あるぱかーん
There is a restaurant in Sumiyoshi where you can enjoy Edo-style eel. It is run by a young couple who may seem strict at first but actually provide a warm and friendly service. The restaurant has 7 counter seats, 2 table seats, and even a tatami area at the back, making it quite spacious. The atmosphere is stylish and not typical of an eel restaurant. Reservations are possible and the phone is constantly ringing, indicating its popularity in the area.
The eels are kept alive in underground water in the restaurant. I have visited several eel restaurants in Osaka, such as Nishihara, Fukunoya, Yoshitora, Shizuka, and Funaya. Osaka seems to have quite a few Edo-style eel restaurants. As for Asazu, they serve eels with the back opened, steamed, and grilled over charcoal in the traditional Kanto style. The charcoal used seems to be different from Kishu charcoal. Today's eel is said to be from Tokushima.
Ordered item:
- Eel rice bowl (medium) 2,100 yen (excluding tax)
Served with soup and pickles, it arrived in less than 10 minutes. It seems that the eels are steamed during the preparation stage. They are lightly grilled before being coated with sauce. The half portion eel is thick and about 4 pieces. The sauce is mild with minimal charring, but the surface is slightly overcooked. The appearance is not very appealing, but you can tell that it is plump. The eel is soft enough to be firmly held with chopsticks. When eaten, the flesh, including the skin, is tender and fluffy. It melts in the mouth, releasing the richness of the fat and the fragrant aroma of charcoal. It has an elegant richness and a clean finish, with a high-quality fat. The flavor is rich and of good quality. The sauce enhances the eel without being overly sweet or spicy. The rice was a bit too moist and sticky, but it absorbed the sauce well. The pickles and soup were average. The eel was quite large and satisfying. It was the first serving of the day, so there were no negative effects from steaming. Perhaps the eel was tender and fatty, so it didn't need much steaming. This resulted in a beautifully fluffy texture. The generous amount of fat added to the richness of the eel. It was a delicious eel that showcased its quality. It was pleasing to have such a thick piece of eel. While the texture and grilling technique may not be as good as Nishihara, the sauce here is more to my liking. Considering the price, this eel is my favorite among Edo-style eels in Osaka. For now. Thank you for the meal!