Yeoksam eel rice bowl eaten out of order, ochazuke first: Unagiwa

Today I'm writing up my hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl) experience at Unagiwa, near Yeoksam Station — a truly satisfying and healthy meal. If you're looking for authentic eel rice bowl recreating the real taste of Nagoya, or want a clean, well-cared-for dining experience, I'd recommend this place 😊

Booking Unagiwa and its opening hours

You can book Unagiwa through Naver Reservations (hall and private room seating are booked separately).

• Hours: weekdays 11:00-21:00
• Closed weekends and holidays

They're always closed on weekends and holidays, so keep that in mind! I visited around 5pm on a weekday, and since it was a bit of an early dinner slot, it wasn't too crowded — which was great!

How to find Unagiwa and where to park

✔️266m from Yeoksam Station Exit 7. Search '71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul' in your navigation — it's on the 2nd floor of the building with the 'Unagiwa' sign. By bus: take bus 147, 463, etc., and get off at 'Yeoksam Station Exit 7·GS Tower' stop. It's a 3-minute walk (200m) from there — a great eel rice bowl spot.

✔️Paid parking available. Valet parking is possible. There's a valet booth at '25 Teheran-ro 27-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul'. The fee is ₩5,000 for 2 hours, then ₩1,000 per 30 minutes after that.

Inside Unagiwa and what's on the menu

The interior is very clean and upscale — perfect for someone special, a formal occasion, or bringing your parents along.

It's also totally fine for solo dining^^

There's a restroom inside too, and it's clean, so I used it comfortably 👍🏻

Mini, Sang or Teuk: which size to order

🍱 Unagiwa's hitsumabushi comes in three sizes based on the amount of eel: Mini, Sang, and Teuk.

• ✅Composition: The other ingredients, sauces, and side dishes are the same — only the amount of eel differs.
• ✅Standard spread: Comes as a clean set with soft, light steamed egg custard, salad, soup, clean side dishes, and broth for ochazuke.

How the hitsumabushi at Unagiwa tasted

📋Ordering tips📋

• ✅Mini: Good for smaller appetites, but the amount of eel might feel a bit lacking.
• ✅Sang (highly recommended!): The standard set with one whole eel and enough rice — recommended for most people.
• ✅Teuk: Recommended for bigger appetites or if you want to really indulge in the eel.

Clean-tasting, springy eel at Unagiwa

🥢 They say the eel comes directly from their own fish farm on Ganghwa-do, and maybe that's why the eel quality itself was really excellent.

• ✅Texture: Springy and full of life, grilled with a golden outside and moist inside.
• ✅Seasoning: The sauce wasn't too strong or overpowering, so I could eat it all the way through cleanly without getting tired of it.
• ✅Balance: Pairs really well with the plum sauce and side dishes served alongside.

💡Wasabi pairing tip💡 Since the eel itself has a rich, oily savoriness, even piling on plenty of fresh wasabi doesn't sting too much — it blends in smoothly. Definitely try it with wasabi on top ❗️

Tips for eating hitsumabushi your own way

🥣 The usual guideline is to eat it plain first and switch to ochazuke (rice poured with broth) in the second half, but I turned about half into ochazuke right from the start.

• ✅Easier on the stomach, smoother to swallow: Pouring in the broth makes it go down much more smoothly and moist.
• ✅Cuts the greasy feeling: If you've ever found eel rice bowl a bit heavy or oily, I strongly recommend eating it ochazuke-style from the start. Your stomach will feel much more comfortable, and you'll notice a more refined umami flavor.

Final verdict on Unagiwa

After finishing the meal, I felt a pleasant warmth spreading through my body — the feeling of "ah, I just had a proper restorative meal." It wasn't overpowering, yet I could still feel the authentic Nagoya flavor and care put into it. If you want to experience real hitsumabushi, be sure to visit Unagiwa near Yeoksam Station!