Kurochodo — Restaurant in Tokyo

Unagi-dokoro Kuronagado Roppongi Hills

Stopped by for a late lunch without any prior research. Right after being seated, I realized this was Kansai-style — grilled directly over charcoal without steaming. It turned out to be my first time trying this type of eel.

The staff were friendly, but perhaps a bit too casual. The conversation felt more like chatting with a friend than dining at an upscale restaurant. A little more refinement in their manner of speaking would make the experience more fitting for the price.

Since it was a special visit, I ordered the natural eel, which cost a little over 20,000 yen. Watching it being filleted and grilled in front of me was impressive — true craftsmanship. For those not used to seeing the preparation process, I’d recommend sitting somewhere other than the counter.

The dish arrived beautifully charred, large, and aromatic. One bite told me immediately — this was nothing like the soft, fluffy Tokyo-style eel I’m familiar with. The skin was crisp, the flavor rich and smoky, but some parts were so tough they were difficult to chew. I understand that preferences differ, but this level of hardness may not be for everyone. Personally, I prefer the soft, tender Kanto style. That said, it’s undeniable that grilling without steaming preserves the eel’s natural oils and flavor, creating a deeper, more robust taste. Just… be prepared — it’s firm, and that’s something to keep in mind.

One thing that stood out: the restaurant doesn’t respond to Google reviews. When a place stops listening to feedback, genuine improvement becomes impossible. If “as long as customers come, it’s fine” is the mindset, that’s a dangerous path for any brand.

I hope this review helps others before they visit.

鰻處 黒長堂...

The staff at this restaurant were the most unfriendly I’ve encountered in all the hundreds of restaurants I’ve visited in Japan. This is the first time I’ve ever given a bad review in Japan.

Our 3-year-old dropped a disposable face towel on the floor, and the server picked it up and put it back on our table as if we were supposed to keep using it.

In the middle of our meal, they informed us that we had a one-hour time limit and needed to leave in 10 minutes. Our child was eating slowly, and my wife was feeding him at the time. Can you imagine a restaurant that charges over 8,000 yen per person having such a time limit? And we weren’t even intentionally wasting time.

Their eel had the most bones I’ve ever...

Tried this place for their eel dishes — the unagi sashimi was a unique experience and definitely the highlight. The overall food quality is above average, but nothing particularly memorable beyond that.

Service felt a bit inattentive, and at this price point, I expected a bit more on both food and hospitality.

Not a bad spot if you’re curious about eel sashimi, but in terms of price vs. experience, it didn’t quite hit the...