On a hot summer night in Kabukicho, I took a stroll through Japan's busiest district after the COVID restrictions were lifted. The mix of neon lights from adult entertainment venues, restaurants, tattoos, foreigners, and young people made me realize that this place truly is a melting pot of different people. Curious about the best eel restaurant in Kabukicho, I decided to visit the renowned shop called Kounatei. I made a reservation for 9 p.m. and arrived a bit early to soak in the atmosphere of this eel restaurant located right in the heart of Kabukicho. Sitting at the counter with a view of the grilling area, I could smell the delicious aroma of eel being cooked right in front of me. I ordered their signature eel dish and some grilled eel skewers. The liver skewers were flavorful and slightly chewy, while the salt-grilled eel was perfectly seasoned. The eel rolls with wasabi were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Finally, the highlight of the meal was the "Special Double-layered Eel Rice Bowl" which was served with flavorful egg tofu and a simple soy sauce-based sauce. The eel was tender and had a perfect balance of textures. The liver was also delicious, with a delicate flavor. The staff, who spoke English fluently, created a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. It was heartwarming to see people from different backgrounds enjoying Japan's eel cuisine in this iconic restaurant in Kabukicho.

I used to favor Kawase in Ogikubo, but I discovered this restaurant. It seems to be an old established place. The food is incredibly delicious, the service is great, and the atmosphere is nice. It's close to my home, so I might become a regular customer. It feels more sophisticated than Kawase. But I still like Kawase overall, including the cost performance. The sophistication is also appealing. Today, I avoided the eel bowl because I'm on a diet, but I'd like to try the taste there next time. Thank you for the meal.

I decided to trim my body a bit with the refreshing autumn breeze. So, no rice for me, but I want to eat eel! I ordered a skewer and a grilled eel dish after a long time. The second floor of this place has a traditional atmosphere! There are also many foreign customers here. The portion size is not a problem at all, but... yeah... I think eel would be even better with rice. The rice absorbs the fragrant sauce, sprinkle some sansho pepper, and eat it with the eel... that must be nice... haha, sorry for my amateur way of eating. But eel is delicious and really energizes me. And it's affordable and I'm grateful for that. I will visit again, thank you for the meal!

This is the perfect place for eel lovers! I came here wanting to eat hitsumabushi for the first time in a while, and it was definitely the right choice. The eel was thick and flavorful, not at all fishy, and very delicious! They also have a variety of side dishes, making it a cozy place for those who enjoy drinking alcohol.

I ordered a luxurious meal at Unatei in Kabukicho, including skewers, eel rolls, and premium eel rice bowl. The eel rolls were average, but the skewers were a rare delicacy that went well with sake. The eel rice bowl had delicious rice and the eel was consistently soft and tasty. I was surprised that the restaurant wasn't crowded and there were a lot of foreigners. The staff could speak English, which was also surprising. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if you're in the area and craving eel, this would be a good choice.

The eel dishes at Shinjuku Unatei were all delicious! The customers were satisfied and enjoyed the eel hitsumabushi, eel skewers, eel rolls, shirayaki, and kabayaki. It lived up to its reputation. #ShinjukuUnatei #Shinjuku #ShinjukuGourmet #beer #eel #hitsumabushi #eel skewers #eel rolls #kabayaki #delicious #Kabukicho #business dinner #revisit #unagi #eel skewers #all eel dishes #highball

The delicious eel bowl had just the right amount of rice, and the skewers allowed us to taste various parts of the eel, which were all exquisite. It was a bit over budget, but considering the cost-performance ratio, it was worth it. I would like to go again with my family (who live in Osaka).

White wine and eel go really well together. Every time I come here, I think about how much I want to eat eel. This might be the best place I've been to this summer. It's always crowded, but there's another branch nearby so you can go there if it's full. Plus, they have a lot of seats so it's easy to make a reservation. Yeah, I'll definitely come back again.

I couldn't find a good eel restaurant in the middle of Kabukicho, Shinjuku, but I decided to try this one and I'm very satisfied. I had heard some reviews mentioning that the restaurant might be hot inside, or that even on weekdays there might be a line of foreign customers, and that the service was not great, but I didn't experience any of that. I made a reservation for 11:30 on a weekday and there was no line, and when I entered the restaurant, more than half of the seats were still empty. The restaurant might feel hot if you sit at the counter on the 1st floor, but on the 2nd floor where I was seated, it was cool and comfortable. There were indeed a lot of foreign customers, but it didn't bother me while I was enjoying my meal. Speaking of the food, based on reviews, I ordered grilled skewers and a premium eel rice bowl with beer. The skewers, 9 in total, were okay but nothing special. I don't remember the different parts that were explained to me, but I enjoyed the grilled white eel that you squeeze lemon on. As for the eel rice bowl, it was exactly my type. It had a subtle flavor, no hint of any unpleasant smell, and the rice was cooked perfectly. Overall, I found the balance of flavors to be very good. I usually think of eel rice bowl as a luxury lunch item, and today I was able to fully enjoy it. I would definitely want to come back again.

Ordered 9 types of skewers, shiitake mushrooms, and seasonal grilled eggplant. I had tried to eat liver and skewers at another restaurant recently, but they were sold out, so I came here for revenge. Even though it was a weekday night (around 6 pm), the restaurant was packed with customers. I was seated in a tatami room twice, and there were many foreigners, showing a return in inbound demand. The eel that I was curious about was delicious, but due to the crowded restaurant, the orders were mixed up and the same skewers were served twice, which was disappointing. I might want to visit on a calmer day.

We enjoyed our meal on the second floor tatami seating. The nostalgic atmosphere made us forget we were in Shinjuku. We started with beer and grilled eggplant, followed by liver, chestnut, and white rose. Delicious as always! We finished with the special deluxe eel rice bowl. The eel was cooked perfectly with an elegant sauce. It was delicious.

I'm currently suffering from summer fatigue, so I decided to have some eel. I had seen the eel skewers here during lunch before and had always wanted to come back at night, and I finally made it! I tried all kinds of eel skewers, as well as eel liver (small portion), grilled long potatoes, grilled eggplant, eel bone senbei, and eschalot. It was my first time trying such a variety of eel skewers and it was amazing! The white meat parts were seasoned with salt, while the fin parts were seasoned with sauce. Also, the grilled long potatoes with eel liver was interesting and delicious! It was light but still a great appetizer. Having a meal full of eel skewers once in a while is not a bad idea. Unfortunately, I couldn't try the eel bowl as a finale, but I am satisfied. Thank you for the meal!

We had hitsumabushi, shirayaki, and unaju for 15,000 yen for two people. Considering that you can eat eel in Shinjuku, this seems like a good deal. The sauce was balanced between sweet and spicy, suitable for all tastes. The eel was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy and fluffy texture. The restaurant is always busy, with regular customers, so I'll leave my amateur review at this level. I personally prefer sweeter sauce and a fluffy texture over crispy. I usually enjoy dining for under 10,000 yen.

Yesterday, I visited this restaurant for the first time in response to a friend's request to eat eel. Although I easily made a reservation through Tabelog, when I arrived at the reservation time, there was unexpectedly a large line of customers waiting outside the restaurant. Despite imagining a high-end establishment due to its location in Kabukicho, the appearance of the restaurant pleasantly surprised me as it was a traditional, no-frills establishment. My friend and I, who had made a reservation in advance, were seated immediately and ordered my "una-don" and my friend's "una-ju tokujou." We also ordered an "unagi roll" as an appetizer and waited for about 27 minutes before our eel bowls arrived. Upon tasting the eel, I found the meat to be quite thick, but the steaming was mild and the grilling was strong, resulting in a slight dryness in texture. The sauce, although fairly traditional in flavor, seemed to be lacking in how well it coated the eel. The "unagi roll" and "eel liver" were unremarkable but well-prepared, with no major complaints. Overall, the eel was decently delicious, but I personally did not find any particularly appealing aspects. It is worth noting that most of the customers present were foreign tourists, and the majority of those waiting outside also appeared to be foreigners. Despite this, due to the ease of reservation and convenient location, I would consider revisiting this restaurant if a friend requests eel in the Shinjuku area. Thank you for the meal.

I finally got to go to the eel restaurant I've always wanted to visit. I didn't make a reservation, just decided to go on a whim. Due to time constraints, I couldn't order a bowl, but the a la carte menu was very delicious. It might have been my first time trying eel skewers? The liver was incredibly tasty. But my favorite was the bones!! They were like a snack and very delicious - they go well with alcohol. The quick service was also great. Next time, I'll go to try the bowl.

I used to enjoy coming early and relaxing on the second floor while waiting for my eel rice bowl. However, when I visited after a long time due to COVID, the place was crowded with inbound tourists. I ordered some drinks and skewers while waiting for my eel rice bowl. The skewers were served all at once in a haphazard manner, and the overall atmosphere felt chaotic. The customers didn't seem to have good manners. It felt like a local drive-in restaurant. The lack of elegance seemed to have affected the taste as well. I wondered if this place was always like this. It made me think that the younger generation might not appreciate the essence of traditional Japanese dining. Perhaps we are the last generation to truly understand what elegance means. Maybe we should just go to higher-end restaurants with higher prices, but it's not that simple, is it?

In summer, I always crave eel. Of course, the influence of the midsummer Day of the Ox is also a factor, but I prefer to eat eel in the summer, so that makes me want it even more. I also love the appetizers at Unatei. This time, I opted for the course menu. There is only one main store, so I made a reservation there. I sat at a nice counter seat right away, but as usual, the place was packed, and they had to turn away a few groups. First, I enjoyed my favorite pickles, grated radish, and bone crackers with cold tea mixed in. Despite the hot days, this moment was truly the best. For skewers, I started with three types: kuri-kara, nakamaki, and shiro. I had tried kuri-kara before, but it was exceptionally delicious this time. It had a generous amount of wasabi on top, but surprisingly, it didn't make my nose tingle, and the aroma was strong with a hint of sweetness, creating a perfect balance. Shiro was fluffy, with a nice texture that I enjoyed. The crispy skin of nakamaki and the chewy meat inside made for a delicious combination that was hard to resist. Soon, it was time for some sake. Next came the eel fin, back fin, and leek rolls. The slight bitter and savory taste of the leek enhanced the strong flavor of the fin, creating a delightful combination. Then, the kabuto. The sauce had a particularly fragrant taste that was quite satisfying. The liver was unbelievably delicious. It had a mature flavor profile, but surprisingly, it wasn't too bitter. It had a firm texture, and the sweetness of the sauce paired perfectly with the richness of the liver. The grilled white eel was cooked to perfection. The slightly crispy surface, combined with the tenderness and juicy fat inside, was captivating. The thickness of the eel was also a nice touch. The hoshomaki was a surprising favorite. After the comforting feeling of the white eel, the refreshing acidity of the hoshomaki was a welcome change. The crispy texture was also delightful. At this point, we decided to add another serving of kuri-kara, which we both agreed was outstanding. It was the MVP. After the comforting egg tofu, the eel bowl arrived. No matter how full we were, the sight of the eel bowl was still exciting. The aroma, sweetness of the sauce, and juicy eel made the rice irresistible, even after all the food and drinks. Finally, we added some garlic, which we had been curious about. It was soft and sweet, with a nice garlicky flavor that paired perfectly with the gentle miso. It might be better to time it a bit later since it takes a while to prepare. Surprisingly, the smell wasn't overpowering, and while it wasn't the perfect ending, it was still good. I always feel the urge to write a review no matter how many times I visit, so I end up writing similar things repeatedly. I left while watching the smoke rising outside. I will definitely come back.

You can enjoy various parts of eel at this restaurant. It is grilled right in front of you, which is quite impressive. Despite the heat in the summer, it adds to the atmosphere. Beer goes well with it. There is also a variety of sake available. The half-sized eel rice bowl was perfect for me to enjoy with drinks. I will definitely go back again.

I visited this place for the first time and ordered the special eel rice bowl. First, they served me egg tofu and pickles. The egg tofu was delicious, and I enjoyed it while waiting for the eel to be grilled. The eel was laid out horizontally, which I personally prefer. It looked appetizing. The sauce was thin but had a rich flavor that paired well with the rice. The eel was not too thick but a good size. The eel liver was lightly seasoned. The total cost was 5080 yen including tax, which is cheap for an eel rice bowl in Kabukicho. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The eel was plump, delicious, and everyone's favorite, it was really tasty! The skewers were also incredibly delicious! I really liked the atmosphere and appearance of the restaurant. It was around noon on a holiday in Shinjuku, so we had to wait for an hour under the scorching sun... but with this delicious food, it was worth it.

I went for lunch. I waited for about an hour for my order to come out. If you visit during a break from work, make sure to have plenty of time! I sat at the counter in front of the grill. The smell was so strong... The taste was great though, fluffy and no fishy smell at all. There are many places that serve generous portions of rice with their unagi dishes, but when I ordered the special, the rice was actually quite small. I was able to eat until I was about 80% full.