# Hitsumabushi eel rice bowl eaten 3 ways near Deoksugung: Tawa

- By Yeobaek (https://superchart.com/en/@folded-napkin-2/)
- Written Sep 8, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Jung-gu, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored store visit.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@folded-napkin-2/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@folded-napkin-2/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/index.md)

## In short

Tawa is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl (hitsumabushi) restaurant in the basement of Hansan Building near City Hall Station, close to Deoksugung Palace in Jung-gu, Seoul. The ₩30,000 hitsumabushi came out just 8 minutes after ordering and was eaten three ways — plain, with seaweed and perilla leaf, and as ochazuke — with moist, charcoal-smoked eel that never got boring. A satisfying lunch worth the trip out of Exit 10.

## Good to know

- **Location**: B1, 102, Hansan Building, 115 Seosomun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (City Hall Station Exit 10)
- **Hours**: 10:00–21:00 (break time 15:00–16:00, last order 20:20)
- **Closed**: Every Sunday
- **Parking**: 1 hour free in building (mechanical), then ₩2,000 for first 30 min, ₩1,000 per additional 10 min
- **Order**: Hitsumabushi ₩30,000 + Cola ₩2,000 = ₩32,000 total
- **Seating**: Four 4-person/6-person rooms, a 1-person bar table, 2-person and 4-person tables
- **Waiting**: Reservations and waiting available via Catch Table sign outside

*as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026*

![Signature photo of hitsumabushi at Tawa near City Hall Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-01-2q385-1200.webp)

Today I headed to City Hall Station — and right near Deoksugung Palace, I found a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl spot called Tawa~ Also known as hitsumabushi! I had it in Osaka once and never forgot the taste, so I finally went looking for it here~

## Finding it from City Hall Station Exit 10

![Exterior of Hansan Building, home to Tawa](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-02-30itl-966.webp)

![View of Hansan Building in front of City Hall Station Exit 10](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-03-j0dlv-966.webp)

It's in the basement of Hansan Building, right there as soon as you exit City Hall Station Exit 10.

![Stairs leading down to the basement in front of the building](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-04-gt3p7-966.webp)

![Squash sign near the basement stairs](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-05-msscc-966.webp)

Take the stairs down to the basement in front of the building — if you see a 'squash' sign, you're in the right place haha.

![Passageway to Tawa's entrance in the basement](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-06-1bz40-966.webp)

![Entrance of Tawa with its Japanese restaurant atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-07-1ux96-966.webp)

As soon as you get downstairs, Tawa is on the left. The entrance already has that full Japanese-restaurant vibe, right?

![Menu board placed at Tawa's entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-08-e0kv1-966.webp)

There's a menu board at the entrance too, so it's easy to check before going in.

## Waiting and parking info

There's a Catch Table sign out front! Checking Catch Table, you can make a reservation in advance or get in the waiting line, so keep that in mind~

Building parking is free for 1 hour when you dine at Tawa. It's a mechanical parking system, and once the free time runs out, it's ₩2,000 for the first 30 minutes and ₩1,000 per additional 10 minutes.

## From private rooms to a 1-person bar table — the seating inside

Past the maze-like entrance, there are more seating options than I expected. On the right there are four rooms total for 4 or 6 people, which would be great for a private meal~

On the left there was everything from a 1-person bar table to 2-person and 4-person tables. I visited a bit after 1pm, when the lunch crowd had thinned out, so it was fairly relaxed.

I immediately chose the bar table where you can watch the eel being grilled! Right in front of me, I could watch the eel grilling over charcoal. Oh, I couldn't resist that haha — 'I have to sit here!' I thought, and sat right down. I wasn't actually that hungry, but watching the eel grill right in front of me suddenly made me starving.

## The menu and ordering

![Tawa menu page showing hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-09-1420b-966.webp)

![Tawa menu with recommended mark on kaisendon](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-10-162j1-966.webp)

![Tawa menu showing a la carte and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-11-kpv4l-966.webp)

![Tawa menu drink price list](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-12-1wwzb-966.webp)

Hitsumabushi, packed full of charcoal aroma, is the signature dish. The kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) also had a recommended mark on it! It even had anago liver in it, which got me curious.

- Hitsumabushi ₩30,000
- Cola ₩2,000
- ✔️ Total ₩32,000

I really love raw fish so the kaisendon was very tempting too, but after watching the eel grill right in front of me, I couldn't give up on hitsumabushi~

## The hitsumabushi spread, 8 minutes after ordering

![Neatly arranged hitsumabushi table setting](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-13-1judl-966.webp)

The hitsumabushi came out really fast — a neat, well-arranged spread. I walked into the restaurant at 1pm, and the dish arrived at 1:08pm. Wow, that's really quick!

![Eel rice bowl with lid opened next to hot soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-14-1glaf-966.webp)

The eel rice bowl smelled great, full of charcoal aroma. They opened the lid on the hot soup for me too — ready to eat!

![Menu instructions for how to enjoy hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-15-c2m9b-966.webp)

There was a 'how to enjoy it deliciously' guide on the menu, so I followed it exactly!

### 1. Eating it plain

![A spoonful of eel and rice eaten plain](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-16-u7zk0-966.webp)

First, I scooped up a spoonful of eel and rice together to enjoy the charcoal aroma and sauce flavor.

![Cross-section of moist charcoal-grilled eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-17-snm6d-966.webp)

![Close-up of eel rice bowl coated in sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-18-19mw4-966.webp)

The eel was so moist, packed full of charcoal aroma, and the umami of the sauce was so good it was genuinely delicious. There was zero fishy smell, and thanks to the charcoal grilling, the outside had a slightly chewy texture too. Delicious from the very first bite!

### 2. With the toppings

![Plate of seaweed and perilla leaf toppings served alongside](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-19-ntpc9-966.webp)

Second was eating it with the seaweed and perilla leaf that came alongside. I'm actually really good at making neat wraps~ so I made a proper one.

![Seaweed wrap topped with two pieces of eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-20-1a46h-966.webp)

I put in a whopping two pieces of eel. There was plenty of eel, so I indulged a bit~ When the aroma of the seaweed and perilla leaf met the charcoal aroma of the eel, it was a dance in my mouth! The sharp wasabi cut through any richness that might have felt heavy, and it was absolutely amazing.

### 3. Ochazuke

![Eel rice bowl portioned into a bowl for ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-21-7pptd-966.webp)

![Warm green tea water used for ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-22-1at57-966.webp)

Last was ochazuke (tea-poured rice). They first portioned some eel rice bowl into a separate bowl~ and the warm green tea water they'd prepared was ready to go too!

![Finished eel ochazuke with green tea water poured over](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-23-1828v-966.webp)

Pour the green tea water generously over the eel rice bowl and it's done. I took my first bite and honestly, it was even more delicious than I expected? The slightly bitter aroma of the green tea blended beautifully with the sauce soaked into the eel. This was really charming too — I finished the whole bowl in no time!

## Which way was the tastiest?

![Finishing the hitsumabushi eaten three different ways](https://img.superchart.com/images/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall-24-11744-966.webp)

Which one was the best... honestly, this time I really can't pick just one haha. I ate the first half-bowl trying all three methods once, then went through all three methods again with the second half. Plain if you want to really taste the eel itself, with toppings if you want something fragrant and refreshing, ochazuke if you want a warm, gentle finish! In the end, doing all three seems like the tastiest way haha.

## Pro tip: hinoki-scented spray

After the meal, there's a hinoki-scented spray at the entrance you can use too. Since I sat at the bar seat right in front of the eel grilling, I gave myself a spray before heading out haha.

## Final thoughts

I came here remembering the hitsumabushi I had in Osaka, and I loved it starting from the moist eel with its full charcoal aroma. The fun of eating it three different ways meant it never got boring until the end, and next time I want to try the kaisendon I was curious about haha.

## Where it is

- Tawa (타와)
- B1, 102, Hansan Building, 115 Seosomun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 중구 서소문로 115 한산빌딩 지하1층 102호 타와
- 37.5634157, 126.973652
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%83%80%EC%99%80/@37.5634157,126.973652,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@folded-napkin-2/tawa-hitsumabushi-three-ways-city-hall/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt