Feb 13, 2014 - 1 min read

Unagi Restaurant Obana

Top-notch eel at a popular long-standing unagi-ya

By Peter Lin

Community writer

Uzaku, grilled eel with cucumber in vinegar sauce

Obana is highly rated as the top unagi-ya (eel shop/restaurant) in Tokyo

Unajuu, grilled unagi with sauce over rice

Obana is a longstanding unagi (eel) restaurant in Tokyo and serves terrific edomae (Tokyo-style) unagi in a traditional Japanese setting. It was first established in the Meiji era. No reservations are allowed, so waiting in line is expected. Grilled eel in various forms is served as appetizer or main dish over rice with a sweet sauce (unajuu). The main dish comes in 3 different sizes priced at 3000, 3500 and 4000 yen. The eel is freshly prepared and incredibly tender and delicious. The restaurant is somewhat out of the way in Minami-senju, with the closest station being Minami-senju station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya line. Obana is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m for lunch and 4 to 7:30 p.m. for dinner on weekdays (except on Mondays), and non-stop from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends.