あるぱかーん
Today, I had eel in Shibamata for the first time in a while. When it comes to eel in this area, it's usually either Kawasenke or Ebisuya. There was also an old established place called Kawajin, but unfortunately it closed down in 2021. I had visited Kawasenke before, so today I went to Ebisuya. It's famous for being featured in the show "The Lonely Gourmet" when Goro-san visited. I was able to easily get a table in the middle of lunchtime on a holiday. It's mandatory to wear a mask to enter. Of course, I followed the rule, but the way they said it was quite strict, haha. The restaurant is decorated with Ebisu, as the name suggests, and both the exterior and interior are colorful and a bit cluttered. The building exudes a lot of history. The service is no-nonsense and not particularly friendly. They also offer a reasonable set meal with carp and rice cakes, which seemed popular and appetizing. However, I really wanted to have eel, so I chose the eel rice bowl this time. The "upper" eel rice bowl is different in size from the regular one. Today's eel is from Aichi or Shizuoka. It's steamed and charcoal-grilled.
▶︎Ordered Items
- Eel Rice Bowl 3960 yen
Pickles and eel liver soup were served in about 6 minutes. The eel was a size 5 portion. The steaming was as expected, but the aroma of charcoal was enticing. It was served piping hot. When I tried it, it was much more delicious than I had anticipated, haha. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The eel was fluffy and tender, melting in the mouth. It had a slightly sticky and chewy texture, slowly melting in the mouth. The right amount of fat spread gently, and the umami of the eel was well pronounced. The steaming and grilling were done meticulously, with a good balance, not too strong or weak. There was no dryness, and the cooking was well done. The clean aroma of charcoal was also nice. It was truly a well-prepared eel from a long-established restaurant. The freshness and quality of the eel were particularly good. The sauce was quite light, not too sweet or spicy, smooth and well-matched with the eel. The balance between the eel and the sauce was good. The rice was on the softer side. I usually don't prefer it that way, but it worked well with the eel here. The sauce was generous, but since the eel was light, it was a good match. The pickles and eel liver soup were average. There was no unpleasant taste in the liver. Considering it's a tourist spot, the prices were reasonable. It's not a surprising taste, but it's quite satisfying. A bit more polite service would make it even better, haha. Payment was cash only. Thank you for the meal!