Hourai-ken Matsuzakaya

Frommer's Review

This eel restaurant is a branch of two famous restaurants near Atsuta Shrine. There's no English-language menu, but you can't go wrong ordering one of the various unagi donburi (rice casserole with eel on top). Most famous is the Hitsumabushi, a set meal for ¥2,570 ($21/£11) that includes unagi donburi, various condiments, miso soup, and Japanese pickles. Eating it is a ritual: First, dish out some of the eel casserole into the smaller wooden bowl and eat it plain. For the next course, try it with some of the seaweed and green onions that come with it. Finally, add some of the soup and wasabi to the last mixture you tried.

The other, more elegant branches are both south of Atsuta Shrine at 2-10-26 Jingu, Atsuta-ku (tel. 052/682-5598; Wed-Mon 11:30am-2:30pm and 4:30-8:30pm); and at 503 Goudo-cho, Atsuta-ku (tel. 052/671-8686; Tues-Sun 11:30am-2pm and 4:30-8:30pm).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.