# Yeoksam eel rice bowl eaten out of order, ochazuke first: Unagiwa - By Dahye (https://superchart.com/en/@dinner-paragraph/) - Written Sep 23, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This is a visit review written after receiving a complimentary meal from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@dinner-paragraph/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@dinner-paragraph/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/index.md) ## In short Unagiwa is a Nagoya-style hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl) restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, 266m from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station, on the 2nd floor at 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil. On a weekday visit at 5pm, two diners ordered the Hitsumabushi (Sang) at 38,000 won and ignored the suggested eating order, turning half the bowl into ochazuke (rice in broth) from the start and piling on fresh wasabi. Unagiwa's eel tasted less oily that way, making it an easy, restorative meal that never felt heavy. ## Good to know - **Location**: 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (266m from Yeoksam Station Exit 7) - **Hours**: Weekdays 11:00-21:00, closed weekends and public holidays - **Reservations**: Naver Reservation (hall and private rooms booked separately) - **Signature dish**: Hitsumabushi (Sang) 38,000 won - **Menu sizes**: Mini, Sang, Teuk — only the amount of eel differs; other ingredients, sauces and side dishes are the same - **Standard spread**: Steamed egg custard, salad, clear soup, side dishes, and broth for ochazuke - **Parking**: Valet available (booth at 25 Teheran-ro 27-gil), 5,000 won for 2 hours, then 1,000 won per 30 minutes - **Event**: Matcha pudding given for a Naver receipt review (at the time of the visit) - **Price reference**: ₩5,000 ≈ $3.7 · ₩1,000 ≈ $0.7 (2026-09-23) *as written by the visitor on Sep 23, 2026* 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 ![Unagiwa's 2nd-floor entrance and sign](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-01-1ja4z-900.webp) ![Unagiwa reservation info and hours signage](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-02-14z72-900.webp) 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. ![Walking route to Unagiwa near Yeoksam Station Exit 7](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-03-1pxfn-900.webp) ![Building exterior with the Unagiwa sign on Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-04-1srfk-900.webp) ![Entrance leading up to Unagiwa's 2nd floor](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-05-1bsjf-900.webp) ✔️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 ![Unagiwa's interior decor](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-06-1vskm-900.webp) ![Clean hall seating at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-07-19uby-900.webp) ![Upscale atmosphere inside Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-08-13vax-900.webp) The interior is very clean and upscale — perfect for someone special, a formal occasion, or bringing your parents along. ![Table setting at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-09-1p9sy-900.webp) ![Seating suited for solo dining at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-10-1jmzg-900.webp) ![A section of the Unagiwa dining space](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-11-1kn52-900.webp) ![Interior seating arrangement at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-12-rmhqz-900.webp) It's also totally fine for solo dining^^ ![Interior hallway at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-13-15xst-900.webp) ![Clean restroom inside the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-14-uza5f-900.webp) There's a restroom inside too, and it's clean, so I used it comfortably 👍🏻 ![Sign for the Naver receipt review matcha pudding event](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-15-15j6k-900.webp) *They're running a matcha pudding giveaway for Naver receipt reviews ❗️* ### 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. ![Hitsumabushi (Sang) set for two](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-16-12hs4-900.webp) *Hitsumabushi (Sang) ₩38,000 x 2 people* ## 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. ![Hitsumabushi set with a whole eel on top](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-17-1x7mj-1200.webp) ![Close-up of golden-grilled eel rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-18-zq82s-900.webp) ### 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 ![Guide to how to eat hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-19-1ej3d-900.webp) 🥣 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. ![Eel rice bowl turned into ochazuke with poured broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi-20-15d5j-900.webp) - ✅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! ## Where it is - Unagiwa (우나기와) - 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로30길 71 2층 - 37.5030197, 127.0370094 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9A%B0%EB%82%98%EA%B8%B0%EC%99%80/@37.5030197,127.0370094,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@dinner-paragraph/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-ochazuke-wasabi/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt