Gangnam eel restaurant for after-work hitsumabushi: Unagiwa

An after-work reservation for eel rice bowls in Yeoksam

Now that the breeze is starting to cool down, my boyfriend and I went for dinner after work at Unagiwa, an eel spot just a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station. We wanted a little end-of-summer pick-me-up, so I made a Naver reservation in advance—and when we arrived, there were lots of guests there for after-work gatherings. Without a reservation, we might not have gotten in right away. To give away the ending: it was delicious and satisfying enough that I was really glad we booked ahead.

Getting there from Yeoksam Station and valet parking

It is a 3-minute, 250 m walk from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station (Line 2). By bus, take routes 147 or 463, get off at the “Yeoksam Station Exit 7, GS Tower” stop, and walk 3 minutes. It is near GS Tower (GS Arts Center) and Centerfield, and is also about 10 minutes away from Gangnam, Sinnonhyeon, and Seolleung stations.

If you are driving, search “71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul” in your navigation app; Unagiwa is on the second floor of the building with its sign out front. For valet parking, search “25 Teheran-ro 27-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.” The valet fee was ₩5,000 for 2 hours.

A Japanese-style space with red lanterns and wooden latticework

Even from the stairway entrance, the warm orange lighting and red lanterns made it feel as though we were stepping into a Japanese ryotei, or traditional restaurant.

Inside, it was very clean and comfortable, with Japanese-style décor throughout. Wooden tables and chairs and lattice-window-style partitions created a calm, tidy atmosphere. Bamboo planted by the windows added a lovely touch when looking outside, too. Near the register, there was also a lucky painting and a maneki-neko lucky-cat ornament.

How to eat hitsumabushi, explained through table ordering

Because we had reserved through Naver in advance, we could go straight in. There were quite a few guests there for after-work gatherings, so I thought we might have had to wait without a reservation.

Each table had a tablet for ordering, and its screen gave a four-step guide to enjoying hitsumabushi. We followed along as we ate. It made the bowl more fun because we could enjoy it in several different ways.

What came with the ₩38,000 hitsumabushi set

The hitsumabushi set we ordered (₩38,000) was Unagiwa’s signature dish: one antibiotic-free, flame-grilled eel enjoyed with its charcoal aroma and finished as ochazuke.

Eel rice bowl plain, with toppings, and as ochazuke

We ordered two hitsumabushi (eel rice bowls).

Glossy grilled eel was neatly arranged in a checkerboard pattern over the rice in green ceramic bowls. The set came with three toppings—shredded seaweed, perilla leaves, and scallions—plus pickled cucumber, pickled ginger, steamed egg, miso soup, and a salad topped with cherry tomatoes.

Following the table-order guide, we first served ourselves some as is, then had it with scallions and wasabi. Finally, we poured in the broth from the pot to finish it as ochazuke, a rice dish with hot tea or broth. I loved getting three distinct flavors from one bowl.

The rice portion was really generous; one serving felt almost like one and a half servings. I gave about half of mine to my boyfriend, and he still ended up leaving some rice.

Things to know before visiting

• After-work hours seemed busy with group diners, so you may need to wait if you arrive without a reservation.
• Follow the tablet’s “how to enjoy hitsumabushi” guide to have one bowl three ways: plain, with toppings, and as ochazuke.
• Every detail—from the wood and lattice windows to the red lanterns—nicely captured the feel of a Japanese ryotei.
• Valet parking is available at 25 Teheran-ro 27-gil for ₩5,000 for 2 hours.

Great for these occasions

I think it would suit anyone wanting a proper restorative meal after summer, a quiet dinner date with a partner, eel lovers, or those who want to book ahead and dine at an easy pace. The eel itself and the fun of enjoying hitsumabushi were definite highlights. One thing to note: the rice portions are large, so I recommend arriving hungry.

Unagiwa reservations and parking FAQ

Do I need a reservation?

It is not essential, but I recommend one during after-work hours, when there are many group diners. We reserved through Naver in advance and were seated straight away.

Is parking available?

Both on-site parking and valet parking are available. Valet parking is available at 25 Teheran-ro 27-gil and costs ₩5,000 for 2 hours.

Can I visit on any day of the week?

Unagiwa is regularly closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It is also closed for the Chuseok holiday from September 24 through 26, so please keep that in mind.