# Gangnam eel restaurant for hitsumabushi tasted plain first: Unagiwa - By Ara (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-cupboard-stops/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written with support for the restaurant visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-cupboard-stops/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-cupboard-stops/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/index.md) ## In short Unagiwa is an eel rice bowl restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Yeoksam Station. The hitsumabushi was eaten three ways: plain, with perilla leaf, scallion, wasabi and seaweed, and finally as ochazuke with hot broth poured over, and the second way with the toppings was the tastiest. For a special-occasion meal where eel is enjoyed several ways, Unagiwa is recommended. ## Good to know - **Location**: 2F, 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로30길 71 2층) - **Access**: 5-minute walk from Yeoksam Station - **Signature dish**: Hitsumabushi (Japanese-style grilled eel rice bowl) - **Hitsumabushi set**: 1 whole freshwater eel, chawanmushi (savory egg custard), 3 pickled side dishes, steamed egg, miso soup, side toppings - **Hours**: Weekdays 11:00–21:00 - **Break time**: Weekdays 15:00–17:00 - **Closed**: Weekends *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ## If you're looking for a special eel meal in Gangnam ![Unagiwa exterior](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-01-58bt9-900.webp) I went to Unagiwa (우나기와), a great eel rice bowl restaurant in Gangnam. It's an eel spot near Yeoksam Station that's perfect for when you want to enjoy really good eel on a special day. The space is clean and has a nice atmosphere, so I'd also recommend it to anyone looking for a date spot near Yeoksam Station. ![Unagiwa near Yeoksam Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-02-3gfeh-900.webp) Unagiwa, the Gangnam Station eel rice bowl restaurant, is about a 5-minute walk from Yeoksam Station. ## A calm, clean interior ![Unagiwa interior atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-03-7wj48-900.webp) Past the exterior, which looked like a hanok (traditional Korean house), the inside had a calm, clean atmosphere that made it nice to enjoy a relaxed meal. When I visited, it seemed like a lot of people were there for small work dinners or dates. ## What's in the hitsumabushi set and how to order ![Hitsumabushi set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-04-1gw3u-900.webp) The hitsumabushi comes as a full set meal. It includes 1 whole freshwater eel, chawanmushi (savory egg custard), 3 kinds of pickled side dishes, steamed egg, miso soup, and side toppings. ![Unagiwa eel information](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-05-1d5xc-900.webp) Unagiwa runs its own eel farm on Ganghwa Island, so they say they can get a steady supply of high-quality eel. ![Guide on how to eat hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-06-tc8ck-900.webp) You order on a tablet, and the instructions on how to eat it are all there too, so I read through them while waiting for the food. - Divide the eel rice bowl into quarters, scoop a portion onto your plate and enjoy the eel's natural flavor. - Add scallion and wasabi for an extra layer of flavor. - Pour the tea from the pot over it with seaweed flakes and enjoy it as ochazuke (rice with tea or broth poured over). - Finish clean with Unagiwa's house-made plum sauce. ## I tried the hitsumabushi three ways ![Japanese-style eel rice bowl hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-07-n4g34-900.webp) What I ordered was the hitsumabushi, a Japanese-style grilled eel rice bowl. What makes hitsumabushi so appealing is that you get to enjoy perfectly grilled eel with rice while tasting it in a variety of ways. You can eat it plain, then add perilla leaf, scallion, wasabi and other toppings, and finally pour in broth, so there are all sorts of ways to enjoy it. The staff kindly explain everything when the food comes out, too. ![Hitsumabushi with toppings](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-08-adkis-900.webp) ![Hitsumabushi enjoyed in various ways](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-09-i4etb-900.webp) The eel at Unagiwa, the Gangnam Station eel rice bowl restaurant, looked even more appetizing thanks to its moist, glossy appearance. There was a generous amount of eel, and quite a lot of rice too, so I was very satisfied. ![Glossy eel rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-10-y751j-900.webp) ![Generous eel and rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-11-9qnkn-900.webp) ![Eel portion of the hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-12-1n03d-900.webp) ![Eel rice bowl set](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-13-1undh-900.webp) ![Unagiwa hitsumabushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-14-uv7wj-900.webp) Salad and chawanmushi came with it too, which went really nicely alongside the eel. ![Eel with salad on the side](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-15-1rwhx-900.webp) ![Chawanmushi and eel rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-16-s6z1v-900.webp) ![Hitsumabushi side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-17-1bi27-900.webp) ### First, eel and rice just as they are First, as instructed, I tried the eel and rice plain, and that's where the eel's rich, nutty flavor came through the most. The beautifully grilled eel had a subtle smoky char, and the tender flesh inside was outstanding. The sweet-yet-salty glaze had soaked right into the eel, and eaten with rice it was really delicious💖👍🏻 ![Eating eel and rice plain](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-18-1dtqk-900.webp) ![Eel with a subtle smoky char](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-19-1p44p-900.webp) ### Second, with perilla leaf, scallion, wasabi and seaweed Second, I added perilla leaf, scallion, wasabi and seaweed, which brought in a fragrant, clean taste. Personally, the second way was the most delicious. ![Eel rice bowl with perilla leaf and wasabi added](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-20-vi3qh-900.webp) ![Ochazuke with broth poured over](https://img.superchart.com/images/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa-21-11fjd-900.webp) ### Last, ochazuke with warm broth Finally, I poured over the warm broth they'd prepared and enjoyed it like ochazuke, which made for a soft, light finish. Being able to experience several different flavors to suit your taste while eating a single dish was the biggest charm of hitsumabushi. ## A place I'd recommend if you love eel Unagiwa, the Gangnam eel rice bowl restaurant, is a Yeoksam Station spot I'd recommend visiting at least once if you love eel. Unagiwa, the Gangnam hitsumabushi restaurant where one dish can be enjoyed so many ways that it's genuinely fun to eat❤️ If you're looking for a special meal or a delicious eel rice bowl, I recommend the hitsumabushi at Unagiwa. ## Where it is - Unagiwa (우나기와) - 2F, 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로30길 71 2층) - 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-cupboard-stops/gangnam-unagi-hitsumabushi-unagiwa/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt