This Japanese Restaurant Serves One Of The Best Unagi Dishes And We Have $100 Dining Vouchers To Give Away!
Beyond folklore and its amazing rich taste, unagi – rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein – has proven to be beneficial, especially for women.
July 2, 2018
At Unagiya Ichinoji, the unagi is first steamed and then grilled to perfection before being served.
In Japan, unagi is a delicacy served year-round but is especially popular during summer because it is believed to help restore your energy and help you stay cool. There are many ways to enjoy the rich taste of this freshwater eel. The most common? Grilled to perfection and slathered in sweet soya sauce before it is placed atop a bowl of steaming white rice.
You can enjoy unagi in most Japanese restaurants here, but the best are the ones which specialise in unagi. Miyagawa Honten, one of Tokyo’s most well-known unagi restaurants with a 125-year-old history, has recently opened Unagiya Ichinoji, an unagi specialty restaurant here! Click through the gallery below for their must-try dishes.
The traditional Japanese steamed egg custard is made even more flavourful in this version which adds a piece of grilled unagi for that umami taste. Highly recommended to start your meal off with this as an appetiser.
Unagi Egg Roll
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Egg lovers will enjoy these treats filled with fluffy grilled unagi pieces and wrapped in a delicious egg roll.
Hitsumabushi (S)
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Hitsumabushi is a signature dish served at Miyagawa’s outlets in Japan. The eel meat served in this is marinated with sansho and kuro shichimi (seven black spices) specially imported from Kyoto. The S set ($19.80) is a small portion set which is perfect for kids and small eaters.
Hitsumabushi (M)
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At Unagiya Ichinoji, the eels are prepared using the same original method as Miyagawa outlets, which is first steamed then grilled. This gives the unagi a perfectly fluffy texture. Go for the M size ($32.80), which is a medium-sized portion, for a satisfying meal.
Three Ways To Enjoy Hitsumabushi
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Hitsumabushi is Nagoya’s style of enjoying freshwater eel, and there are three ways to eat it. You can eat it on its own to relish the eel’s flavour. For the second way, eat it with nori (seaweed), wasabi and green onion mixed into the Hokkaido rice and eel. For the third way, add the clear dashi to the mix to create a rice broth.
Hitsumabushi (XL)
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Dining with your family or a group of friends? We suggest going for the XL ($77.80) which is great for three to five people. Every serving of unagi is grilled using Miyagawa’s special in-house tare (sweet basting sauce) whose recipe has been passed down for four generations.
Seiro Mushi
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Seiro Mushi ($19.80 / $24.80 with Unagi Chawanmushi) is a special version hailing from Yanagawa, Fukuoka — the slab of unagi is first charcoal grilled, then steamed in a bamboo steamer together with kinshi egg and Hokkaido rice mixed with moreish sweet sauce for five minutes before serving.
Mamushi Donburi
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If you want something special, try the Mamushi Donburi ($18.80 / $23.80 with Unagi Chawanmushi), which is served with Japanese yam, mentaiko, kinshi eggs and onsen egg. Mix it all before together to create a unique dish with umami flavours unlike any you’ve tried.
Unagi Simmered Boiled Liver
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Eel liver is even more nutritious than eel meat – not only is it packed with more calcium, vitamins and iron, but it is also really tasty! The Japanese enjoy eel liver as a snack (sometimes washed down with beer) in bars. In Unagiya Ichinoji, you can try eel liver served boiled.
Unagi Bone Cracker
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Deep fried to a crisp, these bone crackers are best eaten as an appetiser before the mains. Or, they can also be enjoyed as a snack along with a beer or a cocktail.
$100 DINING VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY! The Weekly is giving away 5 sets of Unagiya Ichinoji dining vouchers, worth $100 each, plus jump queue passes. To take part, visit our Facebook page now!
Beyond folklore and its amazing taste, unagi – rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein – has also proven to be beneficial, especially for women. Find out in the gallery below in what ways it can benefit your health and well-being.
Text: Peh Yi Wen / Shape / The New Paper / Additional Reporting: Sean Tan / Photo: 123rf.com, Pixabay
This Japanese Restaurant Serves One Of The Best Unagi Dishes And We Have $100 Dining Vouchers To Give Away!
1. It Can Ease Menstrual Pain
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The abundance of omega-3 fatty acids in unagi is not just great in terms of protecting our heart and maintaining healthy bones.
Many studies have shown that this healthy saturated fat acts as a natural premenstrual syndrome treatment by reducing inflammation, thus relieving the pain from dreaded menstrual cramps.
2. It Protects Your Skin And Reduces Wrinkles
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Unagi is also rich in vitamin A, the anti-ageing ingredient that is often used in skincare products to battle wrinkles.
Plus, you can count on the presence of EPA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) for that soft and supple skin. It not only helps combat acne with its anti-inflammatory properties, but also protects your skin from harmful UV rays.
3. It Helps To Fight Breast Cancer
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Unagi contains arginine, an amino acid found to inhibit cellular replication of tumours, slow down tumour growth and enhance immune function.
While it does not help with every type of cancer, recent studies have shown some evidence of arginine preventing the spread of breast cancer.
4. It Is Good For Your Brain
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While unagi is not a “total state of awareness” that Ross Geller from TV show Friends claims, DHA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) present in it does aid in normal brain function.
According to the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, continuing studies have also linked eating oily fish like unagi to a boost in blood flow to the brain.
This means improved memory and learning, and possibly a reduced risk of dementia.
5. It Helps Reduce The Chance Of Diabetes
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Eel is low in carbohydrates and high in protein, which helps with the production of insulin and maintainance of the blood sugar level in your body. This in turn helps reduce the chances of developing any types diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes.
6. It Helps You Build Strong Bones
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Bone health is important as age catches up, and for women it’s especially crucial because the risk of osteoporosis increases.
Eel meat contains high amounts of phosphorus, which when combined with calcium helps your body build strong bones. So it’s highly recommended that you have unagi regularly to reap its benefits.
7. It Is Beneficial For Pregnant Women
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Pregnant and craving for Japanese food? You know you can’t have sushi and sashimi, but having a serving of cooked unagi can be great for you as it provides your body with the nutrients it needs. It also contains very little mercury when cooked, compared to some types of fish meat.
Make sure that the eel is well-cooked. If you are unsure, do consult your gynecologist before consuming unagi during your pregnancy.
