Kawatoyo Narita — Restaurant in Narita

Delicious eel rice unagi don here at a 100+ year old restaurant! Price point is also excellent. The wait is a bit long so you either go there right when it opens at 10am to get a ticket or try to go during off-peak times. We arrived before 10am and could choose a time slot of when we wanted to eat.

We initially wanted to go to Surugaya down the street but when we looked at the eel there, it looked more burnt and the price point was higher (~3500-5100yen).

The 2/3 portion of eel with rice was just perfect for portion priced at 2900yen. A lot of people went with the full length but it seemed to be too much. The texture and way the eel was grilled was done perfectly. 10/10 no complaints. The price point at this quality is unheard of in other parts of Japan so trust me that this is the real deal!

Since the eel was so good we ordered the cold carp sashimi (970yen) and eel liver soup(200 yen). These both can be skipped as the sashimi didn’t really have any taste and was kind of rough in texture. It comes with a sauce that you dunk it in and it overpowers the sashimi itself. The soup was very underwhelming and just tasted bland and not flavourful. This review will still get a 5/5 for the eel since that is the main!

They tell you not to line up at the restaurants as the lines have been too long that they impact surrounding stores. Instead, you can check out naritsan temple in the area or walk the streets. There is limited shops in the streets so only so much shopping you can do. At the front of the restaurant you can see the workers filleting the fresh eel. Quite a remarkable trade.

There are two levels and you are required to take off your shoes and carry them around in a provided plastic bag. There is limited seating for tables and chairs. Most of the seating is the traditional tatami style seating on the floor. This place is CASH ONLY and they do not accept credit cards. You select your menu items prior to getting seated and you will be given ticket stubs which you will hand the server.

They actually also have this restaurant at the Narita airport but we compared prices and it’s more expensive at the airport.

Would come back again for the unagi don in a heartbeat. Considered trying Michelin star unagi in Kyoto for comparison but after having this, decided this is probably the bigger bang for your buck and...

We've been to the two most famous eel shops on this street and we like both.

This shop doesn't include eel liver broth in the set but it's not a big deal.

The charcoal smell and taste was more pronounced here, I feel

The wait can be long. We were told that it's take 2 hours but in fact it took 90 minutes. While waiting you can shop around the neighborhood but I recommend going back to the shop 30 minutes prior to the expected time.

The second floor is a bit crowded but has a cozy environment and you can enjoy sitting on the straw mats.

You can drink plenty of tea and refill your own cups. Just the second floor was slightly draft day so if you tend to get cold be prepared for that.

The stairway to the second floor is really precarious and really not recommended for elderly people. If you have difficulty climbing stairs I would recommend you eat only on the first floor.

The pickles taste fresh and homemade, not a strong chemical taste.

The sauce at the shop is more savory rather than sweet at the other shop. The eel itself is slightly thinner then the one at the other shop. It could just have been a seasonal difference. I can't know for sure

It's expensive so a bit of a treat to eat here. However I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

It's super easy to order with the touch panel and it's really designed for tourists to come. They have many foreign staff members I'm sure they can support various languages.

Apparently on this day there was no line or wait at the annex location and the restaurant stuff highly recommended we go there but everyone wanted to eat at this original shop. The building itself is kind of historical and the ambiance adds to...

Kawatoyo Narita is a famous restaurant located near Narita Temple, that offers a unique and unforgettable experience eating unagi, Japanese grilled eel. The decor is traditional Japanese, which give the space a cozy and authentic feel. While extremely busy, the staff were friendly and attentive, and I immediately felt at ease.

The unagi at Kawatoyo Narita is simply phenomenal. It's perfectly grilled to tender, smoky perfection, and is served with a sweet and savory sauce that complements the natural flavor of the eel beautifully. The texture was delicate and almost melt-in-your-mouth, and each bite was a revelation of flavors that left me craving for more.

There are a variety of sizes and types of meals, but everything here features unagi. There is also an English-language menu, and patrons can use Line to be noticed when their table is ready -- our's was a 90 minute wait, but we could explore the temple grounds and other shops while waiting.

What sets Kawatoyo Narita apart is not only the quality of their food, but also the experience. The restaurant is located in traditional building that adds to the ambiance, and diners can watch the eels being cut right in front of them. This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that I will never forget.

Overall, I highly recommend Kawatoyo Narita to anyone visiting the Narita area. The combination of delicious food, warm hospitality, and a unique dining experience make it a must-visit destination for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine. I can't wait to come back and savor the...