# Yeoksam eel rice bowl restaurant for a friends' get-together: Unagiwa - By Seulgi (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-coffee-map/) - Written Sep 13, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as a paid visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-coffee-map/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-coffee-map/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/index.md) ## In short Unagiwa is an eel rice bowl restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a short walk up from Yeoksam Station. On a chilly day the writer met friends at Unagiwa and ordered the hitsumabushi set (grilled eel over rice), eating it in four stages: the eel plain, then with perilla leaf and wasabi, then with plum sauce, and finally as ochazuke with green tea poured over. With its upscale Japanese-restaurant atmosphere and generous portions of eel, Unagiwa is a solid pick for a Yeoksam gathering or a hearty, restorative meal. ## Good to know - **Hours**: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00 - **Closed**: Saturday, Sunday - **Location**: 2F, 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (walkable from Yeoksam Station) - **What we ordered**: Hitsumabushi set - **Menu**: Hitsumabushi, grilled eel, unadon, eel tempura rice bowl and more - **Eel**: Said to be 100% Korean-farmed and antibiotic-free *as written by the visitor on Sep 13, 2026* ![Unagiwa's hitsumabushi set, the star dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-01-w520d-1200.webp) 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~ ![Exterior of Unagiwa's building near Yeoksam Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-02-yrp64-900.webp) ![Unagiwa's spacious storefront entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-03-1w37u-900.webp) ![Upscale Japanese-restaurant style entrance interior at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-04-1u0vj-900.webp) 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!! ![Corridor leading into Unagiwa's interior](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-05-54941-900.webp) 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,,,@ ![White and wood-toned interior of Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-06-ssqeh-m-900.webp) ![Dining table seating at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-07-18v15-900.webp) ![Unagiwa's dining area separated from the kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-08-fuylh-900.webp) ![Neatly arranged dining hall at Unagiwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-09-19d47-m-900.webp) ![Interior view near Unagiwa's counter](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-10-hy0cw-900.webp) 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 ![Unagiwa's menu board listing hitsumabushi and unadon](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-11-19859-900.webp) 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 ![Full spread of Unagiwa's hitsumabushi set](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-12-ifv0k-900.webp) ![Hitsumabushi set served with all its side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-13-1p8cm-900.webp) 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. ![Grilled eel packed densely on top of the rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-14-15v0a-900.webp) 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!!! ![Pickles, plum sauce, seaweed, perilla leaf, scallion, and wasabi side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-15-4c6vp-900.webp) 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~ ![Salad with a tangy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-16-l4fie-900.webp) The salad had a tangy sauce too, which was great for whetting the appetite!! ![Steamed egg custard with shiitake mushroom](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-17-1fnnm-900.webp) 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. ![Soy-based soup and green tea for ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-18-1gmu9-900.webp) 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 ![Hitsumabushi divided into four portions with perilla leaf and wasabi on top](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-19-jbk7h-900.webp) 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!! ![Bowl of eel rice topped with plum sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-20-123rj-900.webp) 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~ ![Hitsumabushi eaten as ochazuke, steeped in green tea](https://img.superchart.com/images/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner-21-kmmdw-900.webp) 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!!! ## Where it is - Unagiwa (우나기와) - 2F, 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 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/@seoul-coffee-map/unagiwa-yeoksam-hitsumabushi-friends-dinner/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt