Iga, Mie, Japan｜栄玉亭

Chanced upon this little traditional gem 6 years ago. Quiet little side street. Didn't look open. Luckily i persisted. No English menu. I just randomly selected a different item for each family member. Turns out they were just different combinations of eel. But what eel. The best unagi I've ever tasted. Charcoal grilled to perfection. Crispy slightly caramelized on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth soft and fluffy on the inside. Heavenly!

Eel restaurant Eigyotei in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. It's so delicious! I received the eel rice! The skin was crispy and the flesh was fluffy and delicious! The atmosphere of the shop was nice and resembled a long-established inn (*^^*)

I wanted to have lunch, but it seemed that I would only be able to arrive after 13:30. The eel is crispy but slightly fluffy, and the seasoning is strong and sweet, which children like. Even my son, who doesn't like eel, ate a lot of rice with sauce. The soup also has a strong taste of soup stock. It's a little disappointing that there is no hitsumabushi.