varies depending on the amount of eel. For example, the Tsubaki 90g dish is priced at 3000 yen. The rice was light, and both the eel and rice were firm. They have plenty of cheap appetizers priced at 150 yen, but keep in mind that last order is at 8:30 pm and they close at 9:00 pm, so you can't relax and drink slowly. It might be a good place for a lunch drink though!

I visited a restaurant called "Nagashima" around 8:00 pm on a certain day in April 2019. Located a 2-3 minute walk from Sugamo Station, this eel restaurant also offers loach and sashimi dishes. The cozy interior was about 70% full when I arrived. I ordered a glass of Kubota Senjyu sake for ¥600, which had a nice balance of crispness and richness. To pair with the sake, I also ordered the Chicken Giblet Stew for ¥630, a hearty dish with plenty of tofu, onions, and chicken giblets. It had a rich flavor without being overly sweet. For my main dish, I chose the Sashimi Set Meal (tuna) for ¥1,050, which included a small selection of sashimi, rice, miso soup, side dishes, and pickles. The quality of the sashimi was decent, maintaining a good balance with the tuna. The clientele seemed to consist of locals and regular customers, and the staff were also older, creating a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Overall, I had a positive impression of the restaurant, but I wish they had longer evening hours as they currently close early at 9:00 pm.

After finishing a New Year's stroll, I decided to buy salted daifuku in Sugamo on my way back. It was just the right time for a late lunch when I arrived here. Apart from eel dishes, there were various set meals available. I was intrigued by the small side dish menu on the wall. The weather was nice, but my hands and feet were getting cold as I walked. Despite the temptation, I stuck to my decision to order the dojo (loach) hot pot set meal from the outdoor menu. Soon enough, the piping hot dojo hot pot set meal arrived. I was very pleased to hear the words, "The bowl is hot." The dojo hot pot had a slightly sweet seasoning, and the loach was well marinated, with tender burdock and green onions that were delicious. The miso soup was comforting, especially with the addition of trefoil. The rice was on the softer side, which might not have been my preference if it was for an eel dish. However, it was cooked beautifully and had a sweet and delicious taste. It had been a while since I had dojo hot pot, and it was warming and tasty to enjoy with my family. I had been thinking since entering the restaurant, but the service was very polite and warm, which I appreciated. It seems like a convenient place to enjoy both food and drinks according to personal preferences. I thought it was a great restaurant to relax and have a meal with acquaintances while strolling around. Thank you for the meal.

It was by far the worst eel I have ever eaten. It lacked any plumpness and I couldn't taste any deliciousness. The fact that it was empty during lunchtime was the answer to why.

Salty.

As I passed by, I caught sight of the word "eel"... That's it! Let's have some eel! When I think about it, I've been craving eel for a long time, it's strange... Besides eel, they also have a variety of affordable side dishes on the menu. It seems like a good place to use as a drinking spot as well. The eel bowl was delicious, so this place might be a hidden gem!

I tried the eel-focused Japanese restaurant in front of Sugamo Station. I ordered the 2700 yen eel rice bowl "Kiku". The eel rice bowl arrived in less than 10 minutes after ordering. The eel was not very plump, probably due to the quick preparation. The sauce had a taste that was a bit too sweet and watery for my liking. The rice was dry and the grains were broken. Overall, I was not impressed with the eel rice bowl here and I probably won't be ordering it again.

We often visit this restaurant as a couple. While they specialize in eel dishes, we use it more like a Japanese izakaya. It seems to be popular with older customers during the day, both on weekends and weekdays. The chairs are quite low, probably to accommodate elderly customers, but it can feel a bit cramped for us. However, each booth has enough space, and if it's not crowded, two people can use a 6-person table, so once you get used to it, you can sit comfortably with your legs spread out. The menu includes not only eel and loach dishes, but also a variety of set meals. You can also order individual items from the set meal menu as appetizers. There are unique dishes like grilled blackthroat seaperch that you may not find elsewhere, but the prices may not be the most cost-effective. At least for the dishes we tried, we honestly thought, "It's a bit expensive." This pricing may be aimed at daytime tourists. As for enjoying this restaurant, the small side dish menu is the highlight. They are displayed on strips of paper on the wall and change with the seasons, with some regular items. The surprising thing is the pricing, which is usually around 100-150 yen. From classic appetizers like potato salad and macaroni salad to seasonal items, you can enjoy a variety of flavors. A hidden gem is the grilled chicken and liver skewers. The grilling is always done well, and while it may not compare to specialty shops, it's quite delicious. We start by enjoying sake with small side dishes and grilled chicken. For the finale, we recommend the vegetable tempura rice bowl. Look at the portion size. It's a definite recommendation for those who may not have a fondness for shrimp. It has a wide variety of toppings, the sauce is just right, and there's plenty of rice. Women may want to order with less rice, but if dining with men, you can give them your portion. One day, our order consisted of 5 small side dishes, 2 grilled chicken and liver skewers each, and 2 servings of vegetable tempura rice bowl, along with 2 bottles of beer, totaling 4,405 yen including tax. How about that? It's quite reasonable. By the way, it's recommended to enter the restaurant after 7 pm. Before that, it can be crowded and you may not be able to get a table. When it's not busy, you can relax and the food comes out quickly. Also, most of the small side dishes are pre-made, so they come out quickly. Oh, and as for the taste of the eel, I personally haven't tried it, but according to my partner, "I know of a frozen eel that tastes better than here." Just for your reference...

I found out that I have had delicious eel dishes before. Date: June 2017, Weekday, 11:31. Waiting time: None. Ordered the grilled eel set meal. The restaurant is spacious, with about 30 people on the first floor alone. The second floor seems to be for banquet seating. 11:32, no previous customers. Perhaps it's because it's a weekday. The eel was slightly tough, maybe due to the Kansai-style grilling or simply the grilling technique. And there was a slight fishy smell to the eel. Surprisingly, for a grilled eel dish, it had a fishy smell. The grilled eel liver was delicious, although it tasted like it was made with soup stock powder...