Yeoksam eel rice bowl restaurant for a friends' get-together: Unagiwa

I had plans with friends and was looking for good places to eat in Yeoksam. With the weather suddenly turning chilly, I was craving something restorative, so we headed to Unagiwa, a well-known Gangnam eel rice bowl restaurant!!!

Unagiwa MON–FRI 11:00 - 21:00 Regular closed days: SUN, SAT

Where Unagiwa is and what the restaurant feels like

Unagiwa, a famous Gangnam eel rice bowl spot, is just a short walk up from Yeoksam Station~

The entrance at Unagiwa was huge~ and the interior has that upscale Japanese-restaurant feel right from the door, so it'd be great if you're looking for a spot for a Yeoksam work dinner or a meetup!!

Instead of seeing the whole interior the moment you walk in, there's a corridor first, which made it feel even more upscale!!! Eel dishes tend to run pricier, but being able to eat in such a nice atmosphere makes it feel extra worth it,,,@

Unagiwa, this Gangnam eel rice bowl spot, is white and wood-toned overall, so the interior felt really clean and pleasant~ There are plenty of tables, and the kitchen and counter are separated from the dining area, so it never feels crowded or chaotic!! There were solo diners too, so if you're looking for a Gangnam spot to eat alone, you can come here without any worries!

What's on the menu at Unagiwa

Here's the menu at Unagiwa, a Yeoksam favorite. Besides hitsumabushi, there's grilled eel, unadon, tempura eel rice bowl, and various other eel dishes~ The rice bowl options are also good for lunch, so it could work as a Yeoksam lunch pick too!!

What comes with the hitsumabushi set

Ordered Hitsumabushi set

The hitsumabushi set I ordered!! I was completely blown away by how it looked~!! It came out looking really upscale as a whole spread. And the amount of eel was truly~~~ generous, which made me so happy... My friends complimented the presentation the moment they saw it👍👍👍 I got why it's known as a top Gangnam eel rice bowl spot.

Can you see the glossy sheen of eel packed densely on top of the rice??? It made my mouth water~ Apparently Unagiwa's eel is 100% domestic and antibiotic-free. They say the ingredients themselves are the core of good flavor, and I completely agree!!!

Along with the hitsumabushi came pickles and plum sauce to eat alongside, plus seaweed, perilla leaf, scallion, and wasabi. The pickles weren't too salty or mushy — they were nice and crisp, cutting through the richness of the eel~

The salad had a tangy sauce too, which was great for whetting the appetite!!

The steamed egg custard had shiitake mushroom in it, and the flavor was amazing...!!! Not overpowering at all, with such good balance that I kept spooning it up.

A soy-based soup came with it, along with green tea to enjoy the hitsumabushi as ochazuke (rice steeped in green tea).

Eating the hitsumabushi in four stages

I divided it into four portions, first enjoying the plain flavor of the eel and rice, then adding wasabi and perilla leaf. The eel itself was really tender, and the perilla leaf aroma didn't overpower it at all — if anything it brought out the eel's flavor even more!!

I also tried it with the plum sauce on top, and the tanginess of the plum paired really well with the rich eel — I loved this method too~

Lastly, I ate it ochazuke-style, steeped in green tea, and this was my favorite....👍 I already love ochazuke to begin with. Steeping the hitsumabushi in tea brought together the rich eel oil, the carb-y rice, and the clean, warm green tea in such a satisfying combination... it felt like a hangover cure even without a hangover, and just naturally restorative.

Is Unagiwa worth it for a meal with friends?

If you're looking for a nice-atmosphere Gangnam eel rice bowl restaurant, or a good Yeoksam spot for lunch or dinner, I'd recommend visiting Unagiwa~!!! I felt so pampered the whole time!!!