Ganso Unatetsu

If you love eel and you’re feeling adventurous, head over to Ganso Unatetsu in Shibuya. This hole-in-the-wall unagi specialist serves skewers using all parts of the eel from head to tail. Grilled over charcoal, it’s a real treat for eel-lovers!

[Ganso Unatetsu - image © Florentyna Leow]

Reducing food waste isn’t a new idea — most restaurants already practice that to keep food costs low. With unagi, though, it’s a different story. Many restaurants serve primarily the meaty part of the eel, and much of the rest can go to waste in many cases. An unagi restaurant that that has head-to-tail offerings is therefore rather welcome: no part of the animal is thrown away. One such place is Ganso Unatetsu in Shibuya, a hop and a skip away from the station.

This hole-in-the-wall unagi specialist has been in operation since 1957, and they’re most well known for their charcoal-grilled eel skewers. These skewers comprise all parts of the eel, from the head to the innards to the fins, grilled with salt or soy sauce-based seasonings. Naturally, there’s plenty of sake on the menu to wash it all down too! Note that the skewers are only offered at dinnertime.

Those who prefer more traditional cuts of eel — i.e. the thick slices of eel meat — on rice should order one of the variations on unaju (rice and unagi in a lacquer bowl). You can either have a single layer of eel or a double layer, depending on how deep your pockets feel that day.

One of the most interesting offerings on the menu is the una-chazuke. This consists of a bowl of rice topped with tea and grilled eel, which makes for a surprisingly elegant twist on the usual rice bowl. This isn’t a full meal in itself, but it’s a great way to finish off a dinner of skewers and sake.

For more Tokyo unagi choices, see our Best Unagi in Tokyo page.

English name:
Ganso Unatetsu

Japanese name:
元祖うな鐡

English address:
1F Cosmo Shibuya-kan, 2-8-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0043

Japanese address:
〒150-0043 東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-8-8 コスモ渋谷館1F

Opening hours:
Monday-Thursday: 11:30am-3pm, 4:30pm-10:30pm
Friday and the day before national holiday: 11:30am-3pm, 4:30pm-11pm
Saturday: 11:30am-3pm, 4:30pm-9pm
Closed Sunday and national holidays

Price:

Non-smoking section:
No

Reservations:
No Reservations

Nearest Transport:
Train: 1-minute walk from the west exit of Shibuya Station on the Keio Inokashira line.

Telephone:
+81-3-3461-9024

Website:Official website (Japanese)

Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Ganso Unatetsu on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Ganso Unatetsu is located in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. See our complete list of things to do in Shibuya, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

More Tokyo Restaurant Recommendations:
See all unagi restaurants we recommend on our Best Unagi in Tokyo page and get the complete list for all cuisines on our Best Tokyo Restaurants page.

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