神田きくかわ (Kanda Kikukawa)

060220 245060220 244
(Apr 19 2007)
うな重(2匹付)(イ)、2620円。
A famous place for Unaju – eel on rice in a box. The difference in price is just the difference in size of the unagi. I had the cheapest(2620yen!) and it was pretty big already. The madam said unadon(eel on rice in a bowl) uses fatter unagi, but she recommended Unaju so we all had it. It is very good. Huge portion. Want to try the Unadon next time!
(Whole set looks like this.)
0911030019
(Nov 03 2009)
大串うな丼、¥2700。
More than 2 years later, I went back to try the Unadon(Y2700). It was very good but I had no idea if it was in fact fattier than the Unaju I had 2 years ago….

Menu here.

神田きくかわ

明神下 神田川本店 (Myoujinshita Kandagawa)

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0807310074I like eating unagi in winter months cos it is much fattier, but seeing lots of pictures of unagi on the day of douyo no ushi(土用の丑) makes me crave for it too. The old building of this unagi restaurant is so gorgeous that it alone is worth a visit. Booking is absolutely necessary and although there were only two of us, we got the private room all to ourselves. Unajuu(unagi on rice in a bento box) is not cheap – a bit more than 4000yen(there is service charge) and soup is not included. But the quality is really high and I love the sauce which is not sweet like the usual kind. Location is convenient – easily accessible from Akihabara or Ochanomizu.

明神下 神田川本店 (Myoujinshita Kandagawa)
Add: 2-5-11 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3251-5031

茶房 はん亭 (Sabou Hantei)

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Hantei is a famous high-class kushiage(deep-fried food on skewers) restaurant. I’ve only been there for dinner once years ago and the old Japanese wooden building was very impressive; the food was delicious but also expensive(at least 10,000yen per person). This casual Japanese cafe “Sabou Hantei” is right next door and serves simple and cheap Japanese meals and desserts.
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焼き茄子と豚しゃぶのとろろポン酢、¥1200。
Grilled aubergine and pork shabu in tororo(grated yam) ponzu. Lunch set on weekdays includes either a coffee(with whipped cream) or a small “mamekan” – beans and kanten with “black honey”.
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鰻冊めし、¥1300。
Uzaku meshi – Nagoya style unagi rice. For the first bowl, you have unagi and rice on its own, then you add the veggy pickles on the second bowl, and for the last you pour hot tea to make ochatsuke.
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秋刀魚の香り揚げ、彩りおろし、¥1100。
クリーム芋あん あんみつ、¥700。
Fried Sanma with grated radish and herb.
Anmitsu with ice-cream and sweet potato.
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鮭と根菜いろいろ炊き合わせ、香り味噌添え、¥1200。
Salmon and root vegetables takiawase with miso.
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豚の竜田と温野菜の岩海苔ソース、¥1200。
そばろ弁当、¥1100。
Pork Tatsuta-age(marinated and deep-fried) with vegetables and seaweed sauce.
Soboro bento. Minced beef and egg are both sweet.
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新・イタリー丼、¥1100。
“Italy don”. Rice bowl with tomato, asparagus, onion, and lots of herbs.

Food here is absolutely delicious. Portion is generous. The staff are friendly. I always step out of this place full and satisfied. Though there are only a few options for lunch and they change only every few months. I basically tried everything on the summer, the autumn and the winter menu. My favourites are the pork Tatsuta-age, the unagi rice, and the Italy rice bowl. They serve Japanese sweets too but lunch set comes with dessert(during weekdays) so I’ve only tried the Animitsu which is good but I think specialised Japanese sweet shops are better, like this one nearby.
Menu(J): 1, 2, 3, 4.

茶房 はん亭
Add: 2-12-15 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku
Tel: 03-3827-5317

石ばし(Ishibashi)

060116 022060116 003

060116 008060116 016

060116 013うな重(上)、2800円。香物・肝吸い付き。
Unaju – eel on rice in a box. Comes with veggy pickles and kimosui(a clear soup made from eel livers). My gosh the unagi is so nice! Very soft and fatty. The sauce is light and elegant in taste. Unagi is usually preferred to eat in summer because it is nutritious hence provides strength to beat “summer weariness”, but as the lady staff was telling other customers, Unagi is the most delicious in winter because it has the most fat. This place is very famous – established in 1908. I sat in a small room next to the genkan, but I think there is zashiki(tatami-floored room) inside. Whether you have reserved or not, they will only start preparing the unagi after you sit down, so even at lunch time, prepare for a 40~50 mins wait. I wasn’t prepared and almost fainted from hunger, no kidding. But it is really worth it!
石ばし