The 10 Best Unagi Restaurants You Must Eat in Asakusa, Tokyo

Places to eat in ASAKUSA, “Shitamachi” (=the friendly atmosphere of the traditional old town), Tokyo. There are many sightseeing spots including “SENSOJI Temple”, a popular tourist destination. There are many international travelers visiting this area, so you can rub shoulders with a lot of nationalities. This time I will introduce the most popular “UNAGI” (=eel) restaurants in ASAKUSA. Each one is deliciously different. When you visit ASAKUSA, please try them!

1. ASAKUSA Unatetsu ­Kokusai Street Restaurant

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“Unatesu” is located near Senso-JI Temple, next to Tsukuba Express ASAKUSA station, you can try salt taste “Hitsumabushi”. They are carefully selected from natural domestic eel. The eel is bought fresh every morning and they always sell out every day.

The price is very reasonable. The restaurant uses bincho-charcoal to cook the eel giving it a deep elegant taste. “Una-ju” (=Grilled eel and rice in a lacquered box) is from 2,560 yen, and salt “Hitsumabushi” which is the only place in the world you can try this dish, from 3,170 yen.

There are other dishes which are complementary if you want to drink with them. This is a restaurant well worth visiting!

2. Hatsuogawa

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A 3-minute walk from ASAKUSA station, Toei ASAKUSA line. The restaurant has the appearance of an old house. There is western style seating and Japanese style tatami seating. There are only 14 seats like a small traditional Japanese house.

The eel is dipped in a “Tare” (=sauce) based on a 100-year-old recipe. The taste is light but still flavorsome. The restaurant has an old-fashioned feel and the menu is handwritten. The eel is served in a traditional Japanese lacquered box called “Una-ju”.

A small portion is 1,500 yen, middle size is 2,500 yen and large is 3,300 yen. For these dishes, the price is amazingly reasonable. Please visit “Hatsuogawa” they have kept their traditional taste for more than 100 years.

3. UNAGI Irokawa

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Look to your right and walk straight for about 1 minute out of ASAKUSA station, Toei ASAKUSA line. You can see “UNAGI Irokawa” which is a small well-established old-fashioned restaurant has traditional curtain colored navy and they have only 12 seats.

The reason that the restaurant has continued from 1861 is that their eel is plump and baked in a sweeter “Tare” (=sauce) which is add little by little matured for more than 40 years grilled by bincho-charcoal, and you can have this beautiful eel at a very reasonable price.

Recommended is “Namimori” which is standard size dish with “Kimosui” (=a clear soup with eel liver). As you can enjoy the taste from the Edo era, always patronized, many people are waiting before the restaurant opens.

If you are going to ASAKUSA, please visit this restaurant when you would like to enjoy an old Japanese traditional meal.

4. Koyanagi

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Subway Ginza line, Tobu line, Tsukuba Express and JR line, all within a 4-minute walk, located behind “ASAKUSA public hall” is “Koyanagi” eel restaurant. It is in a convenient location for sightseeing too.

The eel has a thick and rich taste. Their “Tare” (=sauce) made from a secret recipe gives the eel a moist and soft texture.

There is a traditional Japanese style room, and their chicken dishes are popular too such as Yakitori, Japanese omelet etc.! You can visit here when you would like to drink a little at the counter by yourself, and also with your family and friends. Please try!

5. Unatoto

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“Unatoto” is a 2-minute walk from ASAKUSA station,Toei ASAKUSA line. A Tokyo chain restaurant which has a branch in Osaka also. The “Unatoto” policy is to provide eel at a low price, which is nutritious and has been loved by Japanese people since ancient times.

You can enjoy Una-don (=Grilled eel on rice in a bowl) from 500 yen, “Una-ju” (=Grilled eel and rice in a lacquered box) from 800 yen.

The especially recommended menu is the ” Bikkuri-don”. “Bikkuri” means surprise. The surprise in this case is that the dish uses a whole eel on the rice with richly delicious sauce.

The price is low, but the method of cooking (charcoal grilling and using real brewed soy sauce) is like a more expensive restaurant. If you want to try international eel, it is a restaurant you will love to visit!

 
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6. Dojo Iidaya

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A 2-minute walk from ASAKUSA station, Tsukuba Express. The restaurant that has been loved by Edokko (=old Tokyoite families) from the Meiji era.

It is famous for dojo-nabe (=loach-based soup with leek), however there are other popular dishes, which you can ask for such as eel dishes like “Una-ju”(=grilled eel and rice served in a lacquered box) and “Kabayaki” (= charcoal-broiled eel).

You will be greeted at the door by “Nakai-san” (=female staff wearing traditional Japanese-style clothing), they will escort you to your seat. In this restaurant, you can feel authentic Japanese history, you can enjoy the special feeling of an old town.

The appearance of the restaurant creates a nostalgic atmosphere. The Dojo dishes are rare even by Tokyo standards.
Which one will you choose “Unagi” or “Dojo” or both?! Please try them!

7. Unagi Yakko

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“Unagi Yakko” is a 3-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Tawaramachi station, it is a long-established eel restaurant in KAMINARIMON street. “Unagi Yakko” founded in the era of the eleventh generation Shogun “Tokugawa Ienari” in the Edo era.

It is said that “Katsu Kaishu” and “John Manjiro” who are two of the famous people in Japan’s history visited this restaurant. It is used not only by couples and families, but also for banquets such as alumni associations, reception meetings and auspicious occasions.

The interior is characterized by a calm atmosphere. One of the reasons for its popularity is, you can also enjoy the “Kaiseki”(= traditional Japanese cuisine) course which uses seasonal ingredients and the course changes monthly.

I would like to recommend here for important events and anniversaries. Here is such an elegant restaurant!

8. Kawamatu Honten

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“Kawamatu Honten” is located along KAMINARIMON street and is a 3-minute walk from ASAKUSA station, Tokyo Metro Ginza line. There are 90 seats, a spacious and relaxed setting. You don’t have to be worried about bringing a large number of people.

Their “Kabayaki” (= charcoal-broiled eel) is sweet but not too strong, the dish costs from 3,250 yen. “Una-ju” (=Grilled eel and rice in a lacquered box) is from 3,000 yen served with “Kimosui” (=a clear soup with eel liver). They also have old Tokyo style dishes “Tempura” etc.

Because there is also “Kaiseki” cuisine, many people use here for business receptions. But you can use it for any occasion! Why don’t you go here when visiting ASAKUSA? It is near to NAKAMISE street, so you can easily stop by!

9. Imai Souhonten

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“Imai Sou Honten” using specially selected eel from Shizuoka prefecture. It is characterized by a light taste with a premium ell oil flavor. Recommended for lunch, is the “Una-ju” from 2,900yen and a grilled fish set.

This restaurant has also been a boon to the banquet and memorial services, their courses are made with a commitment to use fresh ingredients you can order oyster dishes, blowfish dishes etc. and “Kaiseki” cuisine as well.

There is also a popular “Izakaya”(=tavern) with a casual menu, and you can take away some of the dishes as well. A VIP private room for up to 16 people, and a banquet area of up to a maximum of 70 people located on the second-floor hall, a spacious restaurant with a total of 120 seats.

It would be the best restaurant you can choose for group bookings!

10. Enshuuya ­ Fish Restaurant

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A 5-minute walk from ASAKUSA station, “Enshuuya ” serves seasonal fish dishes at reasonable prices. It is famous for its seasonal fish “Sashimi” (sliced raw fish) set, but “Una-ju” is also popular! The price of “Una-ju” is only 980 yen at lunch time!

Even though the price is low, the taste is good as the eel is a specialty of the restaurant In addition, “Maguro-don” (=bowl of rice topped with tuna) with Japanese pickles and miso soup is 700 yen, other daily lunch meals start from 700 yen too. Their cost performance is incredibly good!

There is also a course with main dishes of fresh “Sashimi”, so it is also popular for banquets. Various private rooms can be selected according to your needs, using Japanese traditional style seating.

It is a great restaurant that can be used for any occasion!

Let’s enjoy the delicious eel restaurants of ASAKUSA!

What do you think? ASAKUSA, without exaggeration can be said to be the most popular tourist spot in Tokyo. Because this area has a special old-fashioned atmosphere, even just walking the streets is interesting, and the restaurants we recommend this time are always sought after. There are many other types of restaurants and sights in the area too. Please visit ASAKUSA, you won’t be disappointed. Let’s enjoy it! Go for it!