# Yeoksam eel restaurant for a restorative meal after childcare: Unagiwa - By Yerin Do (https://superchart.com/en/@jangsu-corner-bowl/) - Written Sep 20, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This review is based on a meal provided by the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@jangsu-corner-bowl/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@jangsu-corner-bowl/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/index.md) ## In short Unagiwa is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl restaurant on the second floor of an alley near Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Worn out from childcare and after a proper energy boost, I ordered two of Unagiwa's signature hitsumabushi sets plus chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), and the eel had no fishy smell and no stray bones at all. The owner charcoal-grills antibiotic-free eel shipped straight from the Ganghwa-do farm he runs himself, which makes Unagiwa a solid pick for a restorative meal or a Yeoksam lunch. ## Good to know - **Location**: 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor (about 266m walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station, Line 2, near Chunghyun Church) - **Hours**: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:00 - **Break time**: 15:00–17:00 (last order 20:00) - **Closed**: Every Sunday - **What I ordered**: Nagoya-style hitsumabushi (eel rice bowl) x2, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) - **The eel**: 100% antibiotic-free, shipped directly from the Ganghwa-do fish farm the owner runs himself *as written by the visitor on Sep 20, 2026* ![Signature eel rice bowl image from Unagiwa in Yeoksam](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-01-1bdon-900.webp) Lately, between raising my kid and running on fumes, I've been desperate for some real restorative food haha. If you're into Yeoksam eel rice bowls, you'll know that while grilling skill matters, it's the raw eel itself that really determines the taste! I went to Unagiwa, a genuine Yeoksam favorite in the middle of Gangnam that serves Nagoya-style eel rice bowl made with 100% antibiotic-free eel shipped directly from the owner's own fish farm in Ganghwa-do. ## Where is Unagiwa, and what is the restaurant like inside? ![Unagiwa's exterior on the 2nd floor of an alley near Yeoksam Station Exit 7](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-02-12fqf-900.webp) Walk into the alley near Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station and you'll spot Unagiwa right away on the 2nd floor, with a clean, modern exterior. The moment I stepped inside, the interior hit me — an elegant blend of the quiet dignity of a traditional Japanese restaurant with a sleek, contemporary finish! ![Unagiwa's interior seating with generously spaced tables](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-03-146i3-m-900.webp) The tables were spaced out generously rather than crammed together, and the seating for groups of 3–4 was well separated from the more private hall space — it would work great for a date in Gangnam/Yeoksam, or a Yeoksam Station company dinner or gathering spot. The air inside was really pleasant too, so I felt pampered the whole time I was there haha. ## Antibiotic-free eel from the Ganghwa-do farm the owner runs himself ![Antibiotic-free eel grilled over charcoal at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-04-b4ag3-1200.webp) What really sets Unagiwa apart from other eel rice bowl restaurants is the source of the eel! The owner personally runs his own eel farm in Ganghwa-do, and every morning he has the best of his carefully selected, antibiotic-free eel shipped straight in to grill over charcoal. ![Sign explaining eel shipped directly from a Ganghwa-do farm](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-05-mrzog-900.webp) I've gotten pretty picky about food lately, so knowing this was healthy, premium eel with no worries about antibiotics really boosted my trust in the place before I even took a bite. ## How do two hitsumabushi sets and chawanmushi taste at Unagiwa? ![A full table setting of Unagiwa's Nagoya-style hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-06-vy85f-900.webp) We ordered two of Unagiwa's signature Nagoya-style eel rice bowl, hitsumabushi! Once I tasted it, I understood exactly why Unagiwa is such a popular Yeoksam eel rice bowl spot. ![Table spread served alongside the hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-07-1yulz-900.webp) ![Table setting for two servings of hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-08-kqwnc-900.webp) There was chawanmushi (Japanese-style steamed egg custard) to start with as a sort of appetizer. The egg custard was so soft and silky, and the mushrooms on top added a fun bit of texture. ![Chawanmushi appetizer topped with mushrooms](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-09-1glqs-900.webp) ![Close-up of the soft, silky chawanmushi egg custard](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-10-17nul-900.webp) Can you see how soft that egg custard is? It was exactly what I needed to settle my stomach before really digging into the Gangnam eel rice bowl. ![Hitsumabushi eel rice bowl before the first bite](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-11-iw8n7-900.webp) Finally, the first bite of hitsumabushi! What surprised me the moment it hit my mouth was that there wasn't even a hint of that typical eel fishiness! ![Cross-section of the crisp-outside, moist-inside charcoal-grilled eel](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-12-q2bw7-900.webp) The outside had a faint, pleasant charcoal aroma and was crisp, while the inside was moist and chewy all the way through. I'm genuinely sensitive to fishy flavors and texture, and the grilling was just right, with absolutely no stray bones. You could really tell this is a restaurant that handles its eel with great care, as a true eel rice bowl specialist. ![A spoonful of eel topped with wasabi and scallion](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-13-aa17i-900.webp) Piling the eel, rice, wasabi, and scallion together into one bite was pure art. It genuinely tasted like the eel rice bowl I had in Nagoya, recreated perfectly. The sauce was seasoned just right too, so I'd absolutely recommend this as one of the best Gangnam eel rice bowl restaurants! My companion, who's pretty picky about food, took one bite and their eyes went wide, showering it with praise haha. ![Bowl of hitsumabushi gradually emptying out](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-14-148xe-900.webp) ![Unagiwa's hitsumabushi table setting after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik-15-ssvdx-900.webp) After eating at Unagiwa myself, the eel quality, the careful prep work, and the seasoning balance all came together perfectly — this is a genuine Gangnam hitsumabushi spot I definitely want to come back to! If you're looking for a hearty Yeoksam lunch spot, or a place to bring your parents for some good restorative food, I really recommend checking out Unagiwa 💛 ## Unagiwa hours, location and directions - Location: Unagiwa, 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor (about 266m on foot from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station, Line 2 / near Chunghyun Church) - Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:00–21:00 - Break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:00 - Closed every Sunday ## Where it is - Unagiwa (우나기와) - 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor, 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/@jangsu-corner-bowl/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-boyangsik/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt