Unadon at NOBORITEI, SHINJUKU, TOKYO

Address:
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿3-32-10
3-32-10 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022


Access:
2 min. walk from JR Shinjuku station South exit,
3 min. walk from Subway Marunouchi line Shinjuku Sanchome station,
10 min. walk from JR Yoyogi station


Phone: 03-3352-2484
Hours: 11:00～21:00 (L.O. 20:30)　


I’ve been researching for a good bowl of unagi on the net. The best that you can find in Tokyo is Unagi Kappo Izuei Honten in Ueno. All agrees they taste superb but they also charge you big price. So I and Tors agree to head for the second best which is cheaper and easier to locate, Noboritei.



We arrive quite early for lunch so the restaurant isn’t packed and we don’t have to wait. Without any hesitancy we order right away, one Unadon set (grilled eel bowl) and one Naju Nami set (grilled eel on rice box). While waiting and sipping nice hot ocha, we can’t help but noticing how this restaurant is filled with quite a number of elderly. We find it amusing to observe them, they seem to really enjoy eating their food :)





To be honest, I was not a fan of unagi back in Jakarta. Only once or twice I got to eat good unagi, but it didn’t blow me away. So, this ‘unadon experience’, I dedicate this for Tora, as he is fond of unagi. And well I am sure glad, because this particular unagi tastes sooooo good.


The eels are both broiled and grilled; meaning double the taste. I love it when a dish is done double-ways, especially broiled and grilled, because they usually have a perfect texture without drying the meat and you still can get the smoky/caramelized surface. Perfect. The sauce compliments the dish beautifully, it is sweet but not overpowering, somewhat like teriyaki sauce but more salty and less sweet; I imagine they brushed the sauce generously while grilling the eels :). As expected, the meat is lusciously tender you don’t have to chew, it melts. And also neither ‘fishy’ smell nor taste could be found. The level of freshness is good; as you can taste the natural sweetness of the meat (you all know fresh products are always sweeter, especially fish, fruits, and veggies).


All and all, I like unagi now :)