Recently, there are days when I really crave eel, but I feel like there aren't many delicious restaurants in Kyoto. I decided to line up on the day of Doyo no Ushi (midsummer day of the ox) or Fridays after seeing the long lines, and had it for dinner at home! The fragrant aroma and sweet sauce were amazing, I was surprised! It tasted like the delicious eel from the good old days! Since then, it has become an essential gift for relatives and friends! The eel rolls and Yawata rolls are also very delicious. Recently, Yosano-cho, at Junwa's, they also sell addictive sansho miso! It is also incredibly delicious! It goes really well with cucumbers and vegetables! I used to always go to Yosano-cho, so I was lucky to be able to buy it in Kyoto!

Recently, it seems that the older brother who used to run the restaurant has opened another place, so they are not grilling as much as before. The menu now only has eel, which is quite lonely. The owner is also elderly, so it can't be helped.

Walking through the Sanjo shopping street (arcade street), I enjoyed sampling snacks and buying souvenirs. And the biggest hidden gem I found was the Hachiman Maki from the eel and river fish wholesaler "Futou" shop. Although they are known for river fish, it's clearly a specialty eel shop. Eel is considered a luxury item nowadays, not easily affordable for everyone. Back in the day, it used to be cheaper, so our generation finds it quite expensive now. Of course, the eel at Futou shop is also quite pricey, but can you believe they sell the Hachiman Maki for only 1,050 yen! And it's vacuum-packed, making it easy to carry around. When I asked the staff if it's okay to carry it around all day, they said it's fine. This is definitely a must-buy! After all, I've never seen Hachiman Maki in my area, let alone being sold. Truly, Kyoto! I bought three of them as souvenirs for myself (laughs). When I returned to Saitama and had them for dinner, breakfast, and dinner again, they were all gone (laughs). They were so delicious! It was a great decision to stop by the Sanjo shopping street!

At any store, the price of eel used to be cheaper until a few years ago. It has become a luxury item that only enters the mouths of common people a few times a year. The smell of eel at Funa Sada-san's place can be immediately recognized when entering the shopping street. The eel here is really delicious, and the grilled liver is also extremely tasty. In the past, I would have given it a score of 4.0, but recently the eel has been slightly lacking in thickness, so the score has decreased. It was mentioned on TV that eel growth is slow this year. In the old days, I used to catch eel myself, of course, they were wild eels!! P.S. I only buy on Fridays because it's cheaper and they are sold from early in the morning!!

There is a shop right away on Sanjo-Kaikan Street, two streets west of Horikawa. The eel here is charcoal-grilled, with a unique aroma and a fluffy texture that contrasts with the perfectly balanced fat, and the crispy thin skin provides an exquisite texture. It is further enhanced by the secret special sauce. Even those who dislike eel can overcome their aversion. You can also purchase it at the Shin-Omiya Shopping Street branch. On this day, it was a special sale day known only to a few people, held every Friday. There was a small crowd from the morning. There is a long line during the midsummer day of the Ox. As mentioned in other reviews, the grilled eel liver is also delicious and reasonably priced.

Located in the heart of the western center of Kyoto, between Horikawa Street and Senbon Street, is the long-established eel shop "Futetsu" in the 800-meter-long Sanjo shopping street. Inside the shop, grilled eel dishes such as kabayaki and liver yakitori are displayed. In Kanto, eel kabayaki is typically prepared with the back cut open, while in Kansai, the belly cut open method is more common. In Kanto, steaming is involved in the process, resulting in a soft and fluffy kabayaki that is highly valued. In Kansai, the eel is grilled without steaming, with a crispy skin and a juicy center preferred. However, recently, there has been a trend where both styles are appreciated. In Kyoto, there is a cooking method called "Kyoyaki" that combines the best of both Kanto and Kansai styles, but it is rare to find it served in restaurants in the city center. The review focuses on liver yakitori rather than kabayaki. The liver yakitori is grilled in the shop and sold in packs of two skewers for only 250 yen, which is a very reasonable price. Each skewer contains the liver of six eels, and as only one liver can be taken from each eel, it is a must-buy when spotted in the shop. The liver yakitori has a firm texture, a deliciously fragrant taste, and is served with a rare "liver yakitori" skewer that is rarely found elsewhere. This unique and affordable liver yakitori is a specialty of Futetsu, a supplier to eel restaurants and eateries in Kyoto. The shop is conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from the former Mibu Roushokan of the Shinsengumi, with parks nearby, making it a great place to enjoy some delicious eel dishes without any hassle. Highly recommended.

I had some errands on the three shopping streets, and happened to pass by Fukasada-san's shop where I found a sign saying Friday discount. On Fridays, it's a service day, and all domestic eels are priced at 1800 yen! I've bought eels from Fukasada-san many times before, but I never knew about this deal! I peeked into the showcase, and the eels looked a bit slimmer than usual, but at 1800 yen, it was a great deal. Of course, I bought one! I also bought an eel roll (300 yen) to go with it. When I got home, I had it for dinner. It was so tender, the meat almost melted in my mouth. The sauce was just right too. The eel roll had a slightly loose rolled egg, with firm eel inside. It was delicious! Eel prices have been going up recently, so I haven't been able to have it often, but eels are still tasty! I'd like to have it occasionally. Thank you for the meal! I want to go back on a Friday again (laughs).