Maruya Honten - JR Nagoya Station — Restaurant in Nagoya

We heard that Nagoya was famous for it’s eel, so we really wanted to have it for dinner. The restaurant seemed like a really popular place with a lot of local clientele. There was a line outside, but luckily we were able to be seated within 20 minutes. Once we were seated at the table, there was a tablet for us to order from and we could switch the language to English. You could choose different meal sets by how much of the eel you wanted to eat (half, two thirds, whole, or one and a half). You could also opt for normal size rice, extra rice, or no rice. For soup, you could choose from the regular soup, or the eel liver soup for extra ¥. My family and I also got extra eel plates a la carte to try different grilled/seasoning methods, as well as the eel roll. The eel was grilled really well, and everything tasted delicious. The staff also handed us a flyer to teach us how to eat the eel bowls. You needed to portion your meal into three sections. There is a small bowl on your tray to scoop out the rice and eel as you eat. For the first method, you eat the rice and eel plain as is to enjoy the taste of the eel. The second method, you add in the condiments provided as desired (seaweed, green onion, basil, wasabi, etc.). For the third method, you need to let your server know you are ready for the broth. They’ll bring out a little pot with hot broth in it, and after adding in your desired condiments (FYI, they’ll refill your condiments once for free), you pour the hot broth in your bowl. It was fun trying to eat the dishes three different ways. Overall a really...

One of the most famous Hitsumabushi Unagi (eel) Donburi restaurant in Japan is Maruya Honten in Nagoya. It is popular among the tourists and locals alike This resto is known for its high-quality, tender, and flavorful grilled eel located inside the Nagoya Train Station. The place is quite busy. The eel is prepared using a traditional cooking method that involves skewering and grilling over charcoal, resulting in a smoky and rich flavor. Customers rave about the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the eel and the perfectly seasoned sweet and savory sauce that complements the dish. The eel is served on a bed of fluffy steamed rice, creating a satisfying and comforting meal. The cozy and traditional atmosphere of the restaurant adds to the overall dining experience, making it a must-visit for eel lovers and food enthusiasts alike. If you have the chance to dine at Maru-ya, be sure to try their signature hitsumabushi eel donburi for a truly unforgettable...

I’ve had hitsumabushi a few times before and gone to 2 other supposedly more famous restaurants with long history in Nagoya. Hate to say it but this random walk in due to a craving at the JR station blew my mind. Perhaps it was due to me having no expectations but seriously. The hitsumabushi was perfect. It was crispy outside, soft tender melt in your mouth inside. The flesh was plump but not too plump and instead of giving you the crispy rice balls / crunchy topper or leek, this one gave wasabi, spring onions and what tasted like shisho leaves. Please eat them all together. My bowl was divine! The soup they gave had a fat juicy clam and I was gutted I ate the bowl so fast. Wish I had gotten a bigger bowl. I’ll definitely be back! Be prepared to queue a little, I’ve never seen this place without a...