I visited Tsurumatsu, a newly opened eel restaurant in April 2024. It's located on the second floor of the Yayoi-ken near the Sugamo Station rotary. I arrived a bit early and was glad there was a commercial building in front to shelter me from the rain. I ordered the Unajuu Kame and liver soup. The Unajuu starts at just 1,400 yen for a half eel, making it quite a good value. They use Japanese eel, cooked in the Kanto style, resulting in a fluffy and tender texture with thick fillets. The eels are sourced from Toyosu. The rice is from Chiba Prefecture and is called Fusayokogane, known for its large grains and firm cooking, which pairs well with the eel sauce. They purchase the rice from Fujiki Shoten, a supplier specializing in commercial rice, ensuring high quality is consistently maintained. The eel sauce is sweet, and if you need more, they offer a 'oi-dare' (extra sauce) taken from the half eel. The container for the extra sauce was even warm. The Unajuu Kame includes one whole eel for 2,500 yen, which I found to be reasonably priced given the generous portion. The liver soup was also rich with liver. The interior of the restaurant, having just opened, was clean, and the seating was spacious and casual. Although it's not located near the Kogan-ji Temple, I have a feeling it will attract more customers through word of mouth, especially among the ladies who frequent the area. While Yayoi-ken offers lunches for under 1,000 yen, for just a little more, you can enjoy a delicious Unajuu, making it easy to choose between the two options.

Before heading to Rikugien, I wanted to grab a bite to eat and found this restaurant. The cost performance was excellent, and the food had just the right amount of sweetness with a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that left me very satisfied. The interior was spacious, and the overall feel was more like a cafeteria, but that didn't bother me at all. I think this place is highly recommended for eel lovers.

I visited during my lunch break on a holiday. I thought I could afford the "Matsu" option, so I decided to enter the restaurant. I ordered the Matsu and a liver soup. There were not many customers, and eventually, I was the only one there. The interior didn't seem to have much money spent on it, but the taste was very delicious.

Here’s what I had this time☆■Unaju (Kame)■Onsen Egg Unatama Don The unagi restaurant Tsurumatsu uses domestically sourced eel, grilled to a fluffy finish in the Kanto style, and is conveniently located near the station, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The unaju's price varies depending on the amount of eel, and this time I ordered the Kame, which allows for a whole eel! It was rich in fat, fluffy, and surprisingly filling! The rice is made from Chiba Prefecture's Fusakogane, making it chewy and a perfect match for the eel, providing high satisfaction. The separate wasabi and green onions offered a chance to change up the flavor; the wasabi complemented the eel's umami beautifully, which I really liked. The Onsen Egg Unatama Don featured sliced parts of the eel and, along with the yamaimo unatoro don, is limited to 20 servings per day. The combination of the sweet sauce and the Onsen egg was great, allowing me to enjoy the texture of the eel! It was a good deal at 800 yen before tax. The clear soup was hot and light, delicious, and I enjoyed trying the two types of pickles. The staff were friendly, and the seating was spacious, making for a comfortable dining experience.

I finished the second day of my health checkup and went out for lunch with my mother. The restaurant is located on the second floor of a building and has a simple interior. This time, I ordered the "Unaju Tsuruy" for 2,200 yen, including tax. It comes with three-quarters of an eel. It’s great that you can enjoy this for 2,200 yen. The eel was easy to eat with few bones. They offer extra sauce if you'd like, but the eel was already generously topped with sauce. I will definitely visit again.

I made a reservation and arrived before noon, where there were already several people lined up waiting. I ordered the Matsuba Unaju (grilled eel on rice). They served me either cold or hot green tea to start. It took about 15 minutes for my order to arrive. The portion size was just right, enough to feel satisfied but not overly full, and I was able to finish it all. The staff's service left a good impression on me.

I visited "Unagi no Tsurumatsu," which is a 2-minute walk from Sugamo Station. The restaurant opened in April of this year and was featured on the show Hirunandesu on October 14th. I arrived right before opening on a Sunday and there was no one waiting, so I was able to enter as soon as it opened. I ordered the Unaju Akafuji (2 eels) for 4,400 yen. The eel is said to be Japanese eel farmed overseas. About 10 minutes later, I was served a Unaju with the lid not closing properly due to its height. When I opened the lid, I was greeted by a massive three-layered stack of eel. The eel itself was average; it was tastier than Chinese eel you might get from a supermarket or at Yoshinoya. The top layer was crispy on the skin and the flesh was tender, which was pretty good. However, the bottom layer was soggy and became a bit too rich as I continued eating. I was able to enjoy it until the end. The cheapest option is the Unaju Ume for 1,540 yen, which I would recommend! Main menu items: - Unaju Ume 1,540 yen (half eel) - Unaju Tsur 2,200 yen (3/4 eel) - Unaju Kame 2,750 yen (1 eel) - Unaju Fuji 3,630 yen (1.5 eels) - Unaju Akafuji 4,400 yen (2 eels)

I had a bowl of eel and grated yam rice. The eel was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it was delicious. It was a limited quantity dish, but at ¥800, it felt like a great deal. The staff was not rushed, so I could enjoy my meal at a relaxed pace.

Uanagi no Tsurumatsu Using Japanese eel, the cost-performance is also appealing! Address: 1-13-5 Sugamo, Toshima City, Tokyo, Sugamo Plaza Building B Business Hours: Monday to Sunday, Public Holidays, and the day before Public Holidays 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM L.O. 2:45 PM 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM L.O. 7:45 PM Closed on irregular days Phone: 03-5981-8685 Located in front of Sugamo Station, Tsurumatsu is on the 2nd floor of a somewhat bleak station square. The inside has a counter and table seating arranged along the walls, with a strangely open area in the center. There are three types of unagi boxes: Matsu (half eel) - 1,540 yen Tsur (3/4 eel) - 2,200 yen Kame (whole eel) - 2,750 yen Akafuji (two eels) - 4,400 yen Moreover, the rice portion is substantial, equivalent to about 500g. Since I already had eel yesterday, I decided to try the whole eel (Kame) today. Recently, it's become easier to enjoy delicious unagi at a lower price, thanks to places like Naruse. After about 15 minutes of waiting, my dish arrived. When I inquired about the type of eel, I learned it was Japanese eel. I wondered if it was related to Naruse. Upon opening the box, I found the fluffy, steamed eel commonly found in the Kanto region, packed tightly. The rice has been changed from Iwate's Hitomebore to Chiba's Fusakogane. The mildly sweet sauce typical of the Kanto style and the soft, steamed eel had no unpleasant smell at all. In Kanto-style, the eel is both steamed and grilled, making the differences less pronounced, even at high-end or reasonably priced establishments. This restaurant's eel is very delicious, and considering that I’m getting this quality for half the price of a high-end place, it feels extremely reasonable. The rice was slightly firm and had less sauce, which was perfect for me since I dislike any unwanted liquid on my rice. For 2,700 yen, getting such a generous eel box is incredibly satisfying. When I really want to eat eel, I can opt for high-end restaurants, but for a casual eel craving, this kind of place is perfect. It seems to be a neighborhood-friendly establishment, as elderly customers kept coming in one after another. The staff greeted each customer with smiles, making it clear that it’s a place loved by locals. Since it’s such a good restaurant, I felt that if the interior was made a bit more stylish, it could attract even more customers. Sugamo, which I hardly venture into, turned out to be very appealing. #Mealtime #FoodDiary #FoodLovers #FoodCulture #Gourmet #GourmetConnections #JapaneseCuisine #Ramen #Unagi #Izakaya #Sakaba #Yakiniku #Yakitori #Sashimi #UnagiBento #Sake #FoodPorn #Sushi #Michelin #Tokyo #TokyoGourmet #Sugamo #SugamoGourmet #UanagiNoTsurumatsu

I was planning to go out on a holiday, and my friend and I were discussing whether to have lunch near our house or at our destination. Just then, we saw a TV segment introducing a restaurant in Sugamo. Since Sugamo is on our way and the prices were reasonable, we decided to give it a try. Although we arrived slightly after lunch hours, we were able to sit down without any wait. The interior was spacious, with enough room between the counter and the tables that I felt they could fit in another row of seats. We ordered the "Tsuru" option. Since the prices were affordable, we didn’t expect much in terms of size or thickness, but we were pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of eel filling the box! It was thick and when we tried it, it was fluffy and very delicious. However, while my friend didn’t have any issues, I found a few small bones in my eel that were a bit bothersome. Still, given the quality for the price, I would be happy to return. It’s interesting that the pricing is quite similar to a popular eel chain restaurant; I wonder if there’s a reason for that.

I visited the restaurant on the same day it was featured on TV. The restaurant is located on the second floor of a building, and the interior is spacious with chairs and tables set apart. The ceiling is exposed, giving it a warehouse-like feel without any traditional Japanese elements. Additionally, possibly because it was near the restroom, the strong scent of air freshener lingered in the air, completely overshadowing the delicious aroma one might expect while waiting for eel. Furthermore, since there was only one person managing the dining area, customers who arrived after us were left unattended, and we were left standing for a long time while the staff cleaned up and asked us to wait. There was enough space to have a waiting area with chairs.

Checked on Instagram. The eel rice bowl (half eel) is 1,540 yen! The two-eel "Akafuji" option is 4,400 yen. It's Japanese eel. I visited around 12:00 on a Sunday. I was able to enter right away and was seated at the counter. There were no other customers at the time, but a few tables were reserved. I confirmed the availability of "Akafuji" and "Fujii" and was told both were fine. I ordered the eel rice bowl with the red "Akafuji" (two eels) for a total of 4,000 yen (4,400 yen with tax). The spacing between seats was quite generous. The downside was that there were no windows. I also registered on LINE while waiting. The order arrived in about nine minutes, and the eel was stacked high. The eel was thick and incredibly large, making me question if it was really Japanese eel. The skin was quite fatty. I added some green onions and wasabi for a refreshing taste. They were excellent as taste enhancers. The rice portion was substantial, and I was happy to have two types of pickles on the side. I finished everything quickly. It wasn't extremely delicious but was definitely a great value for enjoying eel. I left around 12:30, and by that time, more customers were arriving, many opting for takeout. I was very satisfied. Thank you for the meal!

■Unagi Dining Room■What You Should Know: The interior is simple and spacious. The menu consists solely of unagi-don, reflecting a certain elegance. The price varies depending on the amount rather than the quality. As mentioned in reviews, the soup was indeed quite basic. ■Atmosphere: I visited during a weekday lunch hour, and there were only two customers, including myself. The staff only refills the tea when they place the bill, and even after finishing my meal, they didn’t comment on my lingering. ■Matsu: 1540 yen (including tax) ■Thoughts: The eel was incredibly fluffy, with the sauce being neither too sweet nor too salty—just right. When I put my chopsticks into the eel, it separated easily, and as I continued eating, I didn’t notice any bones, making it easy to enjoy. However, as expected from online research, the soup was quite basic. For me, eel is a luxurious food, so I’d like to come back once I accumulate more points! I considered ordering Tsuruzake, but since it had been a while since I last ate eel, I chose Matsu to ease my body into it. I’m glad I did, as I felt warm and energized from the eel! The energy of eel is amazing (*⁰▿⁰*). If it's been a while since you've had eel, do take care! #Lunch #Eel #CostPerformance

In the past week, I've had eel three times, haha. I ordered a large serving of rice with 1.5 eels, and I was told that the default rice portion is 500g (it's meant for big eaters). I asked to reduce it to 400g, and that turned out to be just the right amount equivalent to a large serving (3630 yen). As for the taste... three days ago, I had eel at Maruhama in Hamamatsu, which was really delicious (it's operated directly by the Hamana Lake Fishing Association, and it's reasonably priced). Eating the eel made me want to shout "Wow, so good!" in my mind, and before I knew it, it was all gone. But that wasn’t the case this time. Maybe it was the sauce? Perhaps it needed another steam? The eel was thick, though I don't know where it was from, but it had a certain aroma (the single eel was 2750 yen, and with the large rice amount, it was plenty). I appreciate that they're offering it at a reasonable price, but I'm not sure. Paying 6000 or 8000 yen for an eel dish feels ridiculous (a famous place in Hamamatsu, "Fujita," charges 6000 yen for one eel, but it wasn't that great. If that’s the case, I'd rather go to Noda Ikko in Azabu). I want to support them, though. I hope that research progresses further.

The restaurant is located on the second floor, up a narrow staircase, and the interior has an unnecessarily spacious layout with tables pushed to the sides. The openness feels excessive. I ordered the "Matsu," which comes with half a grilled eel for 1,400 yen, and it was a sufficiently large portion. I enjoyed it while changing up the flavors with sansho pepper and wasabi. The cost performance is fairly decent.

I visited "Unagi no Tsurumatsu," located about a minute's walk from Sugamo Station! On this weekday, I arrived right at opening time, and there were already 2-3 groups ahead of me, mostly solo male diners. The interior features table seating and a counter, creating a surprisingly spacious atmosphere. After taking my seat, I was served cold hojicha (roasted green tea). This time, I chose the "Kame" (2,750 yen), which comes with a whole eel, and "Kimo-suibi" (220 yen)! First off, I was amazed by the tenderness of the eel. It's so soft that it almost disintegrates—it's incredibly tender and has a strong sweetness. The sauce is lightly applied, allowing the eel's natural flavors and the aroma of the charcoal grilling to shine through. The fat melts in your mouth! The fragrant sansho (Japanese pepper) pairs beautifully, giving it a very refined taste. The rice is a variety called "Fusa Kogane" from Chiba, which is suited to the local climate. The rice rivals the eel! It's fluffy and chewy, perfectly complementing the sweetness of the eel. The grains are firm and quite large! The kimo-suibi features tofu that has soaked up the rich dashi (broth), which is delightful. The liver is long and well-prepared, and the freshness of the nozawana (a type of pickled vegetable) was nice—an excellent palate cleanser. The attentive service throughout my meal was also very pleasant. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I went out to Sugamo on this day. One of my main goals was to have eel. I visited Tsuru-matsu, a famous eel restaurant. The menu features options like Akafuji, Fujiyama, Kame, Tsur, and Matsu, where you can choose between two whole eels or half of one. I thought two whole eels might be too much for me, and since it's still quite hot this year, I decided to go for a whole Kame eel to help prevent summer fatigue! I do like Fujiyama too, though. After placing my order, the dish arrived relatively quickly, and it came with a bowl of clear soup. The pickled vegetables were fantastic! They perfectly balanced the richness of the eel with just the right amount of saltiness, making each bite even more enjoyable. The restaurant is conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from Sugamo Station. It's on the second floor of a building with only stairs, but the spacious interior allowed me to enjoy my meal in peace. I arrived around 5 PM, and there was no one else there, making it feel like a private dining experience. I always imagine eel restaurants are crowded during summer, but this place might be a hidden gem. Thank you for a great meal!

Considering the price for this eel, it’s a reliable place. Compared to traditional, long-established eel restaurants, you might think, “Hmm?” but when you think about the price, I’m completely satisfied! The content is exactly as described in the restaurant concept and is good. However, the interior has a somewhat sparse design and seating arrangement, which made me feel a bit confused at the entrance. But the friendly demeanor of the staff put me at ease, so I was able to enter the restaurant without worry.

I arrived at 5 PM, being the first customer of the evening. The interior has a casual izakaya vibe. I ordered the 'Matsu' unaju, which is half an eel, but for 1,400 yen, it's a great deal! Personally, I thought it was totally worth it. While it doesn't have that charcoal aroma, the eel is incredibly fluffy, almost like a white fish. It comes with sansho (Japanese pepper) and extra sauce on the side! The rice is delicious as well. However, I'm still puzzled by the small dish of wasabi. Do people really eat eel with wasabi?

Eel (half a portion) ¥1400 + liver soup ¥200 (excluding tax). The eel is fluffy, the sauce is slightly sweet, and the rice portion is on the smaller side. They served both sansho (Japanese pepper) and the sauce together. It's likely that the eel was prepared to some extent beforehand. The time from ordering to serving was surprisingly quick for an eel restaurant. This place is ideal for enjoying eel-don at a reasonable price, especially when you want something of higher quality than the limited-time offerings from beef bowl chains.

I visited a restaurant in Sugamo for lunch with my mother, known for its reasonably priced eel dishes. It’s located on the second floor of a building, where Tokiwatei used to be. The interior is quite simple, furnished with chairs and tables. My mother ordered the "Unaju Kame" for 2,500 yen, while I chose the "Unaju Fuji" for 3,300 yen. The eel was thick and had few bones, making it very enjoyable to eat. Many customers were also taking their orders to go. It might be a good idea to buy the "Unaju Akafuji" and share it with the family at home. I will definitely visit again.