Unagi has a long history and tradition in Japan. The delicacy is usually served as unaju or unadon, which are both broiled eel served on rice and presented in either a lacquered bento (unaju) or in a ceramic bowl (unadon).

The ray-finned fish is a bit ugly-looking and many foreigners don’t find it appetizing. However, I cannot emphasize enough how great charbroiled unagi tastes with its sweet, smoky aroma and incredibly tender, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Although it is not cheap, unagi is one of the indispensable delicacies in traditional Japanese washoku you won’t want to miss.

Unagi Tokito in Tokyo’s Azabujuban district is a 30-minute walk from Hardy Barracks and specializes in unagi with a twist of modern French. The restaurant’s owner and chef trained in both Japan and France before opening Unagi Tokito in 2018, so you’ll see plenty of inspiration of both countries on the menu.

For 14,800 yen (about $100), you can try the eel course lunch set which includes an unagi burger, smoked eel salad, various appetizers featuring eel, broiled eel and ham, grilled eel with cream sauce and a charbroiled eel and rice entrée. The set also comes with yogurt sherbet for dessert.

Unagi Tokito’s French twist on unagi also pairs well with Japanese sake, wine and tequila.

The tiny shop has eight counter seats and a private room to accommodate 6 people. Though it is cozy, the counter seats give diners a front-row seat for the skilled chef’s masterful performance.

“It was fun to see him filleting eel and grilling it over the counter,” said Akiko Takamizawa, librarian of the Stars and Stripes archives. “The grilled eel had a wonderful crispy aroma and savory flavor.”

If you are in Japan, you owe it to yourself to try eel. And there’s no better place to sample Japan’s taste of a traditional delicacy than at Unagi Tokito near Hardy Barracks.

Unagi Tokito

Hours: Mon 6 – 8:30 p.m., Tue – Sat noon – 2 p.m., 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: 2-5-11 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Price range: (lunch) 10,000 – 15,000 yen ($70 - 100) (dinner) 20,000 – 30,000 yen ($140 – 200)

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Tel: 050-5596-0456