Located near Ginza, Tsukiji is one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist destinations. At the main attraction, the Tsukiji Outer Market, you’ll find around 460 restaurants and specialty shops where you can explore a wide range of flavors.
Among them is “Tsukiji Unagi Shokudō,” a specialty restaurant where you can enjoy shinko unagi—premium young Japanese freshwater eel (Nihon Unagi), a traditional domestic variety.
Unagi (eel) is considered one of Edo’s four great culinary specialties, alongside sushi, soba, and tempura. In Japan, it’s customary to eat nutritious eel on the “Day of the Ox” — a midsummer day, also known as “Eel Day,” that can occur once or twice a year based on the zodiac cycle — to beat the heat.
With the motto “Every day is Eel Day,” Tsukiji Unagi Shokudo aims to make eel a dish you can enjoy any time—not just on special summer days—and at a fair price.
At Tsukiji Unagi Shokudo, a variety of grilled skewers that can be easily enjoyed right at the storefront are also available, making it a consistently busy spot.
What exactly is shinko unagi?
Did you know that in addition to differences in region of origin, eel also varies depending on the length of its farming period?
Most eels are farmed for one to two years. But some grow quickly enough to reach full size in under a year. These younger eels are called shinko unagi, and they’re quite rare.
Shinko unagi are characterized by their quality fat, which gives them soft skin and fewer bones, making them very easy to eat.
Outside the shop, a large grill sizzles with eel and other skewers, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma sure to whet your appetite.
Two extra-large grilled eel fillets stacked generously in one bowl — a hearty, satisfying meal worthy of its name
If you want to truly indulge in the luxurious flavor of shinko unagi, try the restaurant’s top-tier dish: “UNA-JYU OH.”
“うな重 王,” UNA-JYU OH 4,800 JPY (tax included) Nara Pickles (narazuke) are provided upon request
This deluxe unagi rice box uses the very best in terms of eel quality, size, and thickness. Unlike the usual version, where a single eel fillet is laid flat over rice, the UNA-JYU OH features two large pieces stacked on top of each other for maximum indulgence.
It also has a higher eel-to-rice ratio, allowing you to fully appreciate the flavor of the eel.
The eel is grilled to a golden, fragrant perfection. When you lift a piece with your chopsticks, it feels satisfyingly hefty. Take a bite and you’ll experience the soft, fluffy texture of the meat and the rich flavor of the tare sauce spreading across your palate.
The dish is paired with Koshihikari, a high-quality Japanese rice known for its glossy appearance, rich aroma, and balance of sweetness and stickiness.
The dish is served with wasabi and yuzu koshō (paste of chili peppers and yuzu peel).
The sharp kick of wasabi is always addictive, but the yuzu kosho—with its refined spiciness and refreshing aroma—also enhances the flavor of the eel, making it highly recommended.
If you ask the staff, they’ll gladly provide a spoon, so even if you’re not good with chopsticks, you can enjoy your meal without worry.
You’ll also find tare sauce on the table, so you can add more to taste. It’s made simply with soy sauce, sugar, and mirin, allowing the eel’s natural flavor to shine.
One more seasoning to try is budō sanshō, a premium Japanese pepper from Wakayama Prefecture.
It retains its fresh aroma and vibrant green color thanks to a traditional stone-milling method that avoids machinery. It makes the rich fatty umami of Tsukiji Unagi Shokudo’s eel stand out.
“太助飯,” TASUKE-MESHI 1,800 JPY (tax included)
The “TASUKE-MESHI,” a crowd-favorite, offers great value by letting you enjoy both eel and scallops in one dish. It’s especially popular among international visitors.
The scallops are baby scallops sourced from Mutsu Bay in Aomori Prefecture. They’re packed with flavor and have a pleasantly firm, chewy texture.
Shredded nori seaweed sprinkled on top of the rice adds a flavorful accent.
Skewers for easy snacking are also a must-try
Grilled skewers like the “Eel Skewer” and “Scallop Skewer” which are freshly grilled and easy to enjoy right at the storefront, are also highly recommended.
Each skewer is reasonably priced at 400 JPY (tax included), but there’s a great deal where you can mix and match any three for just 1,000 JPY (tax included).
There’s also a standing-only bar set that offers great value: three grilled skewers and a draft beer for 1,500 JPY (tax included).
The skewers are served on a tray, and glazed with a glossy, savory sauce. They’re bite-sized and easy to eat, which is another nice touch.
(front) “うなぎ串,” Eel Skewer 400 JPY (tax included), (back) “ほたて串,” Scallop Skewer 400 JPY (tax included)）
Of course, the eel skewers are also made from shinko unagi—crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They’re given a final grill to bring out the best flavor.
Since fall 2024, the restaurant also put “Sablefish” (also known as black cod) on their menu, and it has become a hit with international tourists.
This dish uses fatty Alaskan sablefish marinated in Kyoto-style saikyō miso from a traditional maker. The result is rich and buttery, with melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
“銀だら,” Sablefish 1,500 JPY (tax included)
At Tsukiji Unagi Shokudo, one of the standout offerings is a meal served in a traditional layered box, where you can enjoy both wagyū yakiniku and eel at once.
Tsukiji Unagi Shokudo normally has staff on hand who speak English, Chinese, and Thai. Payment is cash only and made in advance, but even if you don’t have Japanese yen on hand, there’s a currency exchange just nearby, so no need to worry.
Dishes like UNA-JYU and TASUKE-MESHI (which include soup) are served at the counter seats inside the restaurant. There’s also a free self-serve tea dispenser.
Skewers and grilled items can be eaten at the storefront or at the free rest area inside the Tsukiji seafood market.
Come and enjoy expertly prepared unagi and skewers you can only get at a specialty shop like Tsukiji Unagi Shokudo!
Information
| Store name | 築地うなぎ食堂 Tsukiji Unagi Shokudō |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-13-18 Tsukiji, Chūō-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Tsukiji Station 4-minute walk from Exit 1
Tsukijishijō Station 5-minute walk from Exit A1
|
| Phone number | 03-3248-1291
0120-17-0521（for delivery） |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 9:00-15:00 |
| Closed | No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 11 counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://nisshintasuke.co.jp/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of June 2025.
