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Narita Eel Restaurants

eelunagiNarita specialtycharcoal grilledtraditional

Photo: Miyuki Meinaka / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Narita's association with eel (unagi) dates to the Edo period when pilgrims visiting Naritasan Temple required high-protein meals after long journeys. Eel, rich in vitamins and grilled over binchotan charcoal, became the specialty. Today, Omotesando Street is lined with eel restaurants operating multi-generational recipes — some families have been grilling eel in the same wooden buildings for over 200 years.

Narita-style unagi follows the Kanto tradition: the eel is split down the back (not belly), steamed before grilling to remove excess fat, then basted with tare (sweet soy sauce) and grilled over white charcoal. The result is tender, lightly sweet, with caramelized edges. The contrast with Kansai-style eel (grilled without steaming, fattier) is immediately apparent.

Essential Information

Opening Hours

Typically 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (varies by restaurant)

Closed: Varies by restaurant | Many close one day per week (check individual shops)

Entrance Fee

Unaju set: ¥2,800-5,000 | Nami grade: ¥2,800 | Jo grade: ¥3,500 | Tokujyo grade: ¥4,200+

Best Season

Year-round | Least crowded on weekday mornings

Visit Duration

45-60 minutes (lunch or dinner)

Getting There

Access Information

Omotesando Street, Narita City. Recommended: Kawatoyo Honten (川豊本店), Surugaya (駿河屋), Kikuya (菊屋). Budget: ¥2,800–5,000 for unaju set.

Insider Guide

Premium

**Restaurant selection strategy:** Request 'zashiki' seating if available. **Grades of eel:** All restaurants offer multiple grades: 'nami' (standard, ¥2,800), 'jo' (premium, ¥3,500), and 'tokujyo' (special grade, ¥4,200+). The difference is eel size and fat content. For first-timers, 'jo' offers the best balance. 'Tokujyo' uses eel over 300g — noticeably richer. **Tare sauce depth:** The tare sauce used by multi-generation restaurants is never fully discarded — each day's new sauce is added to the remaining base, creating a 'mother sauce' that can be decades or centuries old. Ask to see the tare pot if the chef is visible — some are designated cultural artifacts. **Pairing:** Order the eel with Chiba-grown koshihikari rice and kimosui (eel liver soup, ¥300) — the bitter liver balances the sweet tare. Drink cold sake from local Katori Shrine breweries.

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