Gangnam eel rice bowl restaurant with quiet reserved seating: Unagiwa

If you're trying to figure out where to get eel rice bowl in Seoul, I feel you — I went hunting for good eel rice bowl on this trip too, and what I ate this time was honestly the best eel rice bowl I've ever had. From the hitsumabushi set itself to the side dishes and dessert, everything about this place was satisfying, so let me share it.

2 hitsumabushi sets

Unagiwa's hitsumabushi set: impressive even eaten plain

What I ordered was the hitsumabushi (grilled eel rice bowl) set. I went back and forth between hitsumabushi and unadon — apparently unadon is eel rice bowl that's steamed once more for a softer texture. But I wanted the most basic version, so I went with hitsumabushi!!

There are several ways to enjoy eel rice bowl depending on how you eat it, so I tried it as ochazuke (rice in savory tea broth) following the instructions, and also just ate the rice and eel together plain.

But personally, eating it plain was when it tasted the best. Above all, the rice was so sticky and delicious that it went perfectly with the eel.

It wasn't just the eel that was good — the rice was too, so I kept being impressed with every bite. I didn't show it outwardly, but inside I think I was thinking 'this is delicious' with every single mouthful.

The portion was pretty generous too — I was already full by the time I'd eaten about three-quarters of it. No need to worry about the portion being too small going in.

Unagiwa's seating and atmosphere: good for special meals too

The place itself is fairly large, and I liked that the tables were spaced well apart. Not being too close to the next table made it comfortable to chat while eating, and the whole place felt calm.

Since I had a reservation, I was seated in a spot with only two tables, which made eating even more comfortable 🥰

The staff were really kind too. There was a sense of care put into each dish, and thanks to this atmosphere, I thought it would suit a family meal or a more formal occasion well.

I especially liked that the side dishes weren't served for sharing among several people, but came on individual trays for each person. It felt clean and a bit more put-together, which seems fitting for an important meal too.

Also, it was my first time seeing mushrooms in egg custard, and it was soft and delicious. After I finished, I noticed there was even a small spoon specifically for the egg custard set aside separately. I discovered it too late and ate with the big spoon instead hahaha.

The review-event matcha pudding at Unagiwa: better than pudding in Japan

The matcha pudding I got through the review event exceeded expectations too. I've actually had pudding in Japan before, but personally, I felt this one tasted better.

It wasn't a pudding that collapses softly like water — it had a slightly firmer, denser texture. Paired with matcha syrup, you get both bitter and sweet flavors at once, and it was really delicious.

It was as good as dessert from a dedicated dessert shop, which left quite an impression. Eating it as a finish after the eel rice bowl was a great combination too.

You will absolutely not regret the pudding, so definitely do the review event if you can!! It's better than dessert-shop desserts.

What was disappointing, and would I return to Unagiwa?

If I had to pick the tastiest place I ate at on this Seoul trip, it would definitely be Unagiwa. Beyond the eel, the sticky rice, the neatly served side dishes, the kind staff, and the quiet atmosphere — everything was satisfying overall.

The one small drawback was that the eating instructions appear on an order screen that keeps changing, making it a bit hard to check again. If each table had a printed sheet with the instructions, it would be easier to follow along.

Still, this was satisfying enough that if I go back to Seoul, I definitely want to visit again. If you're looking for a great eel rice bowl restaurant near Yeoksam or a proper eel rice bowl anywhere in Seoul, save this and consider it for your next meal. I'm 200% down to go back ❤️