A gourmet specialty of Narita, Chiba! Unaju bento (eel) bento (Japanese cuisine) at Kikuya.

  • Chiba
  • Eating
Unaju Bento (Bento Lunch Box) at Kikuya, where the secret sauce shines brightly!

Enjoy the taste of history and tradition! Eel-staple bento of long-established restaurant "Kikuya

One of the best parts of traveling is thinking about what to eat. In particular, bento boxes that allow you to easily enjoy the unique flavors of the places you visit will make your trip even richer.

This time, we would like to introduce you to the "Unaju (eel) bento" at "Japanese Cuisine Kikuya," a long-established Japanese restaurant located on the Omotesando approach to Mount Narita, about an 8-minute walk from JR Narita Station. This restaurant, steeped in history, is famous for its eel. Why don't you take in the traditional taste that has been in business for more than 300 years during your trip?
Beautiful Japanese architecture of the restaurant

Why is Narita famous for eel?

Originally, Narita was a region where river fish was abundantly caught, supported by the rich water resources of the Tone River and the Inba Marsh. In the Edo period (1603-1867), to entertain visitors to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, highly nutritious eel dishes began to be served, and eventually became an established part of the region's food culture.

Kikuya's eel that continues to focus on safety and deliciousness.

Kikuya's signature menu item is, of course, "unagi (eel). Kikuya posts a certificate of origin every morning in the storefront, and serves quality eels that have been raised in good health so that customers can enjoy them with peace of mind.

We use domestically raised eels, but when the amount of domestically raised juvenile eels landed in Japan dropped drastically a few years ago, we considered foreign eels, and now we also use carefully selected Taiwanese eels. The eels from Taiwan are safe even for human consumption. About 90% of customers order domestically produced eels, and Kikuya's attitude of never compromising on quality and continuing to provide safe and delicious eels to customers is one of the charms of the restaurant.
The signature menu, "Unaju Bento" (broiled eel).

The key is the sweetness and richness of the sauce! What is the charm of Kikuya's secret sauce?

Kikuya's sauce is characterized by the slight sweetness you feel the moment you take a bite. The glossy sauce, which is made by slowly boiling down the sauce using traditional techniques, is rich yet refreshingly sweet and enhances the flavor of the eel. The sauce, which has been passed down from generation to generation, is a secret recipe that is made by hand. The 12th generation proprietress says with confidence, "Making the sauce is the sanctuary of the chef, and this is the secret taste.
Each eel is carefully grilled with sauce.

Eel-stuffed Bento Lunchbox that tastes fluffy and delicious even when cold!

Kikuya's eel bento is also recommended as a souvenir. We have devised a method of serving eel so that customers can enjoy the same delicious taste as at the restaurant even if they take it home. The eel is carefully grilled just like the eel served in the restaurant, but when it is packed in the bento box, a special step is taken to "let it breathe". This is said to be an ingenious way to preserve the fluffy, tender texture and savory flavor by cooling the eel slightly from its hot state before packing it in the folds, so that the delicious taste is retained even after a long time has passed.
Pickles served with the bento are Kikuya's original products. It can be purchased at the store and is a great souvenir. Please check it out!
What did you think of the eel lunch box at the long-established "Japanese Cuisine Kikuya"?
Kikuya uses Koshihikari rice produced by local farmers and Yamasa Soy Sauce, the pride of Chiba Prefecture. The 12th generation proprietress says, "You should eat eel in Narita after all," expressing her deep love and pride for her hometown.
The eel stew served at "Japanese Cuisine Kikuya" is a true gem of Narita's bounty.
Why not enjoy it at home or while traveling with the memories of your trip?
For the website of "Japanese Cuisine Kikuya," visit

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