あるぱかーん
Today was a busy morning with a lot of hustle and bustle, and the weather was unpredictable, causing me to get caught in a shower of sand and dust. I thought to myself, "On a day like this, there's nothing better than eel!" So, I headed to Kanda River, a place I had been wanting to visit for a while. Established in 1870, it is a long-standing restaurant, with the renowned unagi restaurant Takehazatei located nearby. Takehazatei, founded in 1866, has a history almost as long as Kanda River. By the way, Kanda River is unrelated to Myojin Shitakanda River. I barely made it in time for lunch, and luckily managed to slip in just before the lunchtime rush. The restaurant was still about half full, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made me feel right at home. I was short on time, so I opted for the Unagi Kiji Juu from the lunch menu, which I had heard was delicious. The prices were reasonable overall, ranging from around 1000 yen, which is quite fair considering the location. They also offer dishes like Yanagawa Nabe and Hitsumabushi. Today's eel was said to be from Kagoshima. The chicken was from Oyamadori. The eel was steamed and then grilled. I ordered: - Unagi Kiji Juu for 2050 yen It took about 7 minutes for the dish to arrive. Since it was a lunchtime in Ginza, it was understandable that the eel was pre-steamed. The prices were reasonable, so it was to be expected. When I opened the lid, a delightful aroma wafted from the Kiji-yaki (grilled eel liver) before the eel. The eel was a size 5, with a focus on steaming rather than grilling. Upon tasting it, I found that the eel had cooled down a bit, but at this price point, the quality was more than satisfactory! The surface was slightly crispy, but the flesh was tender and fluffy, melting in my mouth. It had a good amount of fat, giving it a moist and smooth texture, with the sweetness and umami of the fat still present. I did detect a slight fishy smell, but it wasn't too strong, and there were no small bones to worry about. The skin was chewy, and I felt that it could have been grilled a bit longer. As a result, a bit of the skin remained in my mouth. However, given the size of the eel, it wasn't a big issue. The sauce was on the sweeter side, with a strong mirin flavor. It was sharp and refreshing, without being too heavy. There was also a hint of dashi in the sauce. The Kiji-yaki was firm and delicious, with a soy sauce-based sauce that was fragrant. It had a different taste from the eel sauce. I could see why it was popular. The green pepper was surprisingly tasty. The rice was firm and slightly chewy, delicious with the sweet sauce from the eel. The pickles were average, but the side dish was delicious! It's always nice to have a little extra dish like that. The Kiji-yaki had a strong dashi flavor. The freshness of the liver was a bit lacking. At 2050 yen, this was a steal! The eel was of good quality, and I was very satisfied with my lunch. The atmosphere and service at the restaurant were excellent, so I would love to come back and enjoy a leisurely meal next time. I highly recommend the Unagi Kiji Juu. Thank you for the meal!