Review: Relish The Best Of Unagi At Uya Unagi Restaurant
Unagi (grilled freshwater eel) is a luxurious Japanese fish ingredient used in making classics such as hitsumabushi, unagi don, and unaju. At Uya, they take their unagi game seriously by using live unagi and making the most out of this Japanese eel. You are probably not new to Uya’s popular Hitsumabushi, but have you tried their Kimo Karaage (fried unagi liver) and Hone Senbei (unagi bone cracker)? The latter certainly surpassed our expectations with its incredible crunch and flavour.
Preparing and Grilling the Unagi
Uya imports their eels live from Japan, supplied by 4th generation eel mongers from the Kikugawa family. They are stored in the kitchen with a constant supply of filtered cold water to ensure that they are in the best living conditions before being prepared, grilled and served on the very same day.
The eel fillets are dipped in their secret sauce, before getting on the charcoal grill, where the unagi are being grilled to achieve a crispy, slightly charred exterior.
Note: At the restaurant’s entrance, there is a small window which peeks into the kitchen. The eels are slaughtered twice a day, once in the morning and once in the early evening. You may just catch a glimpse of the eel preparation if you are lucky.
Hitsumabushi (M) $35
The unagi was tender and flavourful, with a slightly crispy skin exterior and the right amount of unagi sauce. We appreciated that the sauce was lightly drizzled on top of the unagi, not too sweet or overpowering. We definitely relished the natural flavour of the eel. The fluffy Japanese rice also contributed to the perfect balance of the dish.
The eel was sliced into adequate-sized pieces, they did not risk falling apart when we dug into the bowl for a spoonful of unagi and rice. A medium sized hitsumabushi serves up 75% of an eel, you can also upsize to L size for $48.
You can also add condiments such as spring onion, wasabi and seaweed to your liking. On top of these, you can also add dashi broth from the small pitcher and enjoy ochazuke (rice with soup). Feel free to add Mi Sansho for a more smoky and peppery sensation.
Kimo Karaage $9
This deep fried unagi liver dish was crispy and fragrant, served with a dollop of mayonnaise, grated daikon and spring onions. Tip: Pair it with a glass of beer or sake.
Hone Senbei $6
As intimidating as it may seem to some, this is actually a classic bar snack in Japan. You must be wondering if these are fish bones? Indeed, they are deep fried unagi spines, lightly salted and crunchy like crackers. They are also loaded with calcium, so you can never have too many of them.
It was our first time having hone senbei and we were pleasantly surprised by the intense umami and crackling texture. It was quite addictive and as expected, we did not stop at one. Do give this bony senbei a try!
Wagyu Tataki Salad $18
Moving the spotlight to another one of their premium ingredients, we had a generous serving of healthy greens topped with thinly sliced seared Wagyu beef. Lightly seared on the outside, slightly raw in the centre, these beautiful beef slices were served rare. A great appetiser to start your meal.
Unagi lovers can opt for other unagi delicacies in their Eel Set Menu, such as Unagi Rice Box (L) $46, Unagi Rice Bowl (M) $33 | (S) $25, Nagayaki (L) $46 and Healthy Unagi Rice Bowl $29. All of them are served with appetiser, soup and pickles.
The restaurant also offers an extensive a-la-carte menu with eel and non-eel options. Satisfy your sweet cravings with refreshing desserts such as Parfait $12, and a scoop of Green Tea ice-cream $5 or two.
Check out their menu for the full selection.
On 23 July 2022, Uya celebrated Day of the Ox (Doyo no Ushi no Hi 土用の丑の日) with a special promotion. ONLY ON THIS DAY: Customers stood a chance to win 10-60% off all Unagi Sets by toss of a dice!
Uya celebrates this meaningful day yearly, do make a note in your calendar and be sure not to miss it next year!
Final Thoughts
We recommend you to visit Uya for a wholesome unagi experience, especially if you are hanging out in Orchard area. Aside from the restaurant’s dedication in serving fresh unagi, you can also expect great service in a cosy ambience.
Do make a reservation to save time from standing in line - we observed that the restaurant was almost full within the first hour of opening.
There is also a private dining area available, if you are looking to celebrate a special event with some “eel-licious” food.
Uya Japanese Unagi Restaurant
501 Orchard Rd, #02-15/16 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880
Opening Hours: Lunch Service: 12pm – 3pm (Last Order 2pm), Dinner Service: Mon to Thur 6pm – 9.30pm (Last Order 9pm), Fri 6pm – 10pm (Last Order 9.30pm), Sat 5.30pm – 10pm (Last Order 9.30pm), Sun 5.30pm – 9.30pm (Last Order 21:00).
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Reservation: WhatsApp 9359 0423 | T 6732 1096
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