Gion Uokeya U

We decided to have unagi for lunch and this restaurant is the best place to have it. Remember there are no traditional tables with chairs, it's a Japanese restaurant so after 10 minutes we felt very uncomfortable. The waiter didn't speak English

After enjoying the beautiful scenery, I went to the gion uokeya U restaurant with my friends for dinner. The eel rice here is really famous in Kyoto. The big eel looks so appetizing.

The restaurant staff was warm and attentive, and tried very hard to communicate with us despite the language barrier. The restaurant manager was very professional and quickly returned our umbrella that we left in the store and also covered the shipping costs, which fully shows how good they treat their guests. The quality and grade of the eel was first class and worth returning for. Highly recommend this restaurant.

We didn't make a reservation in advance. Like a popular Michelin restaurant, the ingredients are limited every day. You can prepare as much as you have reserved. We knocked on the door with the mentality of giving it a try. There was a waiter in his 40s or 50s. She politely asked us if we had made a reservation. When we said we didn't have a reservation, she looked very embarrassed. But maybe she saw that we had brought our children, so she didn't refuse us and asked us to come over in 30 minutes. , I’m so happy. 30 minutes is already a short waiting time. We just happened to stroll around Hanamikoji. It was easy to pass the time and come back for dinner on time. The restaurant is very small, so the stroller must be pushed. If you don’t go in, there are two floors in total. The first floor is for tables and chairs, and the second floor is for tatami mats for sitting cross-legged on the ground. We were invited to the second floor. The menu is very simple. You can order eel rice by the head. We ordered four. The set meal for one person is 13,500 yen, which is just over 200 yuan per person. The set meal includes side dishes and miso soup. There is free ice water here, and you can also order drinks and beer. After a while, our eel rice will be served in a large wooden barrel. The bucket has not been opened yet, but the smell of eel has already wafted out. I am looking forward to it. The eel rice is amazing. The eel is grilled at just the right temperature. The fish is very tender. The sauce does not take away the freshness of the fish. The rice has distinct grains. The sauce and grilled fish oil erode into the rice, making the rice also have the deliciousness of fish and sauce.

The Michelin one-star eel rice is well-deserved. The three-person eel barrel is grilled first and then steamed. The plump eel in autumn and winter is thick and soft, with a charcoal-grilled aroma, sweet sauce, and the rice is full of sauce, with each grain distinct and chewy.

The famous cedar barrel eel rice. The eel is soft but not loose, The sauce is rich but not greasy, and the rice topped with the sauce has an attractive sheen. There are two Hoshisei eel rice restaurants in Kyoto. This one is slightly inferior to Guangchuan in terms of texture and taste. If you can’t book Guangchuan in Arashiyama, and you don’t want to queue for two hours under the scorching sun. Then try your luck here in Gion. In the past, when I called to make a reservation, the seats were often full, but then I happened to pass by here at noon twice, and with the mentality of giving it a try, I successfully arranged a vacant seat. [Reservation] It is recommended to come here around 13:00 and try your luck. It may be that the first batch of customers leave on time at noon, and there are still eels left, and then there will be empty seats in the second batch.

Uokeya U's specialty is eel rice in a barrel. It has one Michelin star and is made in Kansai style. It has a charcoal grilled and smoky flavor. The rice is very soft. The side dishes of 2 eels and eel liver are very tasty. ​​​