Magok Station Exit 2 eel restaurant with a room and parking: Kikukawa

On a day I wanted a slightly special meal in Magok, I went to eat eel rice bowl at Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa One Grove Branch.

I'm partial to hitsumabushi among eel rice bowls, so I had high hopes — and with generous eel and several ways to enjoy it, it made for a satisfying meal.

Being inside One Grove made it especially accessible, and the clean interior seemed like a good spot for family meals or gatherings too.

How to walk to Kikukawa One Grove from Magok Station Exit 2

Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa One Grove Branch is close to Exit 2 of Magok Station.

It's also walkable if you're coming from Magongnaru Station, so accessibility was pretty good.

Inside Kikukawa: tables, private rooms and the mood

Walking into Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa One Grove Branch, the overall vibe was modern and clean.

The tables had generous spacing, which made eating comfortable, and I especially liked that they had private rooms.

For a family meal or a gathering with several people, using a room rather than a regular table would probably make for a more comfortable meal.

Naver reservations were also available, which was great for booking ahead.

Eating Kikukawa's hitsumabushi three ways, ending with ochazuke

What I ordered was the hitsumabushi.

The bowl arrived with plenty of eel piled on top, and it looked appetizing from the moment it came out. The eel was tender with a subtle charcoal-grilled aroma, and the sweet sauce paired well with the rice.

Unlike a regular eel rice bowl that you mix and eat all at once, hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl eaten in stages) was fun because you can enjoy it in several different ways.

First I ate the eel and rice plain to taste the eel's flavor on its own, then tried it with toppings of seaweed, scallion, and wasabi. Adding the toppings changed the flavor of the same eel bowl just enough that I never got tired of it.

For the last round, I poured in warm water to enjoy it like ochazuke (rice soaked in hot broth or tea).

As the eel and rice mingled with the warm broth, it finished with a clean, mellow flavor quite different from the earlier bites. Personally, this last method with the warm water suited my taste the most.

Is Kikukawa good for a family dinner? Parking and reservations

Being able to use the in-building parking at One Grove made it convenient to visit by car.

Being close to Magok Station, having parking, and having rooms available made it seem like a solid choice for a family meal, a meal with parents, or a group gathering.

Best of all, Naver reservations were available, so booking ahead made the visit even more convenient.

If you want something a bit more special than the usual Magok meal, or are looking for proper Japanese-style eel rice bowl and hitsumabushi, I'd recommend Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa, a Magok One Grove favorite.

From the clean interior to the generous eel and the many ways to enjoy hitsumabushi, it was a great place to take your time over a meal.