Solo dining near Sinyongsan Station: mentaiko hitsumabushi at Una

Lately I've been feeling a bit drained from the busy daily grind, so I found myself craving something hearty and restorative. I wanted to forget the tangled thoughts for a while and spend some time purely for myself, so I went searching for good food. I decided to finally visit Una, a restaurant I'd been curious about for a while. Hearing I could enjoy a meal comfortably in a nice space, I headed over full of anticipation, excited to finally have a proper bowl of eel rice in Yongsan.

Una Yongsan Main Branch's location and solo dining vibe

This place sits on the 2nd floor of the Episode Yongsan 241 building, near Yongsan Station and Sinyongsan Station. The location is great and easy to find. Walking through the door, the calm, sophisticated interior caught my eye right away. I came alone, and the hall seating was so neatly arranged that it didn't feel awkward at all.

The staff were also really kind, which made me feel well taken care of. This place is already known as a high-quality eel rice bowl spot, and it's genuinely great for solo dining too. If you're building your own list of Yongsan restaurant recommendations for busy days, definitely keep this one in mind.

What does the mentaiko set hitsumabushi taste like

I ordered the specialty of the house, the mentaiko set hitsumabushi. The moment it arrived, a savory aroma hit me right away. They say the eel is brushed with a special sauce made from over 30 medicinal herbs and grilled over charcoal — and honestly, it was a work of art. The texture was firm yet tender, and it was a joy to eat.

The mentaiko (salted pollock roe) served alongside added a salty punch that brought out the eel's flavor even more. The sauce wasn't overpowering, so it went well with the rice. The neat presentation gave off the quiet confidence of a true eel specialist. I really felt the satisfaction of properly enjoying a great Yongsan eel rice bowl.

Splitting the hitsumabushi into four, and the order to eat it in

Here, you split the hitsumabushi into four portions and enjoy it in different ways. First I tasted the plain, clean flavor as is, then tried it with wasabi and green onion for a refreshing bite.

But above all, pouring warm broth over it to make ochazuke was the real standout. The umami spread across my whole mouth — absolutely excellent.

For the last portion, I finished it off with whichever style I liked best. The side dishes that came with it, like the chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), were also neat and well-prepared, keeping me in a good mood the whole meal. This solo trip to Una turned out to be a truly satisfying culinary experience. And being able to cleanse my palate afterward with cool green tea ice cream made this Yongsan eel rice bowl specialist even better.

The price is a bit on the higher side, but it was more than worth it when I wanted to treat myself to a meaningful meal away from the chaos of daily life. I'd love to come back again soon whenever I need to recharge and enjoy some unhurried time.

I think I'll want to feel that same excitement I had when the tray first arrived. Once the weather turns cold, I'd like to come back to warm up, especially to taste the eel rice bowl and mentaiko again. The ochazuke I had alongside it was subtle and clean, and I think it'll stay with me for a while. With the tidy side dishes that came with it too, this is clearly a place that's good for spending time that matters.