The head chef and his wife both have a wonderful and welcoming presence! While it may be a bit intimidating for those who are unfamiliar, the hospitality at this restaurant is very warm. The quality of the eel dishes is excellent. My husband and I visited as a party of two, and everything we tried was delicious. This restaurant can be considered the best eel specialty store in Hokkaido without a doubt! A reliable choice.

The eel is wonderfully crispy and fragrant when grilled, but the rice is the real star of the meal. With other eel dishes, the sauce tends to soak into the rice and make it mushy, but this eel rice bowl maintains its deliciousness from start to finish. Additionally, given the recent surge in eel prices, being able to enjoy domestic eel at this price is fantastic.

Father's 13th memorial service... This weekend, the only time I could take a proper break this summer, I drove early in the morning to Sapporo. I remember the times when the two of us used to go out to eat eel together, for some reason, the memory of just the father and son going out together is more vivid than going out with the whole family of five. Whenever I caught a cold, he always took me out to eat eel. Thanks to that, I grew up with a body that rarely catches a cold. And eel is still my favorite food... Yesterday (Friday), I tried to make reservations at various places with memories, but everywhere was fully booked... I found a place near my house in Sapporo... Unatei Wagatsu. They told me that they don't have fresh ingredients on weekends, so not only did I make a reservation, but I also had to specify my order, and I chose Matsushige @4300 yen, which uses one whole eel. It is a domestically produced eel, but this time it is from Aichi Prefecture. I arrived in rainy Sapporo in the early afternoon, went to the temple, and received a sutra from the priest for the first time in a long while. I took a short nap at home, and arrived a little before the 5:30 reservation time. There are only two parking spaces. The inside of the restaurant has the fragrance of charcoal grilling and a youthful, fresh eel scent... but the interior is clean. The sound of a piano is playing. The wine list includes Paul Sapin's Bordeaux red (Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Cabernet Franc 5%), South African white (Chenin Blanc), and sparkling wine from Australia... Unfortunately, I can't drink because I drove. I should have walked... I will have tea (barley tea). The scent of charcoal grilling is slowly coming in. There are two types of sansho pepper prepared on the table. The powdered one is darker green than the usual sansho pepper and has a blackish hue, with a hint of black pepper scent mixed in with the sansho pepper. The one from the mill has a slightly fruity aroma and the actual pepper is reddish... maybe Sichuan pepper. Both have a mild flavor despite the aroma. In just 30 minutes, the tiered box was brought out. Exciting... The flesh is crispy and well-cooked, but both the flesh and skin are tender. The usual thick and sticky texture of eel skin is not there, it is light. The youthful smell I felt when I entered the restaurant was indeed the fresh young eel. I tried both types of sansho pepper, but the black powder one goes better with the skin, and the red one from the mill goes "better" with the fragrant flesh. The liver is also fresh, with a good texture, and the scent of shiitake mushrooms is very prominent and delicious. The eel's fat is not lacking, but it has been cooked well to get rid of any greasiness from the skin, and the fragrance is delicious! Oops, I should have ordered the half cut @6500 yen... Next time I will walk here. During my stay, I received two phone calls, but it's all over with the reservation, as the owner answered. It seems like it was crowded during the day. I told the owner a little bit about my eel episode with my father. This restaurant is in its 6th year, but it was very fresh and delicious! I will come again, thank you for the meal.

The store is completely non-smoking, and please refrain from using your mobile phone. Taking photos is not a problem (I confirmed this beforehand). Only matsunaga was available for purchase. It was mentioned that if you make a reservation the day before, other types of eel dishes and rice bowls can also be prepared. Liver and pickles are included. The landlady said, "Since you are a man, I put in extra rice for you." I wonder if this was out of consideration for my ample body... (I have a standard body type according to my health check). Thank you. The eel meat was plump and tender, and the rice was cooked just right. The liver was rich and comforting to drink. I think this is a restaurant that is easy for first-time visitors to enter. It was a lunch that stretched beyond my means, but it was delicious. I heard they also offer takeout, so I'd like to try making a reservation for Unagi Day.

The seasoning was excellent, and the eel was juicy! It took a little time to come out, but it was worth it. They say that eel is tastier in the winter, and it's true - it was so juicy that I devoured the largest piece! Highly recommended! I will definitely go back!

Eel with a salty and distinct flavor, plump and juicy.

Visited for lunch, had the grilled eel rice bowl with liver and pickles included, priced at 4,300 yen including tax. The eel was grilled quite well, and you can add more sauce to your liking. They also offer powdered and whole Sichuan pepper. There were cute Snoopy ukiyo-e prints on the wall. Very charming place!

I had the grilled matsutake mushroom. It was delicious.

Located between Maruyama Koen Station and Nishi 18-chome Station on the Tozai Subway Line, this place exudes a great atmosphere on the first floor of the building. Upon opening the door, the interior appears slightly intricate, with both table and counter seating available. Today, it was fully booked due to the upcoming Obon holiday, but I managed to secure a reservation by calling ahead. The owner answered the phone and provided a very friendly explanation. Upon arriving at the reserved opening time of 6:00 PM, I was seated at the counter. The other diners, both those already eating and those who arrived later, all seemed like regulars. In August, they are focusing on three types of eel dishes: Matsutake, Take, and Ume. Normally, they also offer eel rice bowls and medium-size eel dishes. Opening the Matsutake dish revealed slightly smaller eel pieces, grilled to a slightly burnt aroma, which was very inviting. The aroma was appetizing. The eel was plump and well-grilled, with the skin also nicely cooked for a good balance. The sauce was smooth, with a hint of sweet mirin flavor. I tried the extra sauce available on the counter, which had a refreshing aftertaste. The rice was slightly firm, which was a nice touch. The eel liver was translucent and had a pleasant aroma of dried shiitake mushrooms. The pickles were lightly flavored. They provided both powdered and freshly ground sansho pepper, each with its own unique aroma. The meticulous work was evident, and the service was attentive, making it a very pleasant dining experience.

In the past, there was an eel restaurant in Susukino that has gone through many changes and is now run by the current owner. They seem to only serve seasonal dishes and require reservations as they cannot accommodate walk-ins. Despite having few reviews on food review websites, the restaurant seems to be popular. Due to the current economic situation, they may be limiting the number of dishes they offer. I walked there for exercise and had a bottle of beer with my meal. The eel took some time to be served as they cook it properly. The eel was steamed and then grilled with a strong sauce, giving it a rich flavor. It reminded me of the northern region with its strong soy sauce taste. The eel was tender but not too fatty. However, the eel liver was unnaturally strong in flavor, which was a major downside. Overall, it's a place that may appeal more to locals in Hokkaido rather than those from other regions.

In June 2017, I thought about saving this review for a milestone, but I'm not confident I'll reach the next milestone (1200 reviews) anytime soon, so I'll post it early. When I was a child, my father took me to a place called "Unatei" next to the Susukino police box to eat delicious eel. It was the best eel I had ever eaten, but the restaurant closed 30 years ago. Time passed, and in 2014, when "Eat Too Much Gain Too Much" reviewed this place, they mentioned a connection to the old "Unatei." I was intrigued, and when I saw this place featured on TV, I learned that the owner was a fan of "Unatei." It was a revelation! I had to go there. After "Unatei" closed, the chef opened a place called "Unakiyoshi," but that closed too due to the chef's health. The owner of this place didn't want the taste of "Unatei" to disappear, so he quit his job and opened this restaurant. The "Matashige" (3,800 yen) eel dish contains one whole eel, and the fluffy texture when you eat it is amazing! The rice is perfectly cooked, slightly firm. The sauce may seem a bit strong, but it has been passed down for 50 years, starting from "Unatei" to "Unakiyoshi" and now here. Maybe I've gotten used to lighter flavors over the years. Anyway, after almost 40 years, I was able to savor the taste of "Unatei" again. I expressed my gratitude to the owner and left the restaurant. I am thankful for finding this place!

When entering the shop, you can smell the savory aroma of grilled eel. The background music is a piano-based hotel restaurant style, which fades away as you finish your meal. The owner provides polite service with a pleasant expression. The interior of the shop is clean and has a beautiful Japanese-style atmosphere, making it a calming place to enjoy Japanese cuisine. The parking lot is not clearly marked for two cars, so it is recommended to confirm or visit when there is available time. It takes about 30 minutes to prepare and serve the eel, so calling in advance or visiting during a less busy time is preferable. The sauce is not too sweet and has a typical taste found in specialty shops, refreshing and not overly salty. The eel is tender and delicious, with a slightly harder surface compared to other places, but the sauce makes it hard to decide which is better. There is a lingering umami flavor that envelops your palate. The eel sticks a bit flat to the teeth on the surface, unlike other places. The liver dish is slightly sweeter than other places, but the liver is a bit difficult to chew through and the sauce could use a bit more flavor. The rice is more delicious than other places. The shop has a counter with six seats, two tables for four people each, and a small raised table for four people. Looking forward to visiting at night next time.

There were no customers before or after my visit at 12:00 on Sunday. I ordered the bamboo box with a variety of bottled beers. The appetizer was simmered lotus root and konjac, which I enjoyed. About 30 minutes later, the eel dish arrived along with tofu and liver, and pickled radish. The liver was well-seasoned, and the eel was a bit small in size with slightly sweet sauce, which I prefer. It would be nice to have some side dishes that pair well with alcohol while waiting for the eel dish. The restaurant seemed to be run by the owner alone, with a small and clean interior consisting of a few counter seats and tables. The restaurant is smoke-free.

Last July, it was unusually hot in Sapporo, so I felt like eating eel and decided to make a reservation at this restaurant I had been curious about. It took over 30 minutes for the dishes to arrive because they start making them after you order. We started with a toast with beer. While enjoying the okra appetizer, we settled our hunger with beer. The restaurant was clean and had counter seats, table seats, and tatami rooms, which seemed to be reserved. Since I was with a child, they asked if we wanted to reduce the amount of rice, but my child loves white rice so we ordered as is. The proprietress and the chef seemed young. The proprietress was cute and kind, she even said encouraging words to my child. It was very nice of her to show such consideration for families with children. When the eel arrived, my child had the plum rice bowl and the adults had the pine rice bowl. It had been a while since I had eel and I was ecstatic. Finally meeting the eel when I opened the lid, and then into my mouth - it was soft and delicious! The thickness was just right, plump and tasty. The sauce was not too sweet, which I liked. I also enjoyed the eel liver. I ordered some cold sake and was feeling a bit tipsy. I was very satisfied eating delicious eel after a long time. There are many delicious restaurants in Maruyama, but this one has both great taste and hospitality, so I would like to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This is a place in Chuo Ward, Nishi 22, Kita 1. For the exact location, as always, please check the map on Tabelog. A regular reviewer, "overeating and overweight," saw a new restaurant called "Unagi-ya" and decided to visit before the "Doyo" season. When they had an errand in the area, they decided to stop by. Upon arrival, they asked about parking and were directed to a space next to the building. They sat at the counter and ordered the "Take-don." After a 30-minute wait, the dish arrived. The portion of unagi was smaller than expected, with about 3/4 of a fish. The unagi was well-cooked, tender, and had a thin, crispy skin. The sauce was soy-based and refreshing. The rice was cooked just right, allowing the sauce to soak in nicely. The meal also came with cold tofu, "liver sashimi," and fresh pickles. The reviewer wished for a few more types of pickles. They mentioned that unagi prices are high due to the summer season, but encouraged the restaurant to continue serving unagi, as there are few unagi restaurants in Hokkaido.

I have tried almost all the eel restaurants in Sapporo, but I heard that a new one opened so I decided to check it out. I had to wait a bit for my order to be ready, but if they are doing a good job, it's understandable. I ordered the Matsushige for 3800 yen. The eel had a slightly stronger grilling taste after steaming, not exactly Kansai-style but the grilling was done well and it had a flavor I liked. The sauce was a bit sweet, but it seemed to be inherited from another eel restaurant. This restaurant has a different vibe from the ones in Sapporo I've been to before, so I think it might become popular.

In June 2014, Unatei Wagatsu is a specialty eel restaurant. It opened on May 9th in the local Maruyama area. In Sapporo, where eel prices are soaring, specialty shops are decreasing. It is rare to see a new opening. I visited for lunch on a weekday. I parked my car in the parking lot next to the shop. The shop is located on the first floor of a building slightly south of North 1st Street in the Maruyama area of ​​Sapporo's Chuo Ward. For the exact location of the shop, please check on Tabelog. The shop is located where the famous soba restaurant "Soba Kurumi" used to be. The interior of the shop has a relaxed atmosphere, but the decor is clean. There is one table for five people in the sunken area, one table for four people, two tables for two people, and a counter seat. I sat at a table. The menu includes eel rice bowls and eel bowls. The eel used is domestically produced. On that day, it was from Miyazaki. There is also one more item on the menu. From the menu, I chose the "Matsuju" and my usual companion chose the "Takeju". On the table, there were "powdered sansho pepper", eel sauce, soy sauce, and more. After waiting for 30 minutes, the "Unaju" was served. Along with it, the "grainy sansho pepper" with a mill was also served. The "grainy sansho pepper" has a very nice aroma. ■ Matsuju Domestic eel is used. On that day, one eel from Miyazaki was used. It is freshly grilled and piping hot. It has a nice aroma. The fat is moderate and not at all fishy. It has a clean taste. The meat is fluffy. The sauce is not as salty as it looks. Side dishes included chilled tofu, pickles, cabbage pickles, liver sucking, and lightly flavored shiitake mushrooms. Price: 3800 yen (including 8% consumption tax) ■ Takeju Almost the same eel as "Matsuju", using 3/4 of an eel. Price: 3000 yen (including 8% consumption tax) Japanese eel is delicious as expected. Being a specialty shop, the taste is even better. The rice is also good. Given the tough situation with eel, I hope they continue to do their best. Next time, I'd like to come at night and have a drink. It was delicious, thank you for the feast.

The eel rice bowl here is absolutely delicious!

The rice is delicious.