Let's Talk Travel: Our 15-Hour Tokyo Layover (Part #2)
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Lunch - Omotesando Street 100+ Years Unagi Store:
We have been talking about visiting here for quite some time, as this is one of the most famous Unagi (BBQ Eel) specialty stores in Tokyo. It is located in the heart of the Omotesando Street, and has been in business for more than 100+ years.
Do you know:
Comparing to Hong Kong, and even in the States, there are a lot more of 100+ years family owned stores in Japan… Therefore, if you want to get some traditional food, Japan has to be the place.
If you are Unagi (eel) lover, this is the spot that you need to go! I was discussing with my friend prior to coming here, regarding the Unagi that we have in Hong Kong and in United States, and the reason why the ones in Japan are charging so much more, we are talking about around USD $10-$15 in Hong Kong & United States vs. USD $30-$60 in Japan. All he told me is that, I have to try and I will know the difference. As I have mentioned, Kawatoyo Honten is a store that has been around for more than 100 years, and they prepare fresh, juicy, soft, and tasty eel. Right at the door, you can pretty much see 4 chefs preparing live eel, from live eel, to eel on the woodstick, to cooking it, you can see that from A to Z.
The store can hold roughly around say 150-200 customers at one time, however, you are going to need to get there early, or you are going to need to get a ticket early. We got there early enough so that we were able to go into the restaurant before the lunch crowd rush in. This restaurant is very famous, most of Japanese know that place because many TV programs and magazine talk about the restaurant.
We were seated on the second floor, and that we need to take off our shoes, just like a lot of other Japanese restaurants. Looking at the menu, it is everything eel… Eggs with Eel, Soup of eel’s liver, BBQ eel’s liver, BBQ eel’s bone, Unagi Rice - from 2/3 to full to 1.5 eel. Everybody seats on the tatami and the environment is extremely clean and welcoming.
Do you know:
Unagi is rich in Vitamin A, B1, B2, D, and E, calcium, and protein, therefore, the Japanese considers Unagi (eel) as Stamina recovery food. In Japanese culture, people eat eel in order to recover from fatigue.
Special Appreciation:
Knowing I love Unagi so much, my wife, Debbie, was the one prepared our 15-hour long layover this time and she was the one planned this lunch at Kawatoyo Honten, even though she doesn’t eat fish due to the fishy smell. Without a suprise, everything inside this store is eel dish, and she was still willing to try it, although she didn’t really enjoyed it. Who’s the lucky guy here?!
Location:
Store: Kawatoyo Honten
Address: 386 Nakamachi, Narita 286-0027, Chiba Prefecture
Phone: +81 476-22-2711
Hours: 10:00 to 17:00
Website: http://www.unagi-kawatoyo.com/
