Yeoksam eel rice bowl with free Ebisu beer coupon via Naver: Unagiwa

An honest review of the charcoal-grilled hitsumabushi at Unagiwa, a well-known eel rice bowl spot in Yeoksam — plus a tip for grabbing a free Ebisu beer coupon❗️

• 📍 Address: 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• 🚇 Getting there: 3-minute walk from Exit 7, Yeoksam Station / about 10 minutes on foot from Gangnam or Sinnonhyeon Station
• 🕐 Hours: Weekdays 11:30 - 21:00 (break time 15:00 - 17:00)
• 📅 Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation
• 🅿️ Parking: Valet available (₩5,000 for 2 hours) — search "25 Teheran-ro 27-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul" for valet drop-off
• ⭐️ Tip: Free Ebisu draft beer coupon with a Naver dinner reservation🍻

I was looking for a place to eat eel rice bowl in Gangnam and came across Unagiwa.

It's super accessible — just a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station — and it has a 4.5 rating on Diningcode, so I went in with high expectations, and it exceeded them 🐟 Today I'm bringing you my review of the hitsumabushi at Unagiwa's Yeoksam branch!

What kind of restaurant is Unagiwa? 3 minutes from Yeoksam Station Exit 7

Unagiwa is a traditional Japanese eel rice bowl restaurant located in the office district near Yeoksam Station. Just 3 minutes on foot from Exit 7, it's become a go-to lunch and dinner spot for Gangnam office workers. It's also about a 10-minute walk from Gangnam Station or Sinnonhyeon Station, so it's really easy to get to.👍🏻

This is the real deal — a place that actually grills the eel over charcoal. I ate here already, but even just looking at the photos makes my mouth water again.🤤

Since it's in an office district, there were solo diners as well as plenty of groups of coworkers.

The interior is really clean, and the food comes out as a neat, complete set — the whole vibe would work fine for a business dinner too.

The upscale interior makes you feel well taken care of from the moment you walk in.

What comes with the Hitsumabushi Sang (one whole eel)

The Hitsumabushi Sang comes with a whole eel on top. The visual alone is overwhelming the moment it arrives.👍🏻✨

The charcoal-grilled eel sits glossy and glistening on the rice — doesn't it look amazing?🤤

It comes with chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), salad, and a clear soup, all served neatly as a full set.

The chawanmushi was springy and delicious too. Can you see how jiggly it is? Soft, springy, with absolutely no eggy smell — really good.

The eel is so glossy and genuinely tender.👍🏻

How to eat hitsumabushi at Unagiwa: three ways

I tried it the way the restaurant recommends.

• 1️⃣ First: eat the eel rice bowl as is — you can taste the tare sauce and the eel's natural flavor.
• 2️⃣ Second: with special sauce + wasabi + scallions — adding the provided special sauce, wasabi, and scallions brings out a completely different flavor. ⭐️Recommended⭐️
• 3️⃣ Third: finish with ochazuke — pouring hot dashi broth over it and finishing as ochazuke gives a clean, light ending.

Way one: the eel rice bowl just as it is

The eel is cooked so tender that the meat falls apart with just a light touch of the chopsticks. The sweet tare sauce soaks in nicely, and eating it with the rice is a heavenly combination 🤤

Way two: special sauce, wasabi and scallions

Eating it with the special sauce, scallions, and wasabi together. The sharp kick of wasabi pairs so well with the eel. It's the kind of flavor that makes your appetite come alive — this was honestly my favorite! ⭐️Recommended⭐️

The wasabi is the kick here, so make sure to try it with scallions and wasabi together❗️ It also goes well with the red special sauce (plum sauce) shown in the photo. But honestly, wasabi was more my style!

Way three: finishing the eel bowl as ochazuke

This is where you pour ocha (green tea) over the remaining eel rice bowl to enjoy it as ochazuke. It genuinely felt like being back in Nagoya, Japan... this is exactly the flavor you'd want.👍🏻 Eating it these three ways, the bowl empties out in no time 😄 Each way tastes completely different, so no matter which method you choose, it's delicious. Personally, even though I'm not really a wasabi person, the second way was my favorite❗️

Free Ebisu draft beer coupon with a Naver dinner reservation

If you book a dinner reservation through Naver, you get a free Ebisu draft beer coupon! Eel rice bowl paired with Ebisu beer is genuinely the best combo. If you're visiting for dinner, make sure to book through Naver so you can enjoy the beer too! 🍻

Around 1-2pm on a weekday lunch, I was able to get seated right away with no wait. Still, since it's in an office district, I'd recommend booking ahead just in case.

Unagiwa parking and how to get there

Valet parking is available at "25 Teheran-ro 27-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul"! ❌The valet drop-off address is not the restaurant's address — search the address above❌ It's a reasonable ₩5,000 for 2 hours.

Of course, since it's near Yeoksam Station, public transit is the most convenient way to get there, but if you drive, valet has you covered so there's no need to worry. For those coming by public transit: Line 2️⃣, Yeoksam Station Exit 7, 3-minute walk; Line 2️⃣ Gangnam Station or Sinbundang Line Sinnonhyeon Station, 10-minute walk. Access is so good that I'd recommend coming by public transit and enjoying a draft beer while you're at it!🍻

Is Unagiwa worth it? Final verdict

👍 What I liked

• 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station — great accessibility
• Genuinely charcoal-grilled eel rice bowl
• Tender eel with a nicely sweet tare sauce
• Chawanmushi, salad, and soup served neatly as a full set
• Hitsumabushi enjoyed three different ways
• Free Ebisu draft beer coupon with a Naver dinner reservation
• Valet parking available (₩5,000 for 2 hours)

⭐️ Recommended for

• Anyone looking for a good lunch or dinner spot near Yeoksam Station
• Anyone wanting a proper eel rice bowl in Gangnam
• Anyone looking for a place for coworker meals, business dinners, or dates
• Anyone wanting a solid solo meal
• Anyone trying hitsumabushi for the first time
• Anyone wanting Nagoya-style eel rice bowl in Gangnam

When I want eel rice bowl in Gangnam, I don't think I'll be able to think of anywhere but Unagiwa now. I'm planning to come back for dinner next time and definitely use that Ebisu beer coupon 🍺