Update-date: Dec 02 2024
If one visits Japan, they must try "unagi cuisine" at least once. This time, five restaurants in Kyoto, a popular tourist destination, that serve delicious unagi have been picked up. In addition to the familiar charcoal-grilled dishes, there are also restaurants where one can enjoy fresh unagi through sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. Let's get through the summer with nutritious unagi dishes.
Nijo Castle [Unagi Sansho Gogyou]
Enjoy carefully selected eel with a voluminous unaju and hitsumabushi.
The eel specialty restaurant, Unagi Sansho Gokyo, 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 Kansa style. Diners can enjoy the exquisite flavor of eel in hearty dishes such as 'Chirimen Sansho Unaju' and 'Chirimen Sansho Hitsumabushi'.
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 "Yasudaime Gihei," 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
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
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2. Kinkaku-ji [Doi Katsu Unagi 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 Doi Katsu Unagi Kinkaku-ji. 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 Kinkakuji 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
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
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3. 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, [炭焼うな富士 大丸京都別邸] is the first restaurant of [炭焼うな富士] 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. One can savor the signature 'unagi don' or the authentic Nagoya-style 'hitsumabushi'.
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, one 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
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
4. Marutamachi [Unagi Kappo Maehara Kyoto Branch]
A variety of eel dishes enjoyed in a traditional Kyoto-style house restaurant.
Located just a 5-minute walk from Marutamachi Station, Unagi Kappo Maehara Kyoto is a restaurant where visitors can enjoy domestic eel in a variety of ways. They can savor different flavors of eel through various kaiseki courses, including fluffy white grilled eel, boiled eel, and eel rice boxes. A recommended dish is the 'Unagi Shabu Kaiseki,' which features fresh raw eel dipped in broth and served with ponzu and yuzu pepper, offering a unique shabu-shabu experience.
The restaurant facing Ryogaemachi Street is a charming standalone house. Upon entering, a space filled with the unique atmosphere of Kyoto unfolds. The counter seats, where diners can enjoy their meals while gazing at the garden's greenery, are recommended for dates. The horigotatsu-style private rooms are available for two or more people, making them perfect for special occasions such as wedding anniversaries or birthdays. It is an ideal restaurant for a memorable meal during travel.
Unagi Kappo Maehara. Kyoto branch
Open: Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (last order 9:00 pm) / Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (last order 1:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 13,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
More Details
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 13,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
More Details
5. Kyoto [Unagi Ju]
Taste a new specialty dish made with domestically sourced eel in the town in front of Nishi Hongan-ji.
Located a 13-minute walk from Kyoto Station, [鰻壽] is a restaurant where visitors can enjoy dishes made with domestically sourced eel. To convey the light flavor of the domestic eel, the restaurant employs a unique cooking method. The new signature dish, 'Eel Sukiyaki,' is a recommended item made with domestic eel and a special broth. The 'Jou Unaju (Boxed Eel)' allows guests to savor the exquisite harmony of the perfectly grilled eel and sauce.
The restaurant is located directly across from Nishi Hongan-ji, just in front of the Nishi Hongan-ji Mae bus stop, separated by Horikawa Street. The interior exudes a calm atmosphere with a touch of traditional Japanese aesthetics. Guests can feel at ease with the warm hospitality and heartfelt smiles of the proprietress. They can enjoy carefully selected flavors, such as the rice from "Hachidaime Gihei" and sake from Kyoto breweries like "Sasaki Shuzo" and "Haneda Shuzo," all while relaxing in a comfortable setting.
This article was written by AI Translation.
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
