Izumo Ikebukuro UNAGI
Tokyo
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Отзывы
this massive bowl had everything you could imagine — it was basically like three different meals in one. sitting atop a MOUND of warm rice is a pile of thinly sliced beef — sweet, with a good mix of lean and fatty parts — a thick block of tamago — delightfully sweet and fluffy — and an entire unagi — absolutely glistening with flavour, extremely tender, fatty, savoury, and umami, with a bit of a charred aroma. the rice, which has a brown colour, might look too heavy or overpowering, but it actually quite a mild flavour , with a subtle richness to it that harmonized with all the heavy flavours of the topping very well. unlike typical japanese rice, which is fluffy and a bit sticky, this rice was mushy, kinda clumped all together, which made it super satisfying to just scoop up an entire chopstickful and devour it whole. the beef tongue menchikatsu was disappointing — although the exterior had a nice crust and a surprisingly prominent sweet sauce drizzled over it, the inside was literally cold. i think it may have been frozen and refried , but not completely. the tables are also super duper small. like it was basically just a strip of wood and our bowls barely fit on the table. kinda squishy.
I always try and visit Izumo when I'm in Japan and compared to my last visit this time was even better. The service was as friendly as it could be. This place is definitely worth a try and the staff here although speaks minimal English are super kind. Even though I tried to accommodate to them with my minimal Japanese, they made me feel welcomed by speaking with what English they knew. It's definitely worth noting that you SHOULD book inadvance as they were quite busy for dinner. From my experience watching protential walk-in diners I do recommend knowing the basics to better communicate with the staff as they're trying their best to accommodate to us :) Simply being able to confirm for a booking or not and how many people dinning in will definitely help the process and also makes your experience so much easier ! With the ordering process done by QR the menu is readily accessible in English. Cash and card payments both accepted with cash being preferred.
I recently tried the unagi and overall had a really enjoyable experience. The eel was tender and had a rich, slightly sweet flavor from the sauce that paired really well with the rice. The presentation was simple but elegant, and the portion size was satisfying. I also appreciated how balanced the dish was, letting the natural flavor of the eel shine through. That said, there were a couple of downsides. There was a cover fee that I wasn’t expecting, which took away a bit from the experience. Also, the unagi had quite a few small bones, which made it a little difficult to eat comfortably. Overall, still a solid meal and worth trying.
comfort food, but elevated ✨ perfectly grilled unagi glazed in that rich, smoky-sweet sauce caramelized edges, soft and buttery inside, melting into every bite of rice the portions? unapologetically generous each bowl feels like a feast layered, overflowing, indulgent paired with tamago, a touch of sweetness, and that cozy izakaya atmosphere… it’s the kind of meal you remember, not just eat highly recommend if you’re in Tokyo especially for unagi lovers 🥢🫶🏻
Dinner at Izumo Ikebukuro was an excellent experience. Booking in advance turned out to be a great decision, as there was already a line outside by the time we arrived. If you enjoy eel, this is definitely a place worth visiting. The restaurant offers a wide variety of eel dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. The eel was incredibly soft, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. We also had some eel skewers the one with butter was especially memorable and very rich in flavor. The unagi bowl was beautifully glazed with a deep, smoky sweetness that paired perfectly with the rice. You can really tell they take great care in preparing their dishes. The restaurant has a charming old-school izakaya atmosphere which makes the dining experience feel very authentic. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and spoke English, which made ordering easy. They also provide English menus via a QR code. Overall, a fantastic dining experience with great food, good service, and a traditional atmosphere. Highly recommended if you’re in the area and love eel.
