It is that time of the year again. Supermarket shelves are filling up with unagi (eel), and many restaurants — including the most popular Japanese fast food chains — are boasting eel items in their menus.
In Japan, eel is a popular summer food because it gives the body enough stamina to survive the intense heat. I love eel, so when summer comes, I make sure to eat it as often as possible.
As I walked down Takadanobaba’s main road the other day, I spotted a small eel restaurant called Izuei. It is tucked away between two buildings, so it is almost unnoticeable.
Izuei feels like an old Japanese house turned into a restaurant. This small family run business has been operating since 1924, which is quite impressive given how fast new businesses come and go in the neighborhood.
うな重 (unajuu) – Broiled eel on rice (2,800 yen)
I ordered the cheapest うな重 (unajuu = broiled eel on rice served in a lacquered box). It came with a side of egg tofu, pickles and miso soup. The eel tasted great, but it was hard to cut it with the chopstick because the skin would not easily come off the eel. The tare (sweetened and thickened soy sauce) was also a bit mild.
The set also came with a refreshing pineapple jelly and some green tea to wrap up the meal.
Overall
If you feel like eating eel while you are around Takadanobaba, Izuei is a nice option. The quality and quantity were lower than in most places that I tried before, but it may not be a fair comparison since it was significantly cheaper. If you can afford it, I’d suggest you upgrade to one of their more expensive options!
Also, unless you have made a reservation, you will have to be patient because it usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to be served.
Izuei
Opening hours: Open every day, except Wednesdays, from 11:30 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00
Website (tabelog, Japanese only): click here
Address: 4-13-12 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3361-1003
