Overall Rating: 🌕🌕🌖🌑🌑
Dickson's Fooday Review #268
This time I visited a Japanese eel rice restaurant. Dickson has always been fond of eel rice, even keeping a saved list on Google Maps for places to try eel rice slowly 😂😂😂.
So, I decided to try Edo River eel rice located on Linsen North Road. This restaurant indeed specializes in eel rice and mentions in its menu that they serve Edo-style grilled eel rice, a Tokyo specialty.
All main dishes and set meals revolve around eel rice, with various ways to enjoy the eel rice, including different types and techniques. Most of the options can be found here.
The ordering method is done via set meals, which include some carbohydrates and side dishes.
In addition to eel rice, you can also order some basic Japanese snacks or light dishes from the menu!
If you need some Japanese sake to pair with your meal, you can order that as well.
However, for me, it might be because my expectations were too high, so I didn't find anything particularly impressive. I feel like I could have tasted better eel rice elsewhere 😂😂.
In summary, it’s not that it's bad, but it feels like I didn't experience any special flavors. It's a bit disappointing considering I came specifically to enjoy eel rice.
Personally, I don’t think I would come back here, but of course, friends who love eel rice might want to give it a try. After all, it does have a bit of fame among eel rice restaurants in Taipei. So it’s worth a shot!
Food: 🌕🌕🌖🌑🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌘🌑🌑
⭐️ Food Section
👉 Eel Rice in Three Ways $630
Since I’m at a dedicated eel rice restaurant, I obviously wanted to try how to enjoy the so-called eel rice set properly! When the meal was served, the restaurant thoughtfully provided a small note explaining the three ways to enjoy eel rice and how to eat it. So basically, you just follow the steps on the note to try these three eating methods.
If I recall correctly, the first way is to enjoy the eel rice in its original flavor without any additions! The second way is to pair it with wasabi to see how it tastes differently. The third way is to add broth, creating a soup rice experience.
That's how I remember it 😂😂😂. It’s quite special, but overall, it didn’t leave me particularly amazed. It felt more like a combination of eel and rice 🥹🥹🥹.
Moreover, I found the overall flavor a bit too bland, so I ended up adding a lot of extra sauces to enhance the taste 😂😂.
Of course, I considered the eel here to be quite fresh and delicious, but as I mentioned, it lacks that special feeling, missing that excitement when the eel rice hits the palate!
Since this is a set meal, there are also other side dishes and soup included. The side dishes and soup were standard, just like any typical Japanese meal set.
The portion of rice isn’t too large either; for an adult male, it might feel a bit insufficient and not very filling. However, in terms of nutritional content, I think it should be sufficient.
As for the flavor, I feel it’s a bit regrettable; it felt more like having just a piece of eel and rice together. In my mind, eel rice should have a magical charm. Unfortunately, I didn’t experience that here.
I hope to find that feeling at other eel rice restaurants in the future!
👉 Wasabi Octopus
When I visit a Japanese restaurant, I want to try the wasabi octopus! The wasabi octopus here is similar to other Japanese dishes and doesn’t have any particularly special characteristics 😂😂😂.
⭐️ Atmosphere Section
The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is a mix of Japanese and Taiwanese styles. The dining environment is quite bright, but the tables are a bit too close together, so if the neighboring table speaks loudly, it could be distracting!
The dining style here is more suited for family gatherings or corporate meals, lacking a bit in terms of a romantic date atmosphere.
⭐️ Service Section
The staff here seems quite experienced, and I’m not certain if some of them are Japanese. They provide a detailed explanation of eel rice, especially when introducing the three methods, and they are quite enthusiastic to assist with any questions you may have.
However, the ordering method here is through scanning a QR code for online ordering, so the service essentially involves delivering the meal and answering some questions.
⭐️ Price Section
Although I know eel rice tends to be relatively expensive, the portion here isn’t very large, and the flavor didn’t quite meet my expectations. Therefore, the price feels a bit steep to me 😂😂.
⭐️ Overall
I feel the eel rice here doesn’t match the flavor I was hoping to experience. It could be due to the cooking method or other factors that just don’t suit my taste. However, for those who love eel rice, I still recommend trying this place. Personally, though, I don't have a special preference for this restaurant’s flavor, so I probably won’t make a special trip back.
After all, there are other eel rice specialty shops waiting for me!
The location of the Monkey Feather River is opposite the Han Pin Hotel, which is currently being demolished.
The benchmark cuisine of Hualien's Japanese food is far more delicious than the well-known eateries in Taipei, where you can enjoy exquisite sashimi and impressive eel liver. In particular, the owner's dedication to the ingredients and passion for cooking elevate the delicious dishes served to a superior level.
Today's eel was handled exceptionally well, with no fish bone sensation. The grilled eel is rich in oil, with the skin slightly crispy and a unique sauce that isn’t the overly sweet type of Japanese sauce. When paired with perfectly cooked, fluffy, and chewy rice, it's easy to eat two large bowls.
Accompanied by pickled cucumbers and white radish, the radish is pickled with yuzu peel, adding a refreshing citrus aroma. The three ways to enjoy eel include: 1. the original flavor enhances the fish with sansho pepper, 2. mixing it with seaweed, sesame, and shredded green onion pairs perfectly with the eel rice, and 3. having eel soaked in broth is very comforting.
The sashimi in the seafood donburi consists of fresh fish hand-picked by the owner that day, with an abundance of seafood and salmon roe, making for a truly satisfying meal.
This time, sitting at the counter and watching the chef meticulously pick out fish bones and inspect them before grilling was an incredible experience.
Environment
The interior decoration of the restaurant is in a Japanese style 🏯, and the seating area is very spacious, making it suitable for both large and small groups. However, it is safer to make a reservation in advance if visiting on a holiday.
Meals
Today, three of us spent 💰1695 on three set meals and two skewers.
📍Truffle Angus Beef Eel Heavy Set 💰438
For those who feel unwell if they don’t eat meat 🥩 during a meal, this is a perfect choice. The rice bowl also comes with a soft-boiled egg 🥚, which makes it even tastier when mixed in. The eel has a softer texture and lacks the QQ chewiness, but the sauce pairing is quite aromatic.
📍Eel X Tempura Shrimp 💰428
The combination of eel and tempura 🍤 is delightful. The tempura batter is not too thick, and the shrimp is cooked perfectly, giving it a great bounce. Additionally, there are two slices of tamagoyaki.
📍Eel Grilled on a Charcoal Grill Set 💰488
This eel is special because it is served in a wooden tub, adding a unique flavor. A notable feature is that you can grill seaweed yourself to eat with it, which is a must-order for seaweed lovers, as you can enjoy as much as you want.
📍Add-on Skewers (Beef) 💰183
Upgrading the set allows you to enjoy beef, pork, and zucchini all at once. I personally found the meat to be a bit tough, so I wouldn’t highly recommend upgrading.
📍Eel Liver Skewers 💰158
This is a very rare dish. Although it is an offal, it has no fishy taste and is quite soft. However, when I had it, there was a bit too much charred part, resulting in a slightly bitter taste.
Parking
For those driving 🚗, there’s no need to worry as the restaurant has its own dedicated parking lot 🅿️, which is a huge plus. If you’re riding a motorcycle 🏍️, there are also plenty of parking spots available nearby.
Service
With a wide variety of dishes available, 💁 the staff patiently introduces and explains the options, helping customers decide on the most suitable meals 🍱. Additionally, service staff frequently check on the tables, resulting in a very pleasant overall experience.
Located in Ginza, Tokyo, "Tōtei" is an old restaurant famous for its eel dishes, with an elegant overall atmosphere reflecting a strong Japanese traditional vibe. The meal began with an appetizer of grilled eel bones, which were probably dried and roasted. This dish had a unique texture, with a crispy outer layer paired with a subtle savory flavor, making for quite an interesting experience.
For the main dish, I ordered eel rice. The meat was tender, brushed with a sweet and savory kabayaki sauce, and accompanied by quite decent rice, which was very satisfying to eat. However, the portion was relatively small, and for someone who loves eel rice, it may not be enough. But I can understand this, as eel rice is generally not low-priced.
In addition to the eel rice, I also ordered eel liver, which I usually do not enjoy. However, the restaurant recommended it as something special, so I decided to give it a try. Yet… while it didn't have the bitterness that pork liver does, I personally didn't quite like this dish. However, it may offer a different experience for those who enjoy offal dishes.
Overall, Tōtei's eel dishes are definitely worth trying, especially the crispy bones and eel rice, which I highly recommend. Although the prices are on the high side and the portions are small, the flavors and quality are quite impressive, making it a place worth considering to give it a try.
🌟 Minimum Spend 200
"Feng Cang Unagi Specialty" is located on Bao An Road and specializes in grilled eel rice. The eel sauce used here, made from Japanese white eel, can be said to be the soul of kabayaki eel.
Feng Cang Unagi Specialty has a relatively small number of seats, with many celebrity autographs on the walls✍️. It can get a bit chilly sitting under the air conditioning for a long time, so I later changed to another spot. (Wearing a jacket solves the problem.)
Grilled Eel Set Meal 💰430
(Side dishes, soup, white rice)
Upon opening the dish, the visual presentation was somewhat disappointing — a large portion of white rice, with the eel measuring about 7 centimeters, making the eel seem a bit small 😂😂. The eel sauce can be said to be the soul of the eel rice; it’s boneless, with a fragrant charred skin, and the meat is rich, chewy, and tender, paired with a rich sweet soy sauce reminiscent of Tainan. (I absolutely love it.)
Sesame Tofu 💰45
The texture is very solid and thick; I personally think it's just okay.
Review: The eel truly smells fantastic, and the grilled aroma is sufficient, but the eel size doesn't satisfy visually 🥹.
If you value the meal: I really recommend the eel.
If you value the environment: Clean, not a big space, and the air conditioning is cool.
If you value parking: Motorcycles can park at the entrance, but it's not easy for cars to find parking.
If you value the restroom: There is one shared restroom.
If you value queuing: The speed is quick, and nearly no queue is needed.
If you value service: Average.
If you care about cost-performance ratio: 🌟🌟🌟
(Simply discussing food and prices)
🐟 Unagi Shiodai Kemukawa Taipei Store (Eel Rice Specialty Store) 🐟
I personally absolutely love eating eel. Eel rice is truly the best food in the world, there’s no doubt about that. It's also very nutritious 😂. The more, the better! This time, for my birthday, my girlfriend took me to eat eel rice for lunch. The eel from this place is probably the best I've had in Taiwan so far. They use live eels that are freshly killed and then grilled over charcoal, making them incredibly fresh with a smoky aroma.
I ordered an entire eel this time. Underneath is a generous serving of white rice topped with a whole eel. The flavor of grilled eel pairs perfectly with the rice, and I couldn't stop eating… Just from looking at the picture, you can tell how big the portion of eel is. They’re definitely not stingy! 👍 But the price is not cheap either 🥲.
I also ordered the three-style eel. It comes in a round bowl piled high with eel. If you like to try different flavors, the three-style eel is a great choice! You get to enjoy various tastes! Personally, I think everything is delicious; as long as it’s eel, I’m all in!
Another must-order is the tamagoyaki eel. Although it looks quite ordinary, it’s really one of the essential dishes. The tamagoyaki itself is super soft; it practically melts in your mouth. Wrapped inside is eel, making it extremely satisfying.
In the summer, the tea they serve is iced, which is a huge plus. I highly recommend this great eel restaurant to everyone!
"environment"
The interior decoration is very Japanese-style, and most of the seats inside are at the bar. It is more suitable for 1-3 people to go and taste. If there are many people, I would not recommend it. The overall feeling is pretty good ~
"food"
There are not many items in the store, but they are all related to eels. It is the spirit of a craftsman to make the best of each item! You must order eel when you come here, and the eel is grilled with binchotan charcoal and has a unique flavor. In addition, the eel is divided into Kabayaki and Shirataki. I tried both flavors. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Kabayaki is more flavorful, and Shirataki is better. You can enjoy the original taste of eel, and the grilled rice goes well with the freshly ground wasabi prepared by the store~
In addition, those who dare to eat offal can order the eel liver 💰180 to try it. It tastes good and has no fishy smell. There are also some fish intestines on it~
(The picture shows the small eel set meal $300)
"parking"
The store is located in an alley, so it is more convenient to ride a bicycle. If you drive, you have to stop on the side of the road. To do so, you have to park in a parking lot that requires a short walk ~
"Serve"
The store owner is very enthusiastic and friendly, and the boss will also chat with customers. There is not much service, but you can feel the store's full enthusiasm~
[The taste of a famous restaurant selected as one of Japan's 100 best eels!!
The sauce soaked into the eel, "Gifu's traditional Mino grilled on the ground," was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and absolutely delicious😍】
Overall: Excellent (Great! I'd definitely like to go again)
🅾️Liver-filled Hitsumabushi 7,950 yen (tax included)
Comes with rolled omelet, soup, pickles, and a small side dish
The
🍺 Useful points to know🍺
・Selected as one of the 100 best eel restaurants in the country, with only 100 in total
A very famous restaurant!!
The secret is the high quality eel that is procured through a unique route.
"Gifu Traditional Mino Grilled Eel" with perfect cooking so that the sauce sticks to it easily
A rich sauce that has been a focus since the company's founding😍
Eel and rice can also be served with dashi stock.
It was a delicious hitsumabushi dish.
Highly rated on Tabelog in Akihabara, also on the Unagi Hyakusen list
This is a super famous restaurant that was selected! I visited at 18:00,
There were many reservations that day, and before we knew it, the place was almost full.
A rare dish in the Kanto region, this Kansai-style eel is crispy and delicious.
A great place to enjoy this dish!!
In addition, "Gifu traditional Mino jiyaki"
With the special cooking method,
The eel absorbs the sauce well and has a rich flavor.
The liver is also grilled until golden brown and the sauce is well-marinated.
It's tangled and delicious!!😍
The sauce is a rich one that has been the focus of attention since the restaurant first opened.
If you ask the store clerk, they will also give you some extra sauce.
I'm glad you could come!!
First, eat the eel, rice, and liver as is.
The outside is crispy and the inside is soft and fluffy.
Eel goes great with rice😆
The second half is Hitsumabushi, served with seaweed, wasabi and dashi stock.
The tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), soup, and side dishes all have different flavors to Hitsumabushi.
I was very satisfied with how delicious it was until the very end.
The seats are spaced far apart, making it comfortable to sit in, and the staff are polite and helpful.
This is a restaurant where you can enjoy a la carte dishes or relax with a drink.
It's great that you can have more of the complimentary pickles!!
Thank you very much for a wonderful time.
I would definitely like to visit again.
A lot of wood is used to decorate the entrance of the store
Strong Japanese style
As soon as the door opened, a strong smell of fish came out (some people may not like the smell)
There are not many seats in the store. There are about ten seats in a small circle around the bar.
We visited at 14:00 on Sunday and there were not many guests.
There are two types of eels: kabayaki and salt-roasted eels.
You can choose to eat a whole eel or a half eel donburi
We weren't very hungry, and we felt that eating three meals only changed the taste of the rice.
So I chose eel donburi
Salt roasted 430
Kabayaki 480
The eel bowl comes with two side dishes and soup
Rice, soup and tea can be refilled for free, but there is an additional charge of 10%
It was raining heavily when we arrived in Suwa that day. After finishing the afternoon tour, we were so wet. In order to soothe our souls, we immediately found an eel rice restaurant for dinner.
There was only one grandma and one grandpa in the store, and they took turns greeting us. After the grandma served tea and menus, we used a translator to ask the grandpa who came to order for us the differences in each item.
The grandpa said that the eels in the store are divided into Japanese and imported ones. The domestic ones are ¥2550 for small portions and ¥4800 for large portions, while the imported ones only cost ¥3300 for large portions; because we just wanted to taste the high-end eels. I felt so bad, so I only ordered a small portion of domestic eel rice.
When you open the lunch box, you will feel like you are watching the cartoon "This Is Us". The oily sauce-grilled eel is elegantly placed on the rice, and the aroma is overflowing! The eel is extremely soft, and you can't eat any fine spines. The smell of soy sauce is very strong, and it tastes more sweet than salty in your mouth. Paired with delicious white rice, it is really satisfying (if you really want to eat it) If you like eel, why not order a big one!)
Although the supporting soup and pickles are not as eye-catching as the eel, they still give this set a good balance. You can take a break while enjoying the oily and sweet eel.
This is my first time eating eel rice in Japan. The experience is really good. I recommend it to everyone.
