Gion Unagi Kawato

Absolutely incredible charcoal grilled eel restaurant in Kyoto – on the pricier side and a little hard to find (it’s tucked away in a small alley), but totally worth it. The atmosphere is quiet and intimate, and there’s no line or hordes of tourists at the door.

You can try eel cooked a number of different ways there; my favorite was the claypot eel with rice (photo below). I recommend making a reservation via Tabelog for the dinner set.