Gangnam eel restaurant for hitsumabushi and tempura: Unagiwa

I went to Yeoksam for an eel rice bowl at lunchtime.

I’m such an eel fan that I always make sure to get eel sushi even when I go out for sushi. This time, I wanted to enjoy eel properly, so I went to Unagiwa (우나기와) in Yeoksam.

But while the eel was delicious that day, another menu item I hadn’t expected also stayed with me: the assorted tempura.

A Japanese atmosphere from the moment I walked in

The moment I entered Unagiwa, it felt a little different from an ordinary restaurant.

There were all sorts of Japanese-style objects placed around the restaurant,

and seeing them suddenly reminded me of the specialty restaurants I came across while traveling in Japan. It naturally conveyed that this was a place specializing in eel, too.

The overall atmosphere was calm, making it nice to have a relaxed lunch.

Ordering the hitsumabushi set and how to eat it

That day, I chose the hitsumabushi set, a whole-eel rice bowl, and assorted tempura to share. Since the hitsumabushi contained one whole eel, I thought from the start that it would be quite filling.

What was especially nice for a first-time visitor was that a staff member came over and carefully explained how to eat the eel. Hitsumabushi isn’t something you simply eat all at once like a regular eel rice bowl; it is enjoyed in several ways.

After listening to the explanation, I tried each method as instructed. It was fun how the same bowl felt different depending on how I ate it. As someone who loves eel, I also liked being able to savor it slowly in different ways.

If you are looking for an eel rice bowl

Eel and rice really are such a good combination. The tender eel with rice made for a thoroughly filling meal, and I think anyone who already loves eel, like me, would be very satisfied to enjoy a whole eel properly.

In particular, since the staff also explained how to eat it, I thought even first-timers trying hitsumabushi could enjoy it more comfortably. So personally, if I were looking for a good eel rice bowl in Yeoksam, I would put this on the list of places to consider.

If you love tempura

Honestly, the day’s biggest surprise was the assorted tempura. I love tempura so much that I sometimes go to Japanese restaurants just to eat it. So I couldn’t simply pass over the assorted tempura and ordered it too. But after trying it, it was much better than I expected.

Personally, it was good enough to rank in my top three tempuras so far. I especially loved the shrimp. It wasn’t just the batter that was crisp—the shrimp inside was plump and felt full of meat, so the texture really came through when I bit into it.

The eggplant was good too. Rather than the eggplant’s usual mushy texture, it had a more substantial bite, which made it quite impressive even as eggplant tempura. As a tempura lover, I really felt I had ordered well with this one.

For eel lovers

I originally went for an eel rice bowl, but in the end both the eel and tempura made this a memorable meal. The Japanese-style objects especially gave it the feeling of a Japanese specialty restaurant from the moment I entered,

and the staff carefully explained how to eat hitsumabushi, so I could dine comfortably from beginning to end. If you love eel like I do, try the hitsumabushi set or whole-eel rice bowl for a hearty meal, and if you love tempura, order the assorted tempura too. For me, the tempura stayed just as strongly in my memory as the eel did.

Matcha pudding for the final dessert

The matcha pudding I had for dessert at the end!! It somehow felt wholesome, yet it was soft and sweet. Such a soft, tasty feeling...

Unagiwa visit information

• 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, 2F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 강남구 봉은사로30길 71 2층)
• Weekdays 11:00–21:00 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:00
• Closed every Saturday and Sunday
• Valet parking available
• About 266 m from Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station

It was a good place to visit at lunchtime, and one that eel lovers should look into at least once. And I think I’ll be back soon to order the eel and assorted tempura again. :)