I went to Gion Okuyama. I was guided to the second floor and the tatami room was surprisingly spacious. I ordered as follows without much hesitation: the famous "uoke" for three people and grilled eel liver sashimi. It arrived gradually after about 15 minutes. The grilled eel liver had a fragrant and chewy texture, with a hint of bitterness that seemed good for the body, perfect for pairing with sake. The eel sashimi with ponzu sauce was excellent, the acidity of the ponzu complemented the sweetness of the sashimi, and the grilled aroma lingered. With toppings like grated radish, you could enjoy various flavors. Then the "uoke" arrived. It was huge! I wanted to eat a lot of delicious eel until I was full! The amount of eel was impressive, but the rice portion seemed a bit small, maybe they were considerate. You could eat it directly from the bowl like "hitsumabushi"! The sauce was sweet, and the steamed eel was soft and melted in the mouth. The fat was rich and sticky. Despite some small bones, the taste was really good. Before I knew it, there was only a little left. I could have easily eaten four portions. I was completely satisfied with eating delicious eel. Thank you for the feast. On the way back, I went to see the light-up at Kodai-ji Temple. Highly recommended.

Goro from "The Lonely Gourmet" visited an eel restaurant he had missed before. The Kansai-style grilled eel was delicious with its fragrant taste. Both the eel roll and eel liver were also delicious. The location of the restaurant is near a tourist spot, making it easy to visit.

This long-established eel restaurant is famous for serving eel in a bucket. It was difficult to make a reservation as the phone was busy, but after calling three times, we finally succeeded. Since there were two of us, we ordered the eel rice bowl with bamboo instead of the bucket. The eel was thick and juicy. The seasoning was slightly light, so we added extra sauce from the table. It was nice that they also included eel liver. I used to prefer crispy eel rice bowls, but the tender eel rice bowl here was also delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited various eel restaurants, but the eel here was really delicious! It was nice to be served in a bucket ✩︎⡱ Other dishes besides eel were also delicious. I was taken here on a special occasion and it left a lasting memory. Even if there are empty seats, it felt like you couldn't enter without a reservation, so I recommend making a reservation for those planning to go!

Visited the popular eel restaurant "Uokeya U" in Gion. The signature dish is the eel rice bowl served in a bucket, typical of the "Yagenbori" chain. The bucket presentation was unique, but the eel rice bowl inside was standard. The eel, with its back split open Kansai-style, was thick and plump. The sauce seemed strong, but was surprisingly light and did not overpower the eel's savory flavor. So it was safe to add extra sauce from the table. The eel tataki was also delicious, with a slight bounce to it. I'm not usually a fan of eel rolls, but the dashimaki tamago here was exceptional. Fluffy and soft, with a rich dashi flavor that was evident with each bite. A truly authentic dish that surpassed typical novelty items.

I wanted to eat eel during my trip to Kyoto, so I searched around and found this place. I tried calling to make a reservation multiple times, but no one answered. So, I decided to go without a reservation and managed to get a seat in the crowded restaurant. The specialty here is the eel served in a bucket, but they only serve it in buckets starting from 3 servings, so I ordered a single serving to be mindful of my stomach. While waiting for my food, there was no background music, just the sound of ringing phones. The lack of staff made it difficult to get their attention (no wonder they couldn't answer the phone). When the eel dish arrived, it was incredibly tender and almost melted in my mouth. I had thought that the grilling method differs between Kanto and Kansai, but here they seem to steam and then grill the eel (exact method unconfirmed), resulting in a very juicy texture. The sauce was a bit mild, but I appreciated that there was extra sauce on the table for adding more. The grilled eel liver was also delicious, and it paired well with the tasty Japanese sake. I wasn't expecting much from the sake at a place like this, but it exceeded my expectations in terms of flavor.

I finally managed to make a reservation over the phone, and visited the restaurant three weeks later, which was the earliest available date. It is located on the quaint street of Nishiki Hanami Koji, and the atmosphere of the restaurant, typical of Kyoto, heightened my expectations. I was led to a second-floor tatami room where we had to take off our shoes. The spacing between tatami rooms for COVID-19 prevention measures provided a sense of security, and the tatami room itself had a relaxed and homely atmosphere. We ordered two servings of eel rice bowls (served with eel liver and pickles), tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), two skewers of grilled eel liver, and two servings of eel sashimi for a total of 13,500 yen. The eel sashimi was incredibly tender and delicious. We initially ordered one to share, but it was so good that we ended up ordering another one. The grilled eel liver was also very tender and had no unpleasant aftertaste. The eel rice bowl could have had a bit more sweetness in the sauce, but as we continued eating, we were able to truly savor the taste of the eel itself, and we enjoyed it until the last bite. The tamagoyaki had a rich dashi flavor and was very tasty. This is a restaurant that I would like to visit again.

Visited at 7:00 p.m. on February 2, 2023. This restaurant, "Uokeya U", has been selected as one of the top 100 eel restaurants in Gion, Kyoto. I made a reservation a month in advance and visited after the New Year. The traditional building has a nice atmosphere. The restaurant seemed to be fully booked for reservations today. Upon entering and informing them of my reservation, I was guided to the second-floor tatami room. Although I'm not a big fan of tatami rooms, the restaurant had a calm and pleasant atmosphere. There were foreign language menus available, indicating that there were many tourists from overseas among the reservation holders. There were also several groups of people dining that day. Even during my walk, I noticed many tourists from overseas, suggesting that tourism in Kyoto is picking up again. The specialty of this restaurant, "Uokeya", is a large tub filled with eel and rice called "Uoke". I had been debating whether to try this "Uoke" dish before my visit, but upon looking at the menu, there were so many other tempting options. This time, I decided to forgo the "Uoke" and try something different. For my evening drinks, I ordered a premium bottle of beer for ¥900, eel tataki for ¥1,750, grilled eel skewers with salt for ¥800, grilled eel skewers with sauce for ¥800, and grilled eel liver for ¥750. I enjoyed a solo drinking time starting with a bottle of beer. The tataki was served chilled with ponzu sauce, and the skewers and liver were incredibly delicious. It was the perfect evening drinking experience. After considering my appetite, I decided to save the eel rice bowl for another time and added an order of the steamed eel rice bowl in a bamboo container for ¥3,650. This steamed eel rice bowl, a rare dish in Kansai, was soft and fluffy, and incredibly tasty. It was larger than I expected, but the size in the bamboo container was just right. After finishing everything, my evening drinking time came to an end. I settled the bill and left the restaurant. I took a walk back home. It was my first time strolling through Gion, and I enjoyed the Kyoto-like scenery that you can't experience by car. It was a pleasant walk. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

In Kanto, eel is steamed before being grilled, while in Kansai, it is grilled without steaming. I was debating whether to try the Kansai style that I have never had before, but I decided to stick with the steamed style because I love eel so much! That's when I found Uokeya U-san. I immediately made a phone reservation! Initially, the reservation was for 7:30 pm, but due to the snow and sudden cold weather, I had to cancel one place I wanted to go and called to change my reservation to a little after 6 pm. Even though I arrived an hour and a half earlier, everyone welcomed me warmly, which made me very happy. I ordered eel tataki, grilled eel liver, and hot sake. The grilled eel liver was amazing, and the tataki was a first for me! It was sweet and delicious, and I couldn't stop eating it once I started. I finished with an eel rice bowl. The eel was tender, sweet, and the sauce was smooth and melted in my mouth. It exceeded my expectations completely! I was so into it that I finished it quickly. The head chef and everyone else were cheerful, friendly, and kind from the beginning to the end, making me feel comfortable throughout. I found out later that this restaurant is in the same group as Osen, which I love, and it made sense why everyone was so nice! Dining alone on eel in Kyoto was a great success! I highly recommend it even for solo diners!

During a break from work, I strolled around Gion. The weather was perfect, and Gion was a great place to be. I found a restaurant down Hanamikoji Street in a narrow alley. It seemed like everyone there, except for me, were tourists visiting Kyoto. I thought it would be a wonderful memory for tourists to enjoy eel at such a lovely restaurant during their sightseeing trip in Kyoto. The restaurant is famous for its eel served in a lacquered box, but I thought eating a whole box of eel by myself might be a bit too much, so I ordered an eel rice bowl instead. It was a steamed eel dish in the Kanto style. The eel was very gentle in flavor. The word "gentle" perfectly describes it. The taste and texture were smooth and without any sharp edges. I usually prefer eel with a strong punch, but I also found this gentle eel to be delicious.

I went to "Gion Uouya U" for lunch. I didn't make a reservation and just stopped by on a whim, so they were actually finishing up lunch service for the day. However, they kindly allowed me to come in. I was very happy about that. - Eel bowl (Matsu) / 4800 yen, liver - Grilled liver / 750 yen I asked for a smaller portion of rice. For the eel bowl, you can choose between liver soup or red miso soup. The difference between "Matsu" and "Take" is the amount of eel. I prefer the Edo-style grilled eel with a light sauce. There is extra sauce on the table if you need more. It was relatively light and delicious. The grilled liver had plenty of sauce and was also delicious. I enjoyed the eel bowl. Thank you for the meal.

I made a reservation for 12:30 on New Year's Day. The restaurant was fully booked today. I ordered the "Unagi Oke" for 3 people (with liver) for 11,300 yen. The "Unagi Oke" comes in 3 sizes: for 3, 4, or 5 people, with the option of liver or red miso soup. I waited for about 10 minutes. The eel was steamed perfectly, with tender skin. The sauce was slightly sweet and gentle. The rice was similar to steamed rice in a bamboo steamer. The portion of eel was about 330g for 2 pieces and 200g for 1 piece. The rice was about 1.5 to 2 cups. There were many foreign customers, and an English menu was also available. I was considering getting an eel bowl, but the "Unagi Oke" was visually appealing and a delightful dish.

[Access] Located in the atmospheric streets of Gion, just a short walk from Gion-Shijo Station. [Ambiance, Cleanliness] The restaurant has a charming atmosphere and is clean. [Food Received] Una-ju (enough for 3 people) with miso soup and grilled eel rolls. [Service] The staff are polite and attentive. [Cost] The price is reasonable considering the portion size. [Overall Impression] I wanted to try eel served in a wooden tub, so I chose this place. As a fan of Kansai-style eel (not steamed), I was excited to have eel in Kyoto. However, my friend pointed out that the restaurant uses the Kanto method of steaming and grilling eel, which was fine by me. The eel was indeed tender and juicy, with a slightly light sauce that could be enhanced with additional sauce on the table. It was a delicious meal in a cozy atmosphere that truly felt like Kyoto. Thank you for the meal!

I finally got to try the bucket eel that I've been wanting to eat! I made a reservation a while ago and went to the restaurant. We ordered 4 servings. The bucket was big and made a strong impression! The eel was cooked in a fluffy Kanto style and the rice was soaked in sauce. We could choose between liver sashimi or red miso soup, and the rice that came with it was thinner than expected, so the four of us finished it quickly. It was delicious, the location was good, the appearance was interesting, and it was fun.

What I received was an eel bowl with tender egg and a gentle taste, the eel was not sour and it was fresh. The eel bowl was Kanto-style, soft and with an elegant flavor. The famous eel barrel had a large portion so I had to give up. The liver sucking, pickles, and Hachiman roll were all delicious. With warm sake, it was a very satisfying meal.

Unagi restaurant in Gion! Their specialty is the Unaju served in a bucket called "Uoke." We went for lunch this time. Uoke starts from 3 servings for around 12,000 yen, so it's convenient to split the cost based on the number of people. The taste is a bit mild, but you can adjust it by adding sansho pepper and sauce on the table if needed. It's recommended to make a reservation for both lunch and dinner. Thank you for the meal.

Located in a quiet area just off the bustling Hanami Koji street, this eel restaurant is popular among tourists. The second floor has traditional tatami seating where guests must remove their shoes before entering. The menu, which includes English translations, features eel dishes as the main attraction. Groups of three or more can enjoy the specialty "bucket assortment" dish. The pickles served as a palate cleanser are delicious and complement the meal well. The steamed eel, prepared in the Tokyo style, is elegant and not overly fatty, with a nice hint of charcoal flavor. The sauce is not overly sweet, offering a refreshing taste.

Above all, my favorite food (◍︎ ´꒳` ◍︎)! I also had eel in Kyoto. The area around the restaurant is charming and lovely. As a famous restaurant, reservations are essential. The specialty seems to be eel served in a bucket, but since there were two of us girls, we ordered eel over rice. The eel was steamed to perfection and had a gentle and delicious flavor. It was completely different from Nagoya! It was so delicious! Thank you for the meal ♡!

I visited "Gion Uokeya U," which was selected as one of the top 100 eel restaurants in the "Tabelog Unagi Hyakumeiten 2022" guide. This restaurant has been selected three times in 2018, 2019, and 2022. I arrived at the restaurant on Saturday around 12:30 pm and was promptly seated as I had a reservation. I ordered the "Uoke 3 servings" among other items. After about 15 minutes, the dish was served. The eel was cooked just right, with a plump texture. The grilling was mild, and the sauce had a gentle and mild flavor. It was refreshing yet still brought out the deliciousness of the eel. The rice portion was a bit small. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. Ordered Items: - Uoke 3 servings: 11,300 yen (tax included) - Uramaki: 1,600 yen (tax included) - Liver soup: 500 yen (tax included) - Rice: 500 yen (tax included) Rating Criteria: - Below 2.9: Not very tasty - 3.0~: Tasty - 3.5~: Very tasty - 4.0~: Would like to revisit - 4.5~: Would like to revisit and recommend to others Visit Date: October 15, 2022 (Saturday)

In Kyoto's Gion district, there is a famous eel restaurant called "Uokeya U." We ordered the smallest size of eel bowl for 11,300 yen, which is enough for 3 people or 2 people who eat a lot. The eel was steamed and tender. The taste is subtle and elegant, but you can adjust it by dipping it in the sauce provided on the table for a sweeter and richer flavor. The atmosphere in Gion is fantastic, especially in the evening, it feels like stepping back in time. The quaint streets and alleys leading to the restaurant added to the charm and made the experience truly special. It's a great place for tourists, and I would definitely want to visit again. This restaurant is a must-visit for eel lovers visiting Kyoto.