Since living in Kyoto, I have always loved eel from the Kanto region and occasionally visit for a meal. Today marks my first visit in three years. The taste remains as delicious as ever, but I was surprised to find that the prices had increased significantly. While it may be understandable from a business perspective, the rising cost of eel could potentially lead consumers to seek out more high-end options. As long as income increases, it shouldn't be a problem...

While taking a stroll in Karasuma, I stumbled upon an eel restaurant. Around lunchtime, about 60% of the customers seemed to be regulars, but I decided to enter. The warm female owner welcomed me in the cozy atmosphere. The restaurant had tatami seating, so it seemed like they could accommodate larger groups as well. I ordered the eel set meal with rolled omelette. The eel, steamed after I placed my order, was fluffy and the skin was crispy, cooked in the Kanto style. The sweet sauce paired perfectly with the rice. The rolled omelette was also delicious, soaked in plenty of broth, leaving me feeling happy and satisfied. I would like to visit again in the evening.

The eel at the local eel restaurant has a standard taste. To confirm this, I visited a restaurant known for its delicious eel. It was a snowy day during lunchtime on a weekday, and I was the only customer in the restaurant. The eel took 20 minutes to be served. While waiting, I enjoyed some bone crackers with beer and observed the Geisha and Maiko fans on display. When the eel arrived, it was incredibly fluffy. Steaming makes a difference. The eel dish also included shimeji mushrooms for the liver. The pickles were made of red radish or turnip, and they were delicious. When I really want to eat eel, I will make the trip to Yanagimaba Gojo. It may be slightly more expensive than local options, but the difference is not significant.

This is the best premium eel rice bowl. I had the liver sashimi and it was delicious.

Today's lunch was brought to me by an acquaintance, and we had Unaju (eel over rice) and liver sashimi at UmenoI in Yanagimachi. UmenoI has several branches, but this one is highly recommended. It's definitely worth coming back here.

Hot sake and delicious eel, the dashimaki is exquisite.

It was a Kyoto-style eel lunch with Edo-style sauce that was not too sweet or too spicy. The eel was fluffy and delicious. I had to resist drinking alcohol this time, but I will definitely indulge next time.

The restaurant may be slightly inferior to the izakaya.

I want to eat eel! There are three options for eel dishes: Matsutake, Bamboo Shoot, and Plum, with the most luxurious being the special premium one. The plum option is very elegant with one eel. I received a set with liver included. There are also options for Kinshi (eel over rice) dishes: Matsutake, Bamboo Shoot, and Plum, with the most luxurious being the special premium one. People in Kyoto seem to prefer eel over rice. In a bowl, eel is not typically served. The square lacquered boxes are preferred. It looks a bit fancy. For lunch, I had eel for the first time in a while. Putting a lot of sansho pepper on it is healthy. The current owners of Umenoi in Yanagibaba are the third and fourth generations who cook the eel.

Located on Yanaginobaba-dori, this long-established eel restaurant has been run by the 4th generation owner for over 90 years. The menu includes dishes such as eel rice bowls, grilled eel set meals, grilled eel skewers, grilled eel fillets, and various side dishes. The eel rice bowl options are as follows: - Eel Rice Bowl (Pine): 1980 yen - Eel Rice Bowl (Bamboo): 2850 yen - Eel Rice Bowl (Plum): 3880 yen - Eel Rice Bowl (Premium): 5550 yen For an additional 330 yen, you can add soup to your meal. I ordered the Eel Rice Bowl (Plum) for 3880 yen, which came with eel bone crackers and yuzu sherbet. Based on the portion size, I estimate that the Pine size has half an eel, Bamboo has three-quarters of an eel, Plum has one whole eel, and Premium has one and a half eels. The dish was ready in about 15 minutes, and when I opened the lid, a delicious eel aroma filled the air. The eel was steamed in the Kanto style, making it very fluffy and tender. It was so tender that it was difficult to lift with chopsticks. The sauce was light, and the amount of rice was satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed the meal more than I expected. The eel is sourced from various regions such as Nagoya, Shizuoka, and Kyushu. I just wish the prices were a bit more reasonable! (laughs)

I was recommended by a friend and visited this restaurant for lunch on a weekday. I arrived at 11:28 without knowing that they opened at 11:30, but the friendly lady welcomed me warmly. I ordered the eel bowl set for 1500 yen, which was a reasonable price. It took about 12 to 15 minutes for the eel to be cooked after placing the order. When the eel bowl arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the eel. The eel was soft and melted in my mouth without any unpleasant smell. The sauce was sweet and matched perfectly with the eel. The rice in the bowl was also excellent, with the perfect balance of eel, rice, and sauce. The miso soup and bone crackers that came with the meal were also delicious. Additionally, there was a 10% discount as part of their 80th-anniversary promotion. I definitely want to come back for dinner next time to enjoy more of their eel dishes.

In May 2014, on the Monday after Mother's Day, I went to "Umenoi" located near Yanaginobaba-dori Gojikake, to have eel. I usually have the eel bowl lunch set (1750 yen tax included), but this time I splurged and ordered the eel set meal "Take" (3750 yen tax included). I requested to change it to an eel bowl. The eel bowl had plump eel with a delicious sauce, excellent dashimaki tamago, and a flavorful clear soup. And to finish, a yuzu sherbet. The eel is cooked in the Edo style, steamed and then grilled, so it takes time but it's refreshing and tender. They prepare the eel with care after you order, so you can enjoy truly delicious eel. In April 2011, my wife, our two-year-old daughter, and I came for lunch. I had been here about three times before with colleagues or alone, so I knew the taste and prices. Since our youngest daughter has allergies to milk, eggs, and wheat, we chose Umenoi for eel. We came as a family and took photos, so I wanted to write a review. My wife had the eel kabayaki set meal, and I had the eel bowl, both priced at 1,250 yen only during lunchtime. The taste was simple, easy to eat, and not boring. The sauce was just right, not too sweet or too soy-sauce-heavy. I judge the taste based on whether the sauce on the rice is too strong or not... The amount of eel was a bit modest considering the price, but it was delicious and I had no complaints. Having the liver was a nice touch. My wife finished her meal, so I think it's suitable for women as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, with a good distance from other customers. You can visit alone without feeling awkward. I believe there were two tatami tables and three regular tables. During lunchtime, you'll see office workers from nearby companies... and after a while, customers shopping in the nearby shopping street. There's quite a bit of vehicle traffic on Yanaginobaba-dori, so it's not quiet but not too noisy either. Since the food is cooked after you order, it's better to have some time to spare during mealtime. It's a good value for the price, which is the most appreciable aspect. My wife, who was visiting for the first time, was also satisfied. I look forward to going back to eat here again, whether alone or with my family.

This is the second time this year that I visited Umenoi for the midsummer day of the ox. The restaurant is located down the street from Yanagibabadori towards the Goike. Upon entering, there are three tables on the right side and two tables in the raised seating area on the left. It was around 1:30 pm when I arrived, and there were two groups of customers who had finished eating, and one group waiting for their order. After reading Ferry's review, I decided to go for the "Unagi Donburi and Liver Sashimi" for lunch as the eel in the lunch set seemed small. Although the restaurant didn't seem too busy, I waited for about 20 minutes for my order to arrive. The photo above shows the Unagi Donburi with the sauce evenly spread over the rice. The sauce is not too sweet, and the eel is soft and flavorful. Eel is always delicious, but the size was a bit small. Perhaps it's due to the need to keep the lunch affordable for the salaryman. If you want a larger and thicker piece of eel, you may need to spend a bit more.

Even though it was Golden Week, I had to work today. I went to this place around lunchtime to find something to eat. The restaurant is located a little south of Oike-Sanjo, on the east side. The exterior and interior of the restaurant have a bit of a rustic feel, but it is a nice place for a casual eel meal. Inside, there are two 6-person tables, one 4-person table, and two sunken tables. For lunch, they offer eel bowl, grilled eel set meal, and eel set meal, all priced at 1250 yen each. I ordered the eel set meal, which seemed to offer good value. They also offer delivery, and it seemed like they were quite busy with deliveries today, using buckets to carry multiple orders. It's definitely popular. When I arrived, I was the only customer, but soon others came in and the tables were all filled up. It seems to be popular among locals. After about 15 minutes, my meal arrived. It came in a two-tiered box with grilled eel, liver, and pickles. The rice in the lower tier was quite tasty. The grilled eel portion was smaller than I expected, but that's probably because it's a lunch special. It was about a third of an eel. The liver dish was similar to the one served with eel and egg custard. The miso soup was just right in terms of flavor. The grilled eel was tender and flavorful, with a nice balance of seasonings. It was cooked in the Edo style with a slight char on the outside. It had a soft texture that melted in my mouth, without any unpleasant smell. The sauce was not too sweet, which I liked. The grilled eel was definitely delicious. Next, I tried the eel and egg custard, which was excellent. It had a rich broth and was a standout dish. The texture was soft and the flavor was delightful. The pickles were simple, with cabbage and pickled radish. Overall, the meal was satisfying, but the portion of grilled eel was a bit small for a lunch set. I would consider ordering the regular eel set meal next time for a larger portion. The eel itself was tasty, and the eel and egg custard was exceptional. I would rate this experience 3.5 stars.