While visiting my hometown, I also stopped by this restaurant. It has been loved by locals for decades. I have been eating here since I was a child, and it is still delicious as ever. The sauce is sweet and soaks into the rice nicely. The eel is tender and tasty. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I went to Oita Prefecture with a friend and had lunch in Tagawa City on the way. It's a long-established store founded in 1889. The location is in Tagawa City Honmachi 1-chome, close to Gotoji Temple Station on National Route 322 towards Gotouji Elementary School. There are a few friendly cats in the parking lot at the back of the store. The restaurant has 2 tables on the 1st floor and 4 tables in the tatami room, as well as tables and tatami rooms on the 2nd floor. The menu offers 4 types of dishes, as well as individual items and bento boxes. I ordered the Unaju (special) and my friend ordered the Unadon (medium). The Unaju (special) costs 3000 yen and comes with liver and pickles. The eel is steamed well and tender, and the liver is lightly grilled with a crispy surface. The Unadon (medium) costs 1600 yen and comes with liver and pickles. It includes half a piece of eel with 5 slices on top. This restaurant offers the taste of a long-established store at a reasonable price. The friendly stray cats in the parking lot added to the charming atmosphere. After settling the bill, we headed to Oita Prefecture.

I had some business in Tagawa, so I visited Mr. Morimoto after a long time. I was undecided between getting the top-grade eel rice bowl, but I ended up ordering the eel bowl for 2,300 yen. After waiting for a while, the bowl that arrived was piping hot. Honestly, the eel today wasn't very delicious. I wonder what happened? I don't really like the strong steamed eel commonly found in the Kanto region, but the eel today had a dry texture that didn't seem like it was grilled. Could it be a problem with the eel itself? About 10 years ago, the eel resources decreased, causing prices to rise in all restaurants. Even though the resources have recovered now, prices haven't gone back down in any restaurant. Looking back at a photo I posted in 2012, the "eel bowl (top)" was priced at 2,200 yen. Even considering the increase in consumption tax, the price increase isn't that significant. When I visited an eel restaurant in Kurume recently, the bowl was priced at 3,200 yen, so in comparison, it seems quite cheap. It might be difficult for a place like Tagawa to have eel bowls priced at over 3,000 yen. Perhaps the reason for the discomfort I felt today lies in that. I hope they continue to do their best.

On this day, I was working in Tagawa, Fukuoka! During lunchtime, I was driving through Tagawa city to a restaurant I was aiming for... but along the way, I spotted a sign for "eel" in front of a restaurant! Feeling like having eel, I made a U-turn and parked at the restaurant without hesitation (laughs). The restaurant I visited this time was "Morimoto Unagiya". The sign displayed "Established in Meiji 33", which raised my expectations (^_^)/ The location is about 50 meters from JR Hita-Hikosan Line "Tagawa Gotokuji Station". There seems to be a dedicated parking lot in front of the restaurant and about 15 meters away. Inside the restaurant, there are a few 2-person tables in the center and a few raised tables around them. I was guided to a raised table and quickly looked at the menu! The main menu includes "Unagi Bowl", "Unagi Donburi", "Unagi Set Meal", "Steamed Eel", "Grilled Eel", and the prices go up depending on the amount of eel, labeled as "Regular", "Medium", "Large", "Extra Large". Price-wise, it is set reasonably for an eel specialty restaurant (please refer to the menu in the photo for prices). On this day, I ordered: Unagi Set Meal Extra Large 3,000 yen (tax included). It was said to be almost a whole eel for the Extra Large size. Also, rice extra serving is complimentary, so I ordered it with extra serving this time. Arrived in about 15 minutes! The eel kabayaki, rice, liver soup, and pickles were included. When I opened the lid, there were 9 pieces of eel on the sauce, which was quite voluminous! Upon closer inspection, a small amount of sansho pepper was sprinkled beforehand. I tried it right away, and the eel was tenderly cooked with a nice amount of fat. The Kyushu-style sweet and savory sauce coats the eel well and tastes delicious. The rice was cooked firm and went well with the kabayaki. The liver soup had a slightly strong seasoning, but the aroma of the Mitsuba and the juicy liver were well balanced. The pickled vegetables were a nice palate cleanser. Personally, I like the sweet and savory sauce here (´▽｀). Next time, I might try soaking the eel bowl with plenty of sauce. It would be even better if there were some sansho pepper on the table! Considering the quality, 3,000 yen (tax included) is a good value for money (^-^) After paying the bill on the way back, I confirmed that the eel on that day was from Oita. Thank you for the meal m(_ _)m.

Last time, the eel wasn't delicious so I stayed away for a while. Still, with the lingering effects of the pandemic, I ordered a takeout eel bento for 1,600 yen. Today's eel was not bad. However, the rice absorbed the sauce and didn't taste good. I think it would be better to have the sauce separate for bento so you can pour it on later. I believe it would have been delicious if I had eaten it fresh at the restaurant, but as a bento, this is the rating.

I came to Tagawa and was feeling hungry, so I decided to have dinner here. An old man I was talking to earlier recommended this place to me. He said that people in Tagawa have refined taste buds because it used to be a coal mining town, so they only have delicious food and no leftovers. I decided to try it out and ordered the steamed eel dish. The eel was chewy and had a slightly bitter taste. The liver was a bit too salty and overcooked, making it bitter. It wasn't as great as I expected, but it was still good. If anyone knows of a top-notch steamed eel restaurant, please let me know. I want to find the best steamed eel in town!

The eel is definitely grilled well, with a slightly charred skin that releases a nice aroma when chewed. It seems to be steamed after grilling, as it lacks a crispy and fragrant texture. The sauce is not too sweet, leaning towards a Kanto-style seasoning. The eel bowl costs 2,300 yen, with a reasonable price considering the satisfying taste despite the modest portion.

At Tabelog, there are hidden gems that you can't find just by searching. I asked local acquaintances for recommendations on delicious restaurants, and this place was the first one they told me about. They said the eel here is both affordable and delicious. I immediately decided to visit. I made a reservation for a menu item and arrived at the restaurant, feeling even more excited. The restaurant had a traditional eel shop atmosphere. We were shown to a sunken seating area and I ordered the eel bowl (medium) for 1,500 yen. It came with more eel than I expected, along with pickles and eel liver. When I tasted it, the eel was perfectly grilled and delicious. I couldn't believe how good it was for the price. It had been a while since I had such delicious eel, and I enjoyed it wholeheartedly. The fact that the top quality eel bowl is only 2,800 yen... I definitely want to come back with my family. The cost performance is top-notch. I am truly grateful for being able to enjoy such a meal.

In Tagawa Gotokuji Honmachi, there is an eel restaurant. I ordered the medium-sized eel bowl for 1600 yen. It came with pickles and eel liver. The eel was piping hot and there was a generous amount. It was very delicious and great value for money.

The bill came to 1600 yen.

It was very delicious.

Good cost performance, slightly smoky eel in a laid-back restaurant.

(Revisited on 19.12.28) I had a bowl of eel on rice during my last visit of 2019. The eel today was not as delicious as usual. I tried to think of a reason, and I believe it was because there were parts of the tail included, which made the texture hard. Since I ordered the eel on top, I would prefer if such parts were not included. This was the first time I had this experience, so I deducted some points, but if it had been my first visit, I wouldn't come back a second time. It had been about 5 years since my last visit. This time, I also had the steamed eel. The taste remains the same. For those who like eel that is tender, melts in your mouth, or marbled meat, this eel might be hard to accept, but for me, this is the best! Some reviews mention that it was better in the past, but back then, the rice was too soft for me, so I was disappointed. Looking back at past reviews on Tabelog, about 5 years ago, there was concern about the decreasing eel resources, but recently, it seems to have quieted down. It seems that aquaculture technology has improved, resulting in better yield. I would like to visit again if I have the chance. (Visited on 12.09.27) I returned for a memorial service. I had business in Tagawa, so I had the usual lunch at Morimoto. Today, I decided to try the eel bowl with eel inside, which I had never tried before. I uploaded two new photos, but compared to the regular eel bowl I had on August 20th, there was only one more piece. And yet, the price difference is 400 yen... Indeed, compared to the eel on top I had on June 24th, the amount of eel in the regular bowl I had today seems less. Has the quantity been reduced due to the recent decrease in resources? Unfortunately, today I felt a decrease in value for money for the first time. It's disappointing that I won't have the opportunity to visit Morimoto for a while. The eel industry is currently facing difficult times, but I hope they will persevere. Personally, I think measures like banning eel sales in supermarkets or fast food restaurants would be a good idea. In fact, when I was a child, you could only eat eel at an eel restaurant or catch it yourself. Nowadays, with dams and weirs everywhere, there are hardly any rivers where eels can migrate back to. (Visited on 12.08.20) I thought I wouldn't have the chance to revisit after my last visit, but I had business in Tagawa and was able to visit again. Today, I had the regular eel bowl for 1,100 yen. Before the price increase in April, it used to be 900 yen, but even at 1,100 yen, I think it's quite good value compared to eel in Tokyo. I also bought a grilled eel for takeaway, equivalent to one eel, and offered it at my father's grave. Morimoto doesn't stay open late, so if you plan to visit, around 11:30 in the morning is the best time. (Visited on 12.06.22) I finished my business in Tagawa, and today might be my last meal here? I ordered the eel bowl for 2,200 yen. As you know, due to the decrease in eel resources and the resulting increase in seed eel prices, the prices were raised from April 1st. I believe it used to be 1,900 yen. Even so, it's still much cheaper than having the same bowl in Tokyo. If it were the pre-increase price, it would be a 5-star value for money. I visited a little before 11:30, which I think is the best time to have freshly grilled eel. Morimoto offers three types of eel bowls: regular, medium, and large, which differ only in the amount of eel. The bowl comes with liver and pickles. Truly delicious! The sauce is not too sweet, just right. It's a sauce that has been passed down since 1900. Unlike steamed eel in Tokyo, it has a fragrant aroma and a nice texture, allowing you to enjoy the deliciousness of eel. It's pure bliss for me. 5 stars! I hope to be able to enjoy this delicious eel occasionally in the future. (Revisited on 12.5.11) I ordered the steamed eel again.

I revisited after a long time and found that the place had changed hands. I ordered the eel bowl which cost 1,500 yen. Many places deteriorate after a change in ownership, but I think this place is doing well. The taste is consistently delicious! I will visit again if I have the chance. I thought they might not be open for dinner, but according to Tabelog, they are open until 6:30 pm. I had just eaten eel at another place last weekend, but I decided to go out to celebrate a little good news. I ordered the premium eel rice bowl. The sauce here is just right for me - not too sweet and light, my favorite. It may not be easy for those accustomed to the fluffy, tender high-end eel in Tokyo, but for me, it's consistently delicious. There were only three other groups of customers besides us, but it seems that many people order bento boxes for takeout at night. I recommend checking their business hours and making a reservation before visiting at night.