Hyperlocal Tokyo

I had planned to visit Asakusa, so I made a reservation for noon a week in advance. When I arrived around noon on the day of my visit, the restaurant was already almost full. There was a sign outside saying that all reservations were full. It seems difficult to get a table without a reservation. While I was eating, several groups of foreigners came in. It seems to be popular with foreigners too. The unagi (eel) dishes offered were only the "upper" and "middle" grades of unagi-jyu (eel rice bowl). There were also white-broiled and broiled eel. The prices were not cheap for the area. The soup was an additional 50 yen. It was so cheap that I thought I had misread the price. Moreover, it was a huge serving for 50 yen. It came in a large teacup instead of a soup bowl. It had a delicate, light flavor. After waiting for about 30 minutes, my unagi-jyu was brought to me. The sauce was light and the aroma of the eel was excellent. The rice was also a small portion, so I ate it all up! It was delicious. It made me want to try visiting other famous unagi restaurants.

We made a reservation for 6:30 PM on a weekend and visited with my wife. The restaurant was in a traditional Japanese-style house, which felt very Asakusa-like. Inside, there was one table for six, one table for two, and one table for four on a raised platform. We were seated at the six-person table and shared it with another couple. Here are the dishes we actually ordered: [Appetizers] ◯ Bottarga-flavored Kara-chisu @ ¥600 → The bottarga was well-aged and incredibly delicious. It paired perfectly with sake. It was so good we ordered another serving. ◯ Mozuku Vinegar @ ¥600 → It was delicious with a subtle sweetness amidst the sourness. ◯ Sake (Shintanba Tanrei Karakuchi 300ml) @ ¥1,200 → This dry sake wasn't my usual preference, but it went very well with the bottarga and the grilled eel we had later. I ended up having two cups. [Main Eel] Both the eel bowl and the grilled eel arrived at our table about 30 minutes after we ordered. It was good that we started with the bottarga and sake. ◯ Eel Bowl, Premium @ ¥4,800 → It was relatively light, but the eel was delicious even though the sauce wasn't overly heavy. We could really savor the eel's flavor. ◯ Grilled Eel, Premium @ ¥4,800 → We could also fully appreciate the eel's flavor here. The combination with wasabi soy sauce was absolutely perfect. The bottarga, eel bowl, and grilled eel were all incredibly delicious, and we were completely satisfied. The bill came to ¥13,800 (including tax and service charge) for the two of us. I think it was good value for money. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I visited the restaurant at noon on a holiday. It's located on the same street as "Bazo", a famous hand-made noodle shop, and has a narrow storefront. When I stepped inside, there was only one other customer, and all the seats were reserved. I ordered the "Unagi-jyu" (eel rice bowl) "Jo" (upper grade) for ¥4,800. I also ordered a ¥50 soup and a non-alcoholic beer for ¥500. After waiting for about 30 minutes, the soup came out first, followed by the eel rice bowl. When I opened the lid, the fragrant aroma of the eel sauce filled the air, and I felt a moment of pure happiness. The surface of the eel was grilled and shiny, looking like a Kansai-style eel. I expected a strong, dark flavor, but the sauce was actually mild and refined. I was fooled by its appearance (laughs). The eel itself was plump and fatty, perfectly cooked. There were almost no bones, indicating meticulous preparation (I remember being frustrated by the many bones in the eel I ate at Nodaiwa). The rice was thinly spread under the eel, making the portion slightly small. That's why they have a ¥300 rice option on the menu, I guess? The soup was light but a liver soup, and it was only ¥50, which is ridiculously cheap. Nowadays, eel prices are soaring, and it's hard to find a decent eel dish for under ¥5,000. But here at Hatsu Ogawa, you can get the "Jo" for ¥4,800. It's no wonder they were selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand. Thank you for the delicious meal again!(*^^*) (Additional Information) I only saw the first floor, but the seating is quite cramped, so it's not an atmosphere for relaxing or enjoying a leisurely meal. It's not suitable for business dinners. It's best to visit with family or close friends.

We decided to try this place for the first time because someone requested eel. When we entered, all the local regulars turned to look at us, so we almost left. But we decided to ignore them and went to the back room. The eel was quite spicy, so it had a nice, smoky flavor. Everyone in the family loved it.

We visited on a Sunday afternoon with a group of five people last weekend! We were lucky to get a reservation about a week in advance. It's worth noting that large suitcases are generally not allowed, so be mindful of that. The eel was delicious, with a light and refreshing flavor. We ordered a medium size since we had already had breakfast at the hotel. The soup is ordered separately. It's a simple dish that highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients, a testament to the long-standing tradition of this establishment. If you're in Asakusa, be sure to check it out!