Taste of Japan: Enjoy grilled eel in Tokyo’s Ueno District

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Unagi grilled eel is a Japanese delicacy that is known as the taste of Edo (old Tokyo). Its price, at somewhere between 5,000 to 7,000 yen (about $35-47), also means it is a meal often reserved for special occasions.

In Ueno, one of Tokyo’s busy neighborhoods known for its famous zoo, park, museums and shopping street, you’ll find an izakaya selling this tasty dish at very reasonable prices.

Unatoto is about a 5-minute walk from Ueno Station down Ameyoko candy shop alley and serves up freshly broiled unagi lunch boxes for only 960 – 1,800 yen.

Head to Ueno for some great sightseeing and shopping, but stay for some incredible unagi that won’t break the bank. Unatoto’s unaju is double portions of eel on rice served in a lacquered box for 1,580 yen. Don’t forget to order a side of eel liver soup for 160 yen extra.

Though intimidating at first, grilled eel is a savory and sweet dish with a crisp bite. Unatoto’s original sauce glazes the eel and elevates the flavor of this already delicious dish.

The eel liver soup has a simple yet profound taste, which creates a good balance to the rest of the meal and rounds out a delicious lunch.

And, since Unatoto is an izakaya, you can bet that there is plenty of ice cold beer on draft and other chilly adult beverages to go with your unagi.

If you have not sampled eel in Japan yet, this casual joint offers a great chance to enjoy an authentic Japanese-style eel bowl for a cheap, incredible lunch during your visit to Ueno.

Unatoto