5 Recommended Eel Restaurants to Enjoy Unagi in Kyoto Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-Date: Dec 11, 2025

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

5 Recommended Eel Restaurants to Enjoy Unagi in Kyoto

Unagi is a must try dish for visitors coming to Japan, and Kyoto is home to many excellent places to enjoy it. In this guide, we introduce five restaurants in Kyoto that serve delicious unagi in a variety of styles. Along with classic charcoal grilled dishes, some restaurants also offer sukiyaki and shabu shabu made with fresh eel. Enjoy these flavorful and nourishing dishes as you explore Kyoto.

1. Kyo Unawa Honten Shijo Sakai-cho

Conveniently located near Shijo and Karasuma Stations, Kyo Unawa Honten Shijo Sakai cho offers a calm and refined setting where guests can enjoy premium, richly flavored unagi. The restaurant partners with trusted wholesalers to source high quality eel each day, which is served through signature dishes such as Unaju and Hitsumabushi.

5 Recommended Eel Restaurants to Enjoy Eel Cuisine in Kyoto

With a range of seating options including counter seats, tables, and private rooms, the restaurant suits many dining occasions. Business friendly menus and thoughtful service make it a dependable choice for hosting international visitors, arranging business meals, or enjoying a sophisticated unagi experience in Kyoto.

Kyo Unawa Honten Shijo Sakai-cho

Open: 10:45 am - 9:30 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,500 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Karasuma Station
Address: 553-2, Yaoya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation

2. Doikastuman Arashiyama Branch

Doikatsuman is an eel specialty restaurant where guests can enjoy carefully selected eels at a reasonable price. Prepared Kansai-style, each eel is skewered and grilled in-house over charcoal to perfection, resulting in crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat. This dedication to craft makes every dish a true indulgence at an approachable cost.

The restaurant’s elegant yet welcoming atmosphere creates an extraordinary dining experience that remains casual enough for visits with friends and family. With its balance of quality and affordability, Doikatsuman is a must-visit spot to make your Kyoto trip even more memorable.

Doikastuman Arashiyama Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm (L.O. 7:00 pm) The last order is at 7 pm; however, the restaurant can accommodate until 8 pm with prior contact.
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, 1 minute walk from Randen-Saga Stop on Randen Arashiyama Main Line
Address: 4-10, Kurumamichi-cho, Saga-tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation

3. Nijo Jo [Unagi Sansho Gogyou]

Enjoy carefully selected eel with a voluminous unaju and hitsumabushi.

The eel specialty restaurant, Unagi Sansho Gogyou, operated by the sweets shop Kyoto Marumochiya, is a 3-minute walk from Nijojo-mae Station. The eel used is Nihon Unagi, sourced under strict standards from overseas. It is grilled in the Kanto style for a fluffy finish, while also being mindful of the fragrant Kansai style. Diners can enjoy the exquisite flavor of eel in hearty dishes such as 'Chirimen Sansho Unaju' and 'Chirimen Sansho Hitsumabushi'.

5 Recommended Unagi Specialty Restaurants to Enjoy Unagi Cuisine in Kyoto

Jazz music flows through the restaurant, creating an extraordinary atmosphere reminiscent of a bar. The stylish space is perfect for special occasions. How about celebrating an important anniversary date with a carefully crafted eel dish, using ingredients such as rice from "Hachidaime Gihe," premium grape pepper from Wakayama Prefecture, and soy sauce made with deep seawater from Muroto, Kochi Prefecture? The meal concludes with the popular dessert 'Mizumaru Mochi'.

Unagi Sansho Gogyou

Open: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Nijojo-mae Station on the Subway Tozai Line
Address: 1F, Oike Royal Mansion, 137-3, Shikiami-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation

4. Kinkaku-Ji [Charcoal-grilled Eel Doikatsuman Kinkaku-Ji Branch]

Crispy skin and fluffy flesh of Kansai-style charcoal-grilled eel

Located a 20-minute walk from Kitano Hakubaicho Station, near Kinkaku-Ji, is the restaurant Charcoal-grilled Eel Doikatsuman Kinkaku-Ji Branch. This specialty restaurant offers high-quality eel that is prepared and grilled over charcoal on-site, all at reasonable prices. The eel, grilled in the Kansai style, has a crispy and fragrant skin, while the flesh is fluffy and tender. Guests can enjoy dishes such as the 'Gokujou Ippiki Juu' with a whole eel, the simple 'Unajuu', 'Hitsumabushi', and the 'Unagi-zukushi Teishoku'.

The restaurant located on the 2nd floor of a building right by the Kinkaku-Ji Temple bus stop is in a perfect location for a stop after sightseeing. The interior features a sophisticated Japanese modern design, exuding a sense of luxury reminiscent of Kinkaku-ji. Guests can relax in this extraordinary space and soak in the afterglow of their travels. There are also tatami seating areas that can accommodate up to 12 people, making it a great option for group visits.

Charcoal-grilled Eel Doikatsuman Kinkaku-Ji Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm (L.O 7:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Kinkakuji-michi bus stop
Address: 2F, 13, Kinugasagaido-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation

5. Shijo Karasuma [Sumiyaki Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto Bettei]

Enjoy the harmony of the giant blue eel and sauce from Nagoya in Kyoto.

Located just a 1-minute walk from Karasuma Station, [Sumiyaki Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto Bettei] is the first restaurant of [Umiyaki Unafuji] in Western Japan, which was founded in Nagoya. Guests can enjoy eel dishes made with the finest large blue eel, prepared in the Kansai style and grilled over charcoal. The crispy exterior and fluffy, juicy interior of the blue eel pair perfectly with the secret sauce. Guests can savor the signature 'unagi don' or the authentic Nagoya-style 'hitsumabushi'.

5 Recommended Unagi Restaurants to Enjoy Unagi Cuisine in Kyoto

The restaurant is located on the 8th floor of the Daimaru Kyoto store in the restaurant area. In the glass-walled corner next to the entrance, guests can see the chef preparing eel. The interior has a spacious and open atmosphere with large windows, allowing for a relaxing experience. There are eight elegantly designed private rooms that can accommodate 3 to 10 people by adjusting the partitions. They are perfect for family celebrations or business occasions.

Sumiyaki Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto Bettei

Open: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. It's on the Store 8th floor of the Daimaru Kyoto Store, directly connected to the underground passage.
Address: 79, Tachiuri nishi-machi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.

Thank you for reading our article.

Our goal is to take your culinary journey to the next level by helping you find the best restaurant. With SAVOR JAPAN, you can search and make reservations for

the Unagi (eel) restaurants found in and around Kyoto that fill your needs.