Yeoksam eel rice bowl: weekday stamina lunch with Dad, Unagiwa

The weather has suddenly gotten so hot, hasn't it? With summer right around the corner I feel drained and droopy for no reason. It's not just me, right? When you sweat this much, looking after your health feels like a must.

So lately I've been eating eel rice bowls, the ultimate summer stamina food, very often. My parents especially love eel dishes. I was wondering where to take them when I found a really clean, neat eel rice bowl place near Yeoksam Station, so I went straight away for a weekday lunch date with my dad. Today's place is the eel rice bowl specialist near Yeoksam Station, Unagiwa!

Where is Unagiwa near Yeoksam Station, and what is it like inside?

Unagiwa is an eel rice bowl specialist on the 2nd floor of a building on Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, a 5-minute walk from Yeoksam Station.

The exterior already gives off a proper Japanese vibe.

The moment you walk in, the interior feels so clean! It has that tidy, calm Japanese restaurant atmosphere, and I loved it. It's near Yeoksam Station so there were lots of office workers, and maybe because it's known for eel rice bowls, there were quite a few customers even at weekday lunch.

Above all, the staff were really kind, which put me in a good mood from the start of the meal. It's perfect if you're looking for a restaurant near the GS Art Center, or want to enjoy hitsumabushi quietly in Yeoksam.

Unagiwa review event: free matcha pudding

Unagiwa gives out a free matcha pudding as a review event.

What did we order at Unagiwa?

Unagiwa's eel rice bowls come as hitsumabushi or unadong, and Dad and I each ordered one, both with a whole eel. We agonized over the menu together, because when we went to order an eel rice bowl, there were both hitsumabushi and unadong.

We each ordered the whole-eel portion. When the dishes came out, the spread was really generous. At ₩38,000, the quality made the price feel completely worth it.

What comes with Unagiwa's hitsumabushi, and how do you eat it?

Hitsumabushi is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl: chopped eel on top of rice, enjoyed in several ways with various toppings and ochazuke (rice with green tea poured over it).

Unagiwa's hitsumabushi comes with one domestic freshwater eel, soft chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), salad, 3 kinds of pickles, kobachi (a small side dish), miso soup, shredded seaweed, fresh wasabi, green onion, baigniku (plum sauce), and ochazuke too!

The portion is huge.

There are lots of ways to eat hitsumabushi.

• First, divide the eel rice bowl into four parts and scoop one into your rice bowl to enjoy the eel's pure flavor.
• Next, add green onion and wasabi for extra flavor.
• Then pour on the shredded seaweed and the tea from the tokkuri (small sake-style flask) for a nutty ochazuke.
• Finish with whichever way you liked best!

Personally, eating it as ochazuke was the tastiest. 👍

And finish with the way you liked best!

How is Unagiwa's unadong different from hitsumabushi?

Unadong is the standard eel rice bowl style: grilled eel on top of rice so you taste the eel just as it is.

Unagiwa's unadong comes with one domestic freshwater eel, chawanmushi, salad, 3 kinds of pickles, kobachi, miso soup, fresh wasabi, and baigniku.

The eel skin was chewy and the flesh so tender it melted in my mouth. Imagine getting eel of this quality near the GS Art Center!

Weekday lunch with Dad: final verdict on Unagiwa

They even gave us a free fried shrimp, which doubled the delight! Dad loved how neat and good the set was. I was so glad we came to Yeoksam for hitsumabushi.

I've been eating eel rice bowls a lot as summer stamina food, and Unagiwa was truly one of the best eel rice bowl places near Yeoksam Station. The clean interior and tidy food made my weekday lunch date with Dad even more special. I should come back soon with my coworkers for a Yeoksam Station team dinner too.

When you're craving hitsumabushi in Yeoksam, don't hesitate, just come to Unagiwa! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an eel rice bowl or hitsumabushi. Whether you're deciding on lunch or dinner near Yeoksam Station, or a hearty team meal, stop by. Saved as my Yeoksam eel favorite 🫡