Nagoya, Aichi, Japan｜Munagi Hitsumabushi

Walked in and thankfully got a seat. Restaurant is nice and partitions spaces for dining which feels more private. Ordered using the tablet which has English and Images available. Great meal and a shark skin grater is provided to grate fresh wasabi. I heard English speaking staff as well at another table.

I received the upper hitsumabushi. Beyond being crispy, I felt the crunchy texture and the firm juicy flavor of the eel. The sauce is refreshing and has a slight sweetness. It tastes even better when you add some Japanese pepper that you grind on the spot to combine the aromas. You can rub the wasabi with shark skin on the spot, but this is also very good as there is almost no spiciness and only a refreshing flavor passes through your mouth and nose. The hitsumabushi soup stock also enhances the flavor in a nice way, and combined with the refreshing condiments, it's a light meal. The soup with clams and ginger is delicious and a good value. You can also get pickles separately from the set, and it's a shop where you can enjoy trying out various hitsumabushi patterns. The shop is also very calm and you can spend your time relaxing.

I visited Mr. Bunaki, who I had been interested in for a while. There were about 3 groups of customers around noon on weekdays. I ordered ``Yakami Zanmai Kouhakuju''. It was 12,000 yen including tax. Enjoy kabayaki and shirayaki eel with 9 different condiments. There are about 2 servings, but the rice under the eel was on the small side. After ordering, an assortment of pickles was served. Grate the wasabi yourself using a sharkskin grater. The scent was fresh, it didn't feel too strong, and I could enjoy the refreshing flavor. The clam and shrimp soup was also delicious. The nine condiments are shredded shiso leaves, sesame seeds, myoga ginger, wasabi, egg yolk, yuzu pepper, plums, butter, and green onions. There were no instructions on how to eat it, so I left it up to you. Personally, the one I had with white grilled butter and soy sauce was fresh. Depending on your ingenuity, you can create various flavors, so you can enjoy it while eating. The eel was very delicious, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The Mitarai was small, but they had ear wipes, mouthwash, etc., and I appreciated the hotel-like care. When I left the store, I received a pleasant greeting from Mr. Nakai and the eel chef. There are very famous restaurants in Nagoya that have long lines, but ``Bunaki'' had a very clean interior, and the food and service were good, making me want to go again. It's close to my house, so I'd like to go there again. Thank you for the meal.