Ginza: Affordable Kansai-Style Unagi at Hyotanya 1chome (ひょうたん屋1丁目店)

I love unagi (eel), but it can be quite expensive. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for good unagi restaurants at reasonable prices. Today, I visited Hyotanya 1chome branch (ひょうたん屋1丁目店), located in Ginza. While Ginza is often associated with upscale dining, there are many hidden gems offering delicious food at more affordable prices.

Hyotanya is a long-established unagi restaurant that has been serving customers since 1946. Their lunchtime menu is simple—they only serve unagi boxes—but the prices are surprisingly reasonable for the area.

Here’s their lunch menu. The price differences reflect portion sizes, not quality:
Regular (並) – 2,100 yen
Middle (中) – 2,500 yen
Deluxe (上) – 3,100 yen
Supreme (特上) – 3,700 yen

I ordered the Middle-sized box, and as soon as I placed my order, tea and pickled vegetables were served. Interestingly, my friend ordered the Supreme box, and their pickles included cucumber, which mine did not.

The meal also included a clear soup. It was light and refreshing but didn’t contain eel liver, which is sometimes a treat in other unagi restaurants.

There are two main styles of cooking unagi: Kanto-style (Tokyo area) and Kansai-style (Osaka area).

*Kanto-style involves cutting the eel from the back, steaming it, and then grilling it.
*Kansai-style skips the steaming step, resulting in a crispier exterior and a softer interior.

Even though Ginza is part of the Kanto region, Hyotanya uses the Kansai-style method. The result? A perfectly crisp surface and tender, flavorful meat. I topped mine with plenty of Japanese sansho pepper for an extra kick.

The sauce wasn’t overly sweet, which I personally prefer.
Seasonal Note: The Day of the Ox
Did you know that July 29th is traditionally known as the “Day of the Ox”? It’s a Japanese custom to eat unagi on this day to combat the summer heat. Unsurprisingly, unagi restaurants across Japan are often packed with customers!

About

Name Hyotanya 1chome branch (ひょうたん屋 一丁目店)
Open Lunch, Dinner
Reservation Available for dinner time only
Credit card Unavailable

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