"Unagi Restaurant Umami @umami.osaka" near Morinomiya Station, which opened on August 8th, had a high-end image, but they offer reasonably priced unagi-don. I was invited to visit, and here's what I had:
- Nishiki-ju (Special) ¥4,400
- Hitsumabushi (Special) ¥4,400
Hitsumabushi had finely chopped eel generously served on rice. It felt like it could be a whole eel! First, I ate it as is, and then I poured dashi broth over it to enjoy it as ochazuke. Adding wasabi was my favorite part.
Nishiki-ju was perfect for someone like me who wanted to try both grilled and white eel. It included two pieces of each stacked together. When I picked it up with my chopsticks, I could feel its weight. The eel was tender, and the part near the skin was slightly gooey with a delightful crispy aroma.
They source the best eel depending on the season and carefully grill it. The secret sauce for the unagi-don is made with deep-sea water from Kochi Prefecture, which is light, enhancing the rich umami of the eel.
The rice is Yumepirika from Hokkaido, which made me, a Hokkaido native, feel a strong connection. They clearly understand good rice!
The eel portions were more generous than I expected, and I left the restaurant fully satisfied. If you visit, I strongly recommend going for the "Special" option. The lunch-exclusive Unagi Tamadon is also reasonably priced at ¥1,870.
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