We recently visited Fukuoka and our Airbnb host told us that there is a very famous Unagi restaurant in Hakata - Yoshizuka Unagi. Established in 1873, this is perhaps the oldest and most established unagi restaurant in Hakata.
The building housing Yoshizuka Unagi which is located on the second floor.
Having already tasted unagi in Yanagawa the previous day, we knew we had to try Yoshizuka Unagi. The restaurant was established in 1873 and their house specialty is grilled eel. According to the restaurant, a few factors determine the quality of their grilled eel – one is of course using the top quality eels and secondly their method of grilling. To top it off, the dipping sauce enhances the taste of the unagi and is a secret recipe laid down generation after generation.
The eels come from Shizuoka, Miyazaki and Kagoshima and are farmed in clean water and provided with quality feed and that makes their eels available year round.
The entrance to the building.
The restaurant sits on the second floor and unlike many other Japanese restaurants feature a spacious layout.
When you go to the restaurant, ask for the English menu unless you speak Japanese. My suggestion is to choose the Super-deluxe Kabayaki box which has 6 pieces of the unagi plus rice and a bowl of soup. I think this is the best value of all sets and for unagi lovers, you will love this.
As expected, Gina and I ordered the Super-deluxe Kabayaki box each and I also tried the Umaki which is eel wrapped in an egg omelette. They will serve you the tea and dipping sauce first. The dipping sauce is a special sauce created by the founding family and has been handed down generation after generation.
The Umaki came first - all their dishes come served in a traditional lacquerware.
Open the lid and a nice eggy smell greets you. The smell of unagi is not overpowering. Presentation is everything in a Japanese meal and the sight that greeted us was no exception. The colours are as vibrant as the smell.
The egg is soft and fluffy and the unagi adds a delicate touch to the dish. Started well...
Then came the main dish... the one we are all waiting for. A double tray stacked two high and a bowl of soup.
Could not wait any longer, we opened the lid and right on the top tray was the unagi! The bottom tray is the rice. The soup featured a clear broth and in it some enoki mushroom and eel liver.
Having waited for so long, we took the tray and sampled the unagi first.
Paired with the rice and dipping sauce, the unagi is heavenly!
The unagi is grilled to perfection - melts in your mouth and yet firm to the bite. The dipping sauce really compliments the unagi and rice combo. There is just enough fats in the eel to give it that oily mouthfeel. And the thickness of the flesh oozes quality. Signs of well bred eels.
The meal was so good we went back a second night. JPY3,340 per set is not expensive for a meal of this quality. Firstly, you struggle to find a good unagi restaurant in Singapore. Secondly, the unagi is grilled fresh everyday. Top grade unagi at a very reasonable price. I dare say the meal rivals that of Nodaiwa in Tokyo which I had featured here earlier in the year.
How to get there – The restaurant is close to the Canal City. Unless you are going to Canal City, I suggest you take the subway (Kuko Line) to Nakasu-kawabata Station. Exit the station using Exit Number 5. Walk up the stairs and turn left onto the Kawabata Shopping Arcade. Walk down around 200-250 metres and turn right onto a road after the Italian Tomato restaurant (on the right). You will see the canal. Cross the canal and immediately turn left. Walk 100 metrest past the Paraca parking garage and Yoshizuka Unagi is the next building.
Restaurant is closed Wednesday.
Address – 2-8-27, Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 810-0801
Telephone – 092-271 0700
Opens 11am to 9pm (Last order 8.30pm)
All photos taken with iPhone 6S Plus.
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