On a holiday afternoon, I suddenly craved eel and headed to the former Marui site near Ikebukuro. I arrived at the restaurant around 12:20 PM and was the fourth in line. While waiting, the enticing smell of charcoal grilling wafted through the air. Unfortunately, the popular Manmaru Donburi was sold out, but I was seated in about 20 minutes, which was great. - Eel Donburi: ¥1800 - Simmered Egg: ¥110 Today, the rice portion size was normal. I started with the liver soup, which was gentle yet flavorful with a strong dashi taste. The eel was incredibly tender and had a soft, gentle flavor. The smoky aroma from the charcoal grill and the freshly ground sansho pepper added a nice touch. Eating the simmered egg with the rice enhanced the appetite even more. It's amazing to enjoy delicious and reasonably priced eel for under ¥1000, which explains its popularity. The Manmaru Donburi made with eel to train craftsmen and pass on their skills is limited to 20 servings, creating a competitive atmosphere. However, this place offers a limited quantity of 60 servings, so it's a bit more reassuring. With so many enticing restaurants in Ikebukuro 2-chome, I look forward to exploring more during my next visit.

August 18th First visit Arrived at Ikebukuro on the Marunouchi Line. It was hot, so I walked through the underground shopping area, passing by Tobu Department Store, and accidentally emerged above ground at Don Quixote C1, where it was too hot. Way too hot. I walked back a bit and arrived at the restaurant to find three customers ahead of me. As I tried to write my name on the reservation list at the entrance, the manager told me I didn't need to, and I followed the three customers inside. After a short wait, I entered and ordered at the ticket machine, but the popular "manmaru-don" was sold out. I expected this arriving at a popular restaurant at 12:30 when it opened at 11. I ordered the "unagi-don + unagi tare half-cooked egg" (2,000+150 yen) and when asked about the rice portion, I requested a normal amount. I still don't understand the difference between unaju and unagi-don, but I always choose unagi-don when having eel, and I never eat unaju and unagi-don at the same time, right? Our eel was plump and the tare sauce was light and elegant. The miso soup was ordinary, and I wonder if it would have been liver soup if I had ordered unaju? Nowadays, domestically produced eels sold in supermarkets are priced at around 2,000 to 3,000 yen, so the lunch price is definitely not in line with my budget, but relatively speaking, it's quite reasonable. I received an eel ticket, but I doubt I'll be able to use the remaining three by February 2024. At least if they were closer... but the total amount is not in line with my budget. It's going to be a personal regret that will end up forgotten in my wallet and noticed as expired about a year later.

This is delicious! The lunch is an authentic eel rice bowl for 1500 yen. I visited on Tuesday at 12:10, there were 2 people in line but luckily one person entered the restaurant so I had to wait for one person ahead of me. This was a lunch hopping from the only pizza place in Ikebukuro. I mentioned earlier about waiting in line at Pizza Borsa, but this restaurant has its own rules clearly displayed, allowing one additional person in line. After going to Pizza Borsa, I still had room in my stomach, so I remembered there was supposed to be a reasonably priced eel restaurant in Ikebukuro. I searched my saved locations and found this place, although I didn't write any notes about it. Maybe I saw it on TV or something? I entered my name on the waiting board and after about 10 minutes, I was able to enter the restaurant. Unfortunately, the 1500 yen round eel bowl that caught my eye on the sign at the entrance was sold out. So, I opted for the 2000 yen eel bowl (which had a limit of 60 servings during lunchtime, so it seemed safe). I also added grilled eel liver for 350 yen. Payment was cash only for lunchtime, as opposed to being able to use PayPay at night. It took about 10 minutes from buying the meal ticket to receiving the eel bowl. I tried the grilled eel liver first, and it was quite bitter. I've had eel liver soup before, but this was my first time trying grilled eel liver, so I couldn't compare it to anything else. I added half of it to the soup to make it more like eel liver soup. Finally, I tried the eel bowl, and the meat was tender and moist, with a nice grilled exterior. It was delicious! In this era of inflation, this meal already felt like a good deal, but I can only imagine how great of a deal the 1500 yen eel bowl that was sold out must have been. I definitely need to revisit and aim for that 1500 yen bowl! By the way, I remembered the first restaurant that came to mind was actually Kiyotsuru Unagi Tsukishima Ikebukuro branch, not the one I ended up at in Nishi-Ikebukuro. Even though I came to the wrong place, it turned out to be a great find.

I visited the restaurant on a weekend morning after finishing a health check at a nearby health center. There was already a line outside with more than 10 people, but it wasn't as long as I expected. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. Despite the hot weather, they offered cold water to those waiting outside, which was a nice touch. I waited outside for about 40 minutes. When I entered, the popular "Manmaru Don" was sold out, so I ordered the eel bowl and simmered egg ticket instead. When I was seated, they asked me about the amount of rice I wanted, and I requested a smaller portion. The food was served in about 10 minutes. The eel bowl had a generous amount of eel for the price of 2000 yen. The eel was well-cooked and had a nice flavor, although it was a bit on the softer side. The sauce was delicious and complemented the eel well. The staff were very kind and provided excellent service with a smile. Despite being a popular restaurant, the wait time didn't feel too long. I would like to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at 10 o'clock and was told I could enter as the 9th group. I felt relieved when I returned at 11 o'clock and was still the 9th group, but ended up entering at the end of the first round. I ordered a Marumaru Don for ¥1,500. It was served around 11:20. I wish they could have been a little faster from entering to serving, but I really liked the staff's service. I will definitely visit again.

I used to frequent the Shinbashi branch, but since it's gone, I come here instead. It's my first time here at night, and things are different. First of all, the prices are higher than during the day, but they only offer regular-sized rice portions. During the day, you could get a large portion for free. The eel itself is big, so the rice isn't enough. I wouldn't mind paying extra for a large portion. Also, the amount of rice they give is so small, it's almost like it's for ladies. Even though the eel portion is larger, it's still an eel bowl. When the limited edition round bowl is sold out, unlike the Shinbashi branch (maybe that's why it closed), it's still busy here. It's always busy during the day. Maybe it's because of the location? The taste is the same as in Ikebukuro and Shinbashi, so when Shinbashi is open, I'll stick with this place for eel. There was no clear winner for me until I finally found it, but it closed within a year. Unfortunately, the Ikebukuro branch can't replace the Shinbashi branch for me. Well, I'll come here occasionally.

For more details, please visit the blog: https://tokyo-tabearuki.com/manmaru-ikebukuro 1. Popular articles on Tokyo Tabearuki about eel - Unagi Wakamiya Shin-Koiwa: The best eel dish in Japan! - Unagi World's Jiro Shin-Koiwa "Wakamiya": Menu, queues, and system explained in detail - Nihon Unagi Naruse Nihonbashi: Half-price eel that is 1.5 times larger! What's the secret behind the increasing popularity of Naruse Nihonbashi? - Seiryu Unagi Tsukishima Ikebukuro: A single eel for 3,300 yen! "Seiryu Unagi Tsukishima" in Ikebukuro, a chain store with a concept similar to Naruse 2. What is "Manmaru" eel and sake? - Manmaru opened in Ikebukuro in 1999 and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024. It is an eel restaurant operated directly by the long-established Saitama freshwater fish wholesaler "Koihei Co., Ltd." with a history dating back to the Meiji era. Known for the quality and freshness of their eel. 3. Access, appearance, and business hours of Manmaru in Ikebukuro - Address: 2-13-8 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0014, Koyo Building - 1 minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station West Exit C6 - Business hours: Lunch 11:00-15:00 (Last order 14:40), Dinner 17:00-22:30 (Last order 22:00), Closed on Sundays and public holidays 4. Menu and atmosphere of Manmaru in Ikebukuro - Popular lunch menu item is the "Manmaru Donburi" which sells out quickly. - Prices are reasonable, with options like Unagi Donburi for 2,000 yen and Unagi Ju for 2,700 yen. - Interior has 15 seats (6 counter seats, 9 table seats) with a cozy atmosphere. - Good service and a variety of Japanese sake and shochu available. 5. Eel bowl and eel liver at Manmaru in Ikebukuro - The eel bowl comes with miso soup and pickled cucumbers, and the eel liver is served with shiso leaves and chopped seaweed. - The eel is grilled perfectly, and the eel liver has a unique bitter taste that complements the dish. - The service is attentive, and the miso soup is surprisingly delicious with a rich flavor. - Overall, a great dining experience at Manmaru in Ikebukuro.

Grilled eel over rice bowl for 3200 yen, with liver and egg topping for 470 yen. Arrived around 12:40 and there were already 8 groups waiting. I tried making reservations at 6 other restaurants but all were fully booked, so I decided to wait in line at this place where reservations were not accepted. It's tough to get eel during this time of year without a reservation. Luckily, the turnover was quick and I was able to get a table in about 20 minutes. It had been a while since I visited Manmaru, and I was surprised to see the food ticket machine at the entrance. I opted for the grilled eel over rice bowl because I wanted to try the eel in a box. The price was reasonable, so I also ordered the liver and egg. The cost performance at Manmaru was amazing, with all the extras included for less than 4000 yen. The appearance of the dish was luxurious, with a rich sauce. The box was filled with generous portions of eel, making it a great value for the price. The texture of the eel was soft, but lacked the crispy skin. The sweet sauce was a stark contrast to the one I had two days ago at a different restaurant, but it was still delicious. The eel and rice were well-balanced, and the liver had a nice bitterness that complemented the sweet sauce. The egg was not as rich as I expected, being served cold. Overall, the meal was delicious and I appreciated the great cost performance at Manmaru.

It's Friday, but I ended up working late and got delayed. I was tired, but I didn't want to go straight home on a Friday, so I got off at Ikebukuro with no particular destination in mind. I thought, "I want to eat eel!" and decided to call Manmaru-san. When I asked if there was a seat available, I got a somewhat ambiguous response, "There is a seat available now! But you can't make a reservation." Well, I was already near the restaurant, so I managed to get a seat (^_^)v It's a restaurant with a high male ratio, but there is a very friendly female staff member, so it's safe even if you're alone. It was past 9 pm, so I didn't think I could stay for long, so I quickly ordered the following: - Draft beer 600 yen - Salted and peppered cucumber 400 yen - Eel bowl 2,650 yen When I ordered the beer, they brought out bone senbei. It was crispy and delicious! I had a bit of a trauma from eating a really fishy bone senbei in the past, but this one was crispy and nice. While waiting for the eel bowl, I enjoyed eating my favorite cucumbers. The salted and peppered cucumber was delicious - salted cucumbers sprinkled with pepper, making it an elegant and refreshing appetizer. I hope other restaurants have this too. I love pepper (*^^*). After a while, the eel bowl arrived! It even came with liver. There is no excitement of opening a bento box since it's a bowl, but for me, an eel bowl is enough. It looks very delicious♪♪ It may not be very thick, but the soft and sweet flesh is very tasty! The sauce is not too sweet, which I like! The rice is slightly firm, just the way I like it. A perfect eel bowl with no complaints! It seems that if you order a small glass of sake, it's half price. The variety of sake is quite extensive. The men around me are all drinking sake. I couldn't resist and ordered a Hohoemi Daiginjo. It can be enjoyed for 420 yen♪ It has a glamorous and easy-to-drink lingering taste, but I had important plans the next day, so I held back and went back to beer. The restaurant was about to close soon, so that's the end. I was satisfied (*^^*) A valuable place where you can casually eat delicious eel. It blew away the tiredness of the week!!

(2023.07.08) It's still early for the Day of the Ox, but I heard about a reasonably priced eel restaurant in Ikebukuro where people start lining up before opening. Located in the bustling area of the west exit, "Manmaru" opens at 11 am. When I arrived about 5 minutes before opening, there were already about 20 groups of customers waiting in line. The limited 20 servings of "Manmaru Bowl" were already sold out, but I decided to wait for the regular menu "Unadon" available at a lunch special price. While waiting, they provided cold water and chilled towels, and the service was pleasant. After waiting for about 45 minutes, I was finally seated and ordered the "Unadon" with a side of simmered egg. The eel was a half portion, but the generous volume was satisfying. The plump grilled eel with a lightly sweet sauce was truly a masterpiece that could rival those at higher-priced restaurants. This restaurant is directly operated by a river fish wholesaler, and the eel selected by their discerning professionals truly lived up to its deliciousness and reasonable price.

There is an eel restaurant located in a corner of a building northwest of Ikebukuro Station. Customers line up and wait until they are called, with even foreigners in line. The ordering process may be confusing at first, but somehow people seem to understand it. Orders are placed at a ticket machine before being seated, and it is recommended for 1-2 people as there are limited seats. The recommended dish is the eel bowl (2000 yen), which has a tender and savory eel on a bed of rice. The large serving of rice is free, but it may be too much if you opt for it. The prices are reasonable and overall, it was a good experience.

I ordered a platter of 6 different types of eel skewers and an eel rice bowl. The skewers had various parts of the eel and were all delicious. The eel in the rice bowl was tender, and when I sprinkled plenty of sansho pepper on it and took a bite, it was the best! The staff's explanation was polite, and the atmosphere was nice. I liked the crispy fins on the skewers so much that I ordered 2 more. I didn't drink alcohol, but the total cost was around 5000 yen. I would like to come back for lunch sometime.

I visited the restaurant around 6:00 PM on a regular day. It wasn't too crowded. I ordered dishes like liver, umaki, and bone senbei as appetizers with my drinks. Everything was delicious! Finally, I had the eel rice bowl (large) and my friend had the hitsumabushi as our main dishes. They were also delicious! The restaurant is small but clean. They played Beatles music in the background. The service was good too. It was a pleasant experience. There was even a person dining alone enjoying the eel rice bowl. After 7:00 PM, it started to get crowded. With just 15,000 yen, two people can drink and eat to their heart's content! Very satisfying!

A popular eel restaurant located in a small alley to the right after walking a bit on Azalea Street from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station. You can enjoy delicious eel at a reasonable price. This day, I had lunch there. Lunchtime is especially affordable. I entered the restaurant and bought a meal ticket from the ticket machine. I purchased an eel bowl and a draft beer. I was seated at the counter. First, the draft beer arrived. It was delicious, especially after walking in the heat. I enjoyed some bone crackers as a snack while slowly sipping the beer, and then the eel bowl was served. The eel bowl came with soup and pickles, a great combination. I started with the eel bowl. The eel was large for the price of 2000 yen. It was plump and delicious. I sprinkled some sansho pepper on it, which added a nice flavor. The eel sauce soaked into the rice was amazing. Eating the eel with the rice was the best part. The soup was comforting and just the right amount. I finished everything, satisfied with the affordable and delicious eel meal. Next time, I might try the eel bowl with liver and grilled eel.

I have always wanted to try the eel bowl lunch at this restaurant, but usually by the time I arrive, they are already fully booked for the day. This time, I made a reservation by putting my name down before the restaurant opened. As more people gathered before opening, we were called in one by one starting at 11 o'clock. Despite the heat, the staff kindly served barley tea to the customers waiting in line. After a while, I entered the restaurant. I ordered the round eel bowl for 1500 yen from the ticket machine, and informed the counter that I wanted a free upgrade to a larger portion. The restaurant had a small counter and a few tables. Although I wanted to try the various types of sake they had, the line behind me was long so I decided to pass. The eel bowl arrived, emitting a fragrant aroma. The eel was plump and tender, cooked in the Kanto style. I enjoyed the balance between the eel and the extra portion of rice. The rice was firm and delicious. While it may not compare to the renowned eel restaurants, considering the price and taste, it's worth waiting in line for this place.

It is a fast food restaurant where you can eat eel. Nowadays, 2500 yen for this size seems normal. The eel has a good texture, not too soft, with a strong flavor. However, there are quite a lot of small bones, which makes it difficult to eat. The rice bowl and soup are delicious too. It might be worth a try if you want to eat crispy eel. Lunch is reasonably priced, but the dinner menu doesn't seem to offer good value for money.

I couldn't wait for the Day of the Ox in July to have eel, so I gave in to the temptation of "Manmaru-san" that I saw on my way back from the ramen shop yesterday, and went to the West exit area again tonight. The price was a bit high, but I ordered the premium eel. The sauce was not too strong, and I was satisfied with the true taste of the eel. I enjoyed it deliciously so as not to lose to the summer heat. The eel liver soup was also crunchy and fresh.

I visited this restaurant to celebrate the birthdays of my second son and daughter-in-law. It is a well-known restaurant, and although I was torn between choosing Unatetsu or Manmaru, I decided on Manmaru based on reviews mentioning its good value for money. However, both restaurants do not take reservations, so there may be a wait if it's full. When I arrived on a Friday night at 6 o'clock, there were about 5 people waiting ahead of us, and we ended up waiting for about 30 minutes. During the wait, a man who seemed to be the manager came out to give updates on the status inside the restaurant. The restaurant is divided into counter seats and table seats, and it seems that many customers come not only for the eel but also for drinks. Looking at the menu, the prices for alcohol and snacks are like those at an izakaya. We ordered a platter of eel skewers, grilled river fish, and local sake before finishing with an eel rice bowl. My wife, who eats lightly, was satisfied with just the eel bowl. Considering it was a little over 5,000 yen per person, I thought it was reasonably priced. But more than the taste and portion of the food, I enjoyed the relaxed and lively atmosphere of the restaurant, which felt like an izakaya. According to reviews, the lunch menu offers even better value, so I plan to try it next time.

The eel skewers are delicious, and there is a wide variety of alcoholic drinks such as sake and shochu. You can enjoy various side dishes and stay leisurely. It's not incredibly delicious, but it's good value for money and a safe choice. Surprisingly popular, reservations are essential.

The usual "Manmaru Don". It has become a regular lunchtime affair with just the "Manmaru Don". "Manmaru Don" (1,500 yen) + "Simmered Egg" (150 yen) - As shown in the photo. I always mention this, but even though it costs 1,500 yen, I can't stop eating this "Manmaru Don". Of course, the rice is generously served. In Ikebukuro Nishiguchi, it is the cheapest and best "Unagi Don". Considering the price, it is the most delicious and top-notch. This time too, it is thick and almost equivalent to one whole eel. That's why it feels luxurious to have leftover eel while eating the Unagi Don, and that is the ultimate luxury. It is in a price range where you can play around, and yet it has the best taste. Thank you for the meal. This time, for the first time in a while, the order on the board was in single digits. Numbers 1 to 3 are probably for table seats. Then the counter seats are filled in order from the kitchen side, starting with 4, 5, 6... but if someone decides to sit wherever they want near the entrance, it can disrupt the order of service. I no longer expect good service from this restaurant, and I feel like the customer base is becoming more unruly. (By Kyanatsu Shuusora, 6/20/2023) (358 reviews/3.49)

It was my first visit to Manmaru-san in a long time. After COVID, they changed to a system where you enter in the order of writing your name without having to wait in line. The Manmaru Don is now ¥1,500. The flavor may have weakened, but I appreciate how the manager responds to customers who say selfish things with a smile. I will visit again, thank you for the meal.