Hitsumabushi Togawa Nagono Honten: Nagoya's Authentic Eel Experience
Discover Hitsumabushi Togawa Nagono Honten, a renowned Nagoya eatery famous for its delicious eel and traditional ambiance. Learn how to savor this iconic Japanese dish!
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Discover Hitsumabushi Togawa Nagono Honten, a renowned Nagoya eatery famous for its delicious eel and traditional ambiance. Learn how to savor this iconic Japanese dish!
Nagoya has turned me into a happy food hog!
And all I've been doing is eating!
Togawa Nagono Main Branch
Today, in Nagoya,
we set out to try the legendary Hitsumabushi!
Hitsumabushi is Nagoya's signature traditional dish,
featuring fresh grilled eel served over rice,
meant to be savored in a few delightful ways.
You can even enjoy it Ochazuke-style, by pouring broth or tea over the rice!
As eel newcomers, we decided to go for a standard set meal.
Exterior
Among the many eel restaurants,
Hitsumabushi Togawa Nagono Main Branch caught our eye
with its beautiful exterior and inviting interior, so we decided to give it a try!
Its traditional vibe made me even more eager to step inside.
A charming little garden is delightfully arranged.
What a sophisticated-looking entrance!
Upon entering, you're greeted by waiting seats and the cashier,
and you can even watch the eels being grilled right there!
You can observe it all through a transparent glass partition.
We had made a reservation via Google,
and after they confirmed our name and a short wait,
we were led upstairs to the second floor.
The eel sauce here
is crafted with 2-year aged Maruya Hatcho Miso.
One of the reasons we chose this place is that they also offer Kashiwa-yori, a special chicken dish.
They use premium Okumikawa chicken.
Watching them grill the eel right before our eyes
somehow makes it look even more mouthwatering!
Exterior
This is the entrance,
and I loved it from the moment I saw it!
Though small,
it's a beautiful garden with blooming flowers, perfect for a little stroll and admiration.
Menu
The eel is slowly grilled over Binchotan charcoal,
and it's stated that they use Nikomaru rice from Gifu Prefecture.
The menu features Hitsumabushi,
which comes with green onions, wasabi, sauce, and ochazuke.
There are also Unadon (eel rice bowls) and grilled eel set meals, among other options.
As eel novices,
we decided against the Hitsumabushi and ordered
an eel bento and a chicken bento instead (2600 yen).
My Kashiwa Bento (chicken bento) included
tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), chicken pieces, and chicken tsukune.
Speaking of the eel bento,
it included tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) and eel.
They also proudly mentioned using high-quality chicken and eggs (4950 yen).
Kashiwa Hitsumabushi,
Chicken Hitsumabushi,
Kashiwa Bento,
and Kashiwa Donburi (chicken rice bowl) are also on the menu.
This is a chicken course.
Tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) with eel.
The instructions on how to enjoy Hitsumabushi are really well explained:
First, savor the authentic flavor of the eel itself.
Then, try it with green onions, seaweed, and wasabi for a different twist.
And finally, they say you can pour dashi (or tea) over it to make Ochazuke!
The pudding is also sold separately.
This was the absolute best pudding I've ever had – a true winner!
Second Floor Seating
Since the first floor was completely full,
they kindly guided us upstairs to the second floor.
From here, you can see the garden below,
and inside, there are private rooms for 4 or 6 people,
so there are plenty of seating options.
Food
The savory eel and the tamagoyaki (egg roll) weren't overly sweet or salty;
they were perfectly balanced and so tender. The eel...
It seems they use freshwater eel,
which had that distinct, delightfully chewy texture of freshwater eel, and absolutely no fishy taste whatsoever.
There weren't many small bones, either,
The sauce was incredible,
and the eel, simply divine!
The chicken dish was perfectly seasoned with the rice, not too salty at all,
and I thoroughly enjoyed it with the tamagoyaki.
I'm already craving it again! I only ordered the bento box,
but then a pudding arrived as a complimentary treat – pure joy! 😸
That pudding was genuinely rich and incredibly surprising!
It was so, so delicious to my taste buds!! I absolutely want to eat it again!
Opening Hours & Days Off
Mon-Fri 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Closed: Wednesdays
Location
10-minute walk from Marunouchi Station
📍 Hitsumabushi Togawa Nagono Main Branch
1 Chome-2-11 Nagono, Nishi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 451-0042 Japan
Hitsumabushi Togawa Nagono Honten is located approximately a 10-minute walk from Marunouchi Station in Nagoya. The exact address is 1 Chome-2-11 Nagono, Nishi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 451-0042, Japan.
For those new to eel, we recommend the Eel Bento (~$31) and the Chicken Bento (Kashiwa Bento, ~$16). The Eel Bento includes rolled omelet and eel, while the Kashiwa Bento contains rolled omelet, chicken, and chicken tsukune.
This restaurant uses an eel sauce made from 2-year aged Maruya Hatcho Miso. For rice, they use Nikomaru rice from Gifu Prefecture, and for chicken dishes, Okumikawa chicken is used. The eel is slowly grilled over Binchotan charcoal.
From Monday to Friday, we are open from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, and from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, we are open from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, and from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. The restaurant is closed every Wednesday.
First, enjoy the original taste of the eel. Second, mix it with condiments such as green onions, nori (seaweed), and wasabi. Third, pour dashi broth or tea over it to enjoy it ochazuke-style.
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