Shibafukuya - One of the must-try Hitsumabushi restaurant in Nagoya

Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

In Nagoya, Hitsumabushi is one of the must-try dish from what we researched, so we force ourselves to try to squeeze time out to try it at one of the few top Unagi restaurants in Nagoya.

**Lifting the lid to see the glorious Unagi!**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**The char on the unagi**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**Showing a different angle of it**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**Cross section of the unagi meat**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**Condiments; spring onions, wasabi, pickled vegetables**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**First Style - As-is**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**Second Style - Mixed with the condiments (spring onion, wasabi, and nori)**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**Third Style - Broth Style**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

Hitsumabushi (¥5100)

So anticipating to eat this dish, as this is a late lunch for us, and we are sooooooo hungry by the time. (Also queued around 1 hour).

The set came with the big round bowl containing the unagi and rice, condiment dish, soup, ochazuke, and utensils.

So let’s go right into it!

First Style - As-is

You can taste the full natural taste of the grilled unagi; smoky, sweet and slightly salty. The skin part is crunchy, while the meat is moist, tender, and very flavourful.

When eaten together with the rice, especially when you bite into the charred skin , it is just grilled unagi heaven! Multidimensional taste and you just can’t stop eating! Imagine smoky, sweet, salty taste, and yet have the crunch texture from the skin and tender from the actual meat, all the contrast of tastes and texture in one bite. The plain white fluffy rice just helps to add into part of the contrast too, the “soft” texture and also the ability to absorb the sweet taste.

Second Style - Mixed with the condiments (spring onion, wasabi, and nori)

This elevates the multidimensional feeling and taste to the next level with the inclusion of:
- Spring Onion - Adds a different flavour profile to the food.
- Wasabi - Adds a strong and fresh spice to the food.
- Nori - Compliments/enhances the salty flavour.
As this method brings in more flavours; fresh, spice, and stronger flavours to it.
This is our favourite style out of the 3 methods.

Third Style - Broth Style

This style makes it easier to eat, well, like eating porridge. But what we feel the Ochazuke doesn’t add or enhance any flavours to it. Maybe that is the intention of it, those who are more well versed in this, do comment below on this.

With this, it is like eating a grilled unagi porridge with condiments, but eating a more subtle taste/clean style of porridge.
This style will be good for if you guys are rather full at this point (but not us!).
We find it slightly disappointing, as we are expecting much more from this style. As with a Nodoguromeshi, which is another dish but with (almost) the same 3 methods to eat with it, their broth does adds quite a bit of rich and umami flavours to it. For those who are keen, can check out that review here.

Our ranking of the style (this time round we both ranked the same): 2nd Style -> 1st Style -> 3rd Style

This a tough decision for us, but we gave a 4 out 5 stars in the end, but on the lower range of 4 (if it even makes sense).

Rating: 4/5

Menu 1/4

Menu 2/4

Menu 3/4

Menu 4/4

Do click on the arrows to navigate the full menu

**Use the tablet to order your food**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

**Awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

Overall

We are still thinking of this dish, and remember vividly the taste and texture of this dish, that should tell you how good it was.

But sadly, for the Nagoya leg we only have around 1.5 days, due to it was a rather last minute addition to go few weeks prior to the trip + we can’t extend the trip, so it’s a time squeeze to even try out this restaurant.

Definitely hope to try the other famous restaurants for this Hitsumabushi (so we can do a comparison) if we are back to Nagoya in future, ie. Atsuta Horaiken (Main Store), Unafuji, and Ichibiki.

Till then, we can only remember the taste of this dish in our mind.

**Restaurant Shophouse**
Shibafukuya うなぎ家しば福や

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