Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan｜Aoiya Unagi

This is a very popular spot for unagi that was recommended to me by a local. The restaurant provides ample parking space (right in front of the shop and another area for 7 cars across the road) and crowd management is well organized in the sense that they have a set number of parties they are able to accept for each session. For example when I went at 11am for lunch on Saturday I managed to get a ticket for number 12 out of a total of 30 before they stopped accepting customers. They will take your order when you get the numbered ticket and you are expected to wait outside (or nearby in your car etc) and you will get an automated call when your turn comes. I waited for an hour before my party was called. Once the food arrived it was immediately obvious why they have huge crowds all the time. The portion is very generous. I ordered the “unajuu” for 3000 JPY and the portion of unagi was easily as large as what some other shops charge for 5000 JPY. The taste was unceremoniously delicious. Definitely worth visiting as long as you don’t mind showing up early to get a number and wait it out.

Really good taste, and it's worthwhile to try eel here notwithstanding the high price. Actually, it's not too expensive here compared with other eel restaurants.

Great!